Posted Bykathy on July 13, 2001 at 19:29:22:
In Reply to: HELP! Need a simple, inexpensive wedding! posted byMichael on July 11, 2001 at 20:12:48:
HI Micheal
Congrats on your engagement.. Here is the what I sent to others asking about weddings.. Good Luck .. Regarding your questions and getting married here on Cozumel... In the course of time since I'm living here ( since 85 that is) I have helped several people with planning weddings and I do know that the different "on line" wedding services are expensive... It has been a few years since I last helped a couple but I don't believe much has changed... First off, it sounds to me that all you really want is the civil ceremony... Here religious ceremonies are NOT recognized by the government so ALL people must be civilly married and then if you want a religious ceremony that happens.. The religious ceremonies take many months to plan,and if this is what you are interested in, please let me know so I can get all the info for you... Regarding the civil ceremony, it is about 15 minutes long will be said by the justice of the peace in Spanish . You will need some paperwork such as your FMT ( this is the visa paper you get upon entering Mexico) a valid picture ID with your certified birth certificate or your passport, a marriage blood test no older than 15 days from the planned date of the marriage..(PS most states in the US no longer require this and some MDs and labs no longer know what this is... Here the labs do it all the time.. It is a VDRL for syphilis and I think now perhaps a HIV screen)cost can vary pending the lab and the results take a few days to get.. You will also need 4 witnesses.. They will need their ID as well...
Have either your boyfriend or you been married before?? This can complicate the issue as you will need your divorce decree translated and apostolate by the state who issued the divorce.. unless you choose to lie and say that you are single never been married when you fill in the FMT form on the air plane...
The justice of the peace a few years ago was charging 250 US for the marriage.. I imagine like all things in life, he has increased his fees but currently I have no idea as to what they are.. You will need to pay him in cash for this and prior to the actual date you will meet him and give him all the paperwork.Usually this is the day before the wedding... You will get a marriage certificate right then and there usually.following the ceremony he has it all ready.to give you....
Regarding dates: well for the B&B, my winter months ( Dec-April) fill quite quickly so if you are planning any of these months, the sooner the better... Summer is a little slower so not the same 'rush'.. September and October the rates are good so I do tend to fill fast,( 30 US per night per room including all taxes, daily breakfast)but it is our rainy season...
The federal or national holidays are also something to keep in mind as the judge usually is not available for those.. They are Sept 15/16; Nov 20, Christmas/New years; Feb 24,March 21, Good Friday and Easter Sunday, May 1, May 5, are about all I can think of...
I would suggest thinking the dates out and then plan around that... I will be at this email address, however, on Monday I will leave the island for my family vacation, not returning to Cozumel till mid August.. So to physically check with the judge stuff, that would need to wait till then..
I hope this has helped you... Good luck and hope to hear from you again..
Kathy ( I'm the hostess here at Amigo's Cozumel)