CIVIL (legal ceremony)
The Civil Ceremony is in Spanish and is approx. 15 minutes in total and is presented by the official judge from the Civil Registry of Puerto Vallarta. The civil ceremony can take place at your wedding location on the beach, villa or restaurant. Couple receives an official legal marriage certificate in Puerto Vallarta and is valid in your country. The fee is $350 and requires you obtain documents from your government. See our website for more requirements.
There are no English speaking judges currently at the civil registry office therefore the ceremony would have to be translated and in most cases the wedding coordinator is prepared to translate. The ceremony is not spiritual and is a short reading and 5 minute signing of the marriage certificate.
Many couples legalize their marriages in their own countries on their own at their local justice of the peace and have a spiritual ceremony as the actual wedding in Puerto Vallarta. The spiritual ceremony comes with a certificate that you sign during the ceremony. A minister ceremony is more personalized, spiritual and meaningful. However we are happy to handle arrangements for the civil (legal ceremony in Puerto Vallarta. We just want our clients to know that the ceremony is translated and does not include religioun, spirituality nor traditions to make the ceremony more personalized and directed more towards you, your families and friends.
Documents - For U.S. citizens to marry legally in Mexico, so it is recognized in your country, you must obtain certified copies of your birth certificates with an attachment called an "apostille" from the vital statistics department of the State Departments your were born in. For citizens of other countries, like Canada and Britain, we provide the complete instructions for their requirements.
Briefing - Prenuptial Briefing - Every couple having a civil ceremony in Puerto Vallarta, must attend a prenuptial briefing before the wedding, where they shall be required to watch a short videotape about marriage. The briefing is mandatory to all couples and there are NO EXCEPTIONS to this rule. The Briefing day is now every Friday at 9:00am (as of January 24 / 07) and takes place at the family developement center (DIF). Our coordinator will pick you up at 8:15am at your hotel to take you to the briefing and blood tests and take you back after. Failing to attend this briefing forfeits the ceremony and the legalization of the wedding in Vallarta will not be granted.
Special briefing dates can be arranged on other days of the week, if you are unable to attend on Friday. It can be from Monday to Thursday. The briefing time depends on what day you request a special briefing. Consult with your coordinator about the time. There is a fee of $50 dollars by DIF for a special briefing arrangement.
There is no said time period a couple must be in Puerto Vallarta before their wedding date, however we recommend that you plan your travel itinerary to make sure you will be in Vallarta before 8:00am on the Friday before your wedding date, so you are able to attend this briefing, so please let your coordinator know your arrival date or if you need to arrange a special briefing date.
Blood Tests - The law in Mexico requires that you have the blood tests in Mexico (Puerto Vallarta) prior to the ceremony. We will take you to the lab for blood test that checks for blood type and factor only. There are no other examinations necessary.
Witnesses - You require only two witnesses in the state of Jalisco. (witnesses can be friends or family members but not parents and must be over 18 and present at the ceremony in Vallarta with their original Id's in order to sign the marriage certificate) If necessary we can act as witnesses for you.
For Civil Weddings, we need to know ...
A: What city, state & country do you both currently live in?
B: What are your citizenship's?
C: Is this a first marriage for both of you?
D: What are your arrival and departure dates?
E: Where do you currently live (city, country)?
• There is an additional charge for weddings that take place outside the city limits (Mismaloya to Marina Vallarta) depending on location.
• Civil weddings do not include additional translation fees for divorce decree(s), name change or death certificate where applicable. (Fee - $35 per translation)
Your wedding coordinator will provide the rest of the information and instructions you need to prepare all your documents for a civil ceremony, upon reservation of your wedding date with your coordinator. |
