Requirements for weddings include:
- A passport copy or birth certificate with a valid photo I.D.
- Copy of the tourist card. The blue certificate that passengers will
receive upon their arrival in Mexico.
- Minimum length of stay in Mexico prior to ceremony: 3 days
- Birth certificates (should be 2 copies duly notarized)
- Blood test - should not be taken more than 15 days before the wedding
date.
- If divorced or widowed - proof of divorce papers and/or death
certificate.
- Health certificate - completed locally at a cost of $40 - $50 per
person.
- Marriage form which is provided upon arrival. Information requested on
form: names, addresses and nationalities of those to be married, parents and
witnesses.
- Copy of witnesses tourist cards - 4 witnesses are needed.
In many countries in Central and South America, a religious ceremony is not
recognized as a legal marriage. The legal ceremony takes place at the court
house, then the religious ceremony is held because the couple wants to have a
church wedding, not because it is legally binding.
I have had couples get married in Mexico, Peru, and Brazil and all chose to have
a small private wedding in this country before they left for their "real"
wedding. That way, they didn't have to have medical tests or wait for a
period of time to get a license in the other country, then go to the court
house, then have their wedding ceremony.
You may want to consider doing the same thing. Your pastor could marry you
in this country, then do it again in Mexico. If you purchased a wedding
package, check with the agency from whom you purchased the package.
Glenna Tooman, ForeverWed.com Wedding Consultant Memory Makers
