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| The beautiful tropical paradise that is Puerto Vallarta,
has become one of the favorite wedding destinations in the world.
The white sand beaches, warm breezes coupled with the stunning sunsets
over the Bahia de Banderas and the magic of Mexico makes it the perfect
setting for the most romantic of days. Modern Bride magazine ranks Mexico as number five among the most desirable locations to get married away from home. Puerto Vallarta with all of its romantic sites and proximity to the US and Canada is becoming the preferred place to marry in Mexico. Statistics from the Registro Civil office in Puerto Vallarta show that half of the couples who get married here are foreign. Each year more and more couples choose the Mexican Riviera, Puerto Vallarta as the place for their weddings. Last year alone, 2000 couples exchanged their vows here. , Mexico ranks number five among the preferred destinations for weddings away from home. Because of the incomparable sites it offers, the quality of its services and the proximity to the USA and Canada, Puerto Vallarta is becoming the favorite setting for getting married in this country. (In fact, statistics from the Registro Civil office in Puerto Vallarta, show that about half of the couples who get married here are foreign!) We all agree that there is an abysmal difference between getting married barefoot in a banquet salon and doing so among palm trees with breeze blowing, hair flowing and a tropical-flower bouquet in your very relaxed hands. The judge of the peace's words will be translated for you while the waves crash in the background, and your vows will be sealed as you exchange rings to the cadence of your favorite song played by a mariachi group. "For a lot of people marrying here means cutting down a 600-guests event to 100 people, so instead of spending 80 thousand dollars, they can have a dreamlike wedding for 10, with bachelor and bachelorette parties, pre-wedding dinner, and a good-bye brunch for the guests included in the price," says Laura Cárdenas, a well known wedding consultant who has been helping couples get married in PV for fifteen years through her office I Do Vallarta. According to Tamara Bradley, a certified weddings consultant for Incredible Journeys, in the past it was common to have second weddings in PV, but now more and more couples are getting married here for the first time, "You can't beat the scenery and there is nothing that you can't get down here; even the photographers have learned to capture images just the way foreigners like them." Both agree that the earlier you get in touch with a consultant in the destination, the better (we knew that, didn't we?). Six months of constant e-mailing (at least twice a week, says Tamara) should be enough. Bear in mind that they have to carry on research for vendors who offer exactly what the couple is looking for at the prices they are willing to pay. As the wedding date approaches, a week in advance is advisable for both to travel to PV. A wedding consultant is a person specialized in helping couples get married at the destination. They may work with a bureau in a hotel or from their own private offices. On top of organizing the wedding ceremony, the reception, the parties around the main event and finding the vendors that will supply exactly what the couple requires, a wedding consultant usually will: • Explain to you what legal documents are needed • Present documents at the Registro Civil • Reserve day for wed-ding with the justice of the peace • Try to get good packages for your guests in hotels Is a Mexican Marriage Legal? Yes. Getting married here is as good as doing it in your hometown and very easy too. There are a few things that may be different. In Mexico the only marriage that is legally valid is the civil one. It is performed by the justice of the peace of the Registro Civil office (something like the County Clerk in the US) pertaining to the jurisdiction of the location for your marriage. This justice of the peace will perform the ceremony at the office or at the place you have dreamt of... you only have to ask! Most foreigners can legally get married here if they present the following documents and comply with the requirements: • Birth certificate with apostille* (a document issued by the Secretary of State office in the country of origin) • Death certificate of spouse, if applicable, with apostille • Divorce papers, if applicable, with apostille • Migratory documents (visas) with translations by authorized translator in Puerto Vallarta or tourist card • ID's of the marrying couple (passport or driver's license) • Blood test and health certificate (the blood test will be done in a medical lab in Puerto Vallarta where they generally issue the certificates of good health) • Filled-in application form • Two witnesses for each one, friends or family members, not parents-over 18, with id's and copies of id's that must be present during the ceremony in order to sign the marriage certificate. * All apostilles have to be translated by an authorized translator in Puerto Vallarta. All certificates will remain in the Registro Civil files for 25 years during which time you can ask for certified copies. If the marriage is between a Mexican and a foreigner, the latter will have to ask for permission to do so to the Ministry of the Interior through their Migration office in town. Because their country is not part of the apostille treaty, Canadian citizens have to present certified birth certificates, stamped and signed by the Mexican Consulate Officer in their country (be sure to get every single paper stamped!) Although it's possible to make a reservation with the justice of the peace at the Registro Civil office, it will not be confirmed until all the paperwork is in their hands. A piece of advice: Make a couple of copies of every single document and ID's; but you will have to present the original document in every instance. How much is a legal ceremony? If you get married in the Registro Civil office during office hours, there is no cost. On working days and office hours, marriages at home are $256 pesos plus a fee of $23 pesos to cover the expenses of the regime* that you choose to marry by, plus the transportation expenses for the justice of the peace. Outside of regular working hours it costs $343 pesos, plus the regime fee, plus the taxi for the judge. If you wish to get married in a hot air balloon or a yacht, the cost is $1,500 pesos on working days and hours and $2,000 on non-working days and hours. *You may choose to marry under one of two regimes: legal society or separation of goods. Editor's note: we wish to thank the Registro Civil office in Puerto Vallarta (Tel: 221-2594) for their valuable help facilitating the legal information. The Church of Guadalupe, with its famous crown held by angels, is a Catholic temple. If you are not Mexican, but are believers and would like to exchange vows before the Virgin of Guadalupe, it can be done with little effort. Both of you will have to go to your parish pastor who will send all your papers (certificates of Baptism, Holy Communion and Confirmation) to Puerto Vallarta and reassure his Mexican colleagues that you have been attending the premarital counseling sessions. If you are a foreigner engaged to a Mexican, each of you will present papers in your own parishes, accompanied by two witnesses-people who have known you for more than five years. Each of you may attend the premarital counseling separately. When one of the two belongs to a different religion but have agreed to get married through the Catholic rite, the non-believer may go to a Catholic church in his/her own country to get permission that will be granted under the condition that the couple raise their children in the Catholic faith. Nevertheless, nobody will have to convert. According to Rev Luis Ramírez, pastor of the Church of Guadalupe, every year there are about 20 couples from the USA or Canada who marry here as well as some Europeans. According to him, the paperwork is basically very simple, but everything should be done with plenty of time in advance. The fax number for the Church of Guadalupe is (3) 222-6495. Remember that getting married through the Church has no legal value in Mexico; the civil marriage is the only valid one. • Restaurant Oscar´s:On this beautiful island, at the mouth of the river, surrounded by tropical vegetation, you will find this idyllic restaurant with its excellent cuisine, impresive panoramic vista,romatic music and incomparable sunsets. • Los Arcos: a natural treasure of the Bay, these rocky formations with arches and caves are a truly spectacular setting for an unforgettable wedding onboard. • A Yact • A private Villa • A beach • A hotel - the best hotels offer wedding packages and specialized staff • A hot-air balloon |
