Destination Wedding: Symbolic or legal wedding? What you need to know!

Couple getting married

Many couples today that are looking into Destination Weddings have to choose between a legal or civil wedding at the destination versus a symbolic wedding.

Legal or Civil wedding:

Is a wedding ceremony that is performed by a government official and is recognized by the government.
In Texas, United States you have to obtain a License to get married and to do it you and your love one just need to go to your city Courthouse and request the forms to get married. This license is valid for 90 days.

When you are in front of the clerk you need to provide:

• Present valid government photo ID (e.g. driver's license, ID card or passport) proving that you are each at least 18 years old
• Fill out the application Form 
• Repeat the oath listed on the application
• Sign the application in front of the clerk
• Pay the application fee

After that you are on your way to get married!

The following people are authorized to conduct your Texas wedding ceremony:

• A licensed or ordained minister or priest, a rabbi, or other religious officer authorized to conduct wedding ceremonies
• An active or retired federal or Texas state or county judge or justice of the peace

All your officiant will need to do is fill out his portion of your marriage license. 

​In fact, you can get married right there at the Courthouse where you are filling out documents to obtain your license and leave the place already legally married, all in one day!
 
Symbolic wedding:
 
Is a ceremony where two people in love exchange vows, exchange rings and have the proper wedding with an officiant but it doesn’t have any legal benefits for the couple.
 
Many couples choose to get married in their origin country and do their symbolic ceremony at a Destination Wedding just to avoid all the legal requirements that each country has. In Mexico for example the weddings have to be performed in Spanish and translated by the hotel personnel and requires blood test and many more requisites that makes more complicated something that is so simple here at the United States
 
My advice to you, don’t waste time and money doing a legal wedding in the destination of your preference, do your legal marriage license in your origin country and just do your symbolic wedding at the destination, it will save you a lot of time and headaches!

Reference: The Knot Magazine