Rock My Wedding
  • Home
  • Real Weddings
    • Tiffani & Jesse
    • Bre & Kyle
    • Trisha & Jon
    • Katie & Christopher
    • Julie & Glenn
    • Stephanie & Ryan
    • Aja & Daniel
    • Rosa & Leon
    • Rosie & Derrick
    • Chelsea & Tim
    • Keth & Hans
    • Mandy & Greg
    • Marie & Kevin
  • Hard Rock Resorts
    • Hard Rock Punta Cana
    • Hard Rock Vallarta
    • Hard Rock Riviera Maya >
      • Destination Weddings >
        • For Guests >
          • Guest Q&A
        • Planning Steps
        • Details To Consider
        • Preparation Timeline
        • Destinations
        • Legal or Symbolic
        • Save The Dates
        • Traveling With Your Dress
    • Hard Rock Cancun
  • Testimonials
  • Sign Up

Legal and Symbolic Ceremonies

Destination Weddings - Legal or Symbolic Ceremonies?
There are two types of ceremonies for destination weddings. You can have a LEGAL ceremony, where you are legally married in your destination and receive a marriage certificate that is recognized at home. Legal ceremonies often cost a little more and require extra paperwork and occasionally blood tests. Or, you can have a SYMBOLIC ceremony that has no legal holding. To have a symbolic ceremony, you would be legally married at home by your clergy or courthouse before you travel. At your destination wedding, you will celebrate your union as if it were your actual wedding with flowers, music, vows and other ceremony details. Your guests would not know the difference between a legal and symbolic ceremony. Approximately 80% of all destination weddings are symbolic.

Mexico: Only the civil ceremony is legally recognized and must be performed by a judge. A blood test is required. A religious ceremony has no legal bearing and does not replace in any way the binding Civil Marriage. Religious ceremonies or renewal of vows ceremonies are symbolic. They are performed by a non-denominational minister. The bride and groom will receive a symbolic marriage certificate without legal bearing.

Dominican Republic: Civil ceremonies are performed by a judge and Catholic ceremonies are performed by a catholic priest. Both ceremonies are legally recognized. All paperwork must be notarized and translated into Spanish. This typically adds $500-$800 to the wedding costs. Renewal vows are symbolic weddings, they are performed by a non-denominational minister and it does not have a legal bearing.

Say "I DO!" with Romance Travel Group! Call 507-267-4857, Email or Sign Up today!


Copyright 2016 Shelli’s Travel, LLC. All Rights reserved. Users of this site agree to be bound by the terms of Shelli’s Travel Terms and Conditions. CST# 2123738-40, Washington UBI #603 569 955, Registered Iowa Travel Agency TA#1273. Shelli’s Travel materials (including, but not limited to, names, trademark, service marks, logos, marketing materials, etc.) shall not be used, reproduced, transmitted or distributed in any way, except with the express written consent of Shelli’s Travel.
  • Home
  • Real Weddings
    • Tiffani & Jesse
    • Bre & Kyle
    • Trisha & Jon
    • Katie & Christopher
    • Julie & Glenn
    • Stephanie & Ryan
    • Aja & Daniel
    • Rosa & Leon
    • Rosie & Derrick
    • Chelsea & Tim
    • Keth & Hans
    • Mandy & Greg
    • Marie & Kevin
  • Hard Rock Resorts
    • Hard Rock Punta Cana
    • Hard Rock Vallarta
    • Hard Rock Riviera Maya >
      • Destination Weddings >
        • For Guests >
          • Guest Q&A
        • Planning Steps
        • Details To Consider
        • Preparation Timeline
        • Destinations
        • Legal or Symbolic
        • Save The Dates
        • Traveling With Your Dress
    • Hard Rock Cancun
  • Testimonials
  • Sign Up