Phone:
Mex +52 998 884 2450
USA 561 283 1139

Fax +52 998 892 77 73

Legal (Civil) Weddings

Now that you’ve chosen an exciting Mexican Caribbean location for your event, you must know a bit about the legalities involved for getting married in Mexico. Cancun Wedding Consultant will be with you during every step of this process.

There are two types of marriage ceremonies in Mexico: the religious (or symbolic, spiritual, or non-denominational) ceremony, and the one in which your marriage is legally recognized, called the civil ceremony. The religious ceremony in and of itself is not legally recognized; it must be accompanied by the civil ceremony in which the marriage certificate is signed in the presence of four witnesses and a justice of the peace or judge.

If you decide to have a religious wedding (officiated by a priest, minister, rabbi, Maya shaman, etc.), the civil ceremony can be held earlier or later; it lasts at least 30 minutes.

If you don’t wish to have a religious wedding, you may opt for enlarging the civil wedding, and the justice of the peace or judge will make it a meaningful, personalized ceremony in which the couple exchanges nuptial vows at the beach or at any location you choose, with appropriate decorations and other extras.

Upon signing the Mexican marriage certificate, you are also considered legally wed in your home country. Your marriage certificate is recognized in many countries including the United States, Canada, France, England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany and most other countries of the world.

The future bride and groom should arrive at least three business days (Monday through Friday) prior to your wedding so that Cancun Wedding Consultant can have time to get all legal documents ready for signing on your wedding day. The requirements vary according to whether you are a Mexican or non-Mexican citizen. To find out what documents are necessary for your particular case, click on the correct subcategory. Once you have finished with these requirements, Cancun Wedding Consultant will take care of everything else—you’re free to relax on the beach or at the spa!

MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE: After your wedding ceremony, Cancun Wedding Consultant will keep the original marriage certificate in order to send it to the state capital city of Chetumal where it will be officially sealed. This legal process can take up to 40 business days; when it has been sealed, we will have it delivered it to your home address via FedEx. In the interim, Cancun Wedding Consultant will give its clients a certified copy of their marriage certificate.