Destination wedding question ...

[maritimechick]

So I'm looking for a little advice, or at the very least some share-and-tell on similar experiences.

My fiance and I are currently in the midst of planning our destination wedding for next spring. Things are very, very preliminary right now because we're still finalizing a location with our travel agent. Right now we're considering Cuba, Jamaica or

Comments

[ninaf]

My FH just got back from DR and went to Punta Cana. It is a resort area however you have to go to a travel doctor to get shots and anti-malaria pills. I draw the line at anti-malaria pills. Heh.

[lalanav]

?? My family is from there, and I've traveled to the DR multiple times with various friends over the last couple of years...we've been to Punta Cana, la Romana, Santo Domingo, etc....and not once have I or anyone I've traveled with (all friends, no family - so no DR-natives) had to go to a doctor and get shots or pills. It's never been recommended, nor has anyone I've spoken to heard of anyone having to get that. Very strange.

[ninaf]

Well, it was recommended that we go to the travel doc and she recommended two shots and anti-malaria. The CDC also recommends shots + pills.

[erikalyn]

I like the idea of B the best. I hadn't considered the possibility of incorrect documentation with a destination wedding, so it seems like doing it that way is a good idea and can put your mind at ease about the legal aspect of your marriage. I don't necessarily feel it's deceptive if you're viewing it simply as a "paperwork," it's not as if you've been married for years and living a lie.

[erikalyn]

OR, alternatively, you could have a civil ceremony when you get back.

[maritimechick]

That's a great point, and I think it's exactly why my fiance is a fan of A and B while I'm not so much -- he really just views it as legal paper-signing (though it would actually entail a 20-minute ceremony, apparently) whereas I kind of want the "moment" of legally getting married to come in front of friends and family.

If it's going to make our lives a million times easier, though, I'm always open to that kind of idea. Thanks for the new perspective!

[mma04c]

or you can look at it as the two of you making the first few moment/days or whatever as intimate and private between you and FH, only the two of you would know, and to many the 'religious' is just as if not more important than the civil. look at it as a way to be make the event private and meaningful

[mma04c]

If you find it deceptive to do the civil ceremony and then the symbolic without telling people, why not do the symbolic and then go do the civil when you return?

[shandriz]

I like A best of all the options. It's -hard- to keep that sort of thing a secret from other posts I've read asking similar questions (though usually for different reasons, but still the same basic question) and people get really hurt if they're lied to about it (which, if you get married beforehand and don't tell anyone, you're going to end up lying whether you want to or not).

Just let people know and do it. ^_^ Then you can have a really fun relaxing wedding in Punta Cana and not have to worry about the paperwork or anything like that. I mean, do you really want the added stress of worrying about the officiant being late/early/whatever, and the paperwork being wrong on top of trying to pull off a nice wedding? Madness! ^_-

[pearlsandplanes]

Without being too rambl-y and restating everything that has been (and from recently researching destination weddings in the caribbean), I see no harm in having a justice of the peace/ courthouse wedding prior to leaving for your trip. In fact, it may save money in the long run if your ceremony is considered a 'vow renewal' as opposed to a wedding. This was the general info. I found while looking at this option a few weeks ago! Hope everything works out wonderfully in the end, no matter what you decide!