decisions, decisions...Hawaii vs Mexico

I don't really know anything about it (so I should probably just shut up, right? ), but I would imagine that you could get legally married in the US in a courthouse or something and just have the ceremony and reception in Mexico if that's what you wanted to do. Anyone out there who's more informed than me?

Hey Rose,

well as you know i decided on Hawaii, I felt the scenery was perfect there (although i have never visited), my fiance has been to Mexico and says its also very beautiful there, so i believe it comes down to what you both feel is right for you. There are pros and cons to both, in Hawaii i believe the paper work is easier? From what i've read, and has a more laid back attitude (in a good way of course lol) - either way both would make for a stunning backdrop to your destination wedding!

Hey rosebub, I was planning our wedding in the Rivera Maya and changed it not because of the hassle of the paper work (which a lot), but for other reasons. The all-inclusive thought very much appealed to me. It would be easier to get married at a courthouse and then have a ceremony there. Our resort would not allow that, if I was purchasing the package. We could not be married before we got there and the legalities for paperwork if either has been divorced would add more to the headache. In the end waiting for the government to process proper paperwork on a timely basis so you could apply for the next batch of government legalities was a lot of added stress. Just my thought. I would do a little more research as they are both beautiful and would give you a wonderful wedding. Good luck.

You will get more bang for the buck in Mexico than you would in Hawaii. So if money is a big concern for you, you might want to look more into Mexico.

As for the "legal parts" just have a symbolic ceremony over there and do your courthouse thing in the states.

And look at the Caribbean side of Mexico as well. Cancun is a gorgeous place to get married in.

All inclusive it totally the way to go. esp for your honeymoon.

also think about the food. we were going to honeymoon in hawaii but im not fond of the food so we did mexico instead, we love mexican food!

and i LOVE cabo. one of my favorite vacation spots. so i would say go mexico all the way. but if you LOVE hawaii then go there

Both are beautiful but there are both pros and cons. Do you speak good spanish? If not then better go to Hawaii.

To Future Mrs. Singer -I will keep in contact to see how the Hawaii wedding planning is going..especially if I decide to go that route.

To Danhan -did you use a coordinator when you looked into Rivera Maya? or did you do the planning yourselves?

Sara B. -I never thought of a destination reception before!! hhmm...what a great idea!

Thanks to all for the inputs/ideas....there are much to consider especially when planning a destination wedding. Will now start making phone calls...

We are getting married in Mexico next month. We are going to get married at the court house the day before we leave. We chose Mexico more for our guests, because it was cheaper and the great all-inclusives. Plus flying to Mexico we could get non-stop flight so we don't have to spend the whole day traveling.

Tasha -congrats next month...how exciting!!! where in Mexico? did you use a coordinator in the planning? what was the hardest part of the planning for you?

Congratulations Rose! The paperwork isn't that bad in Cabo, though you do have to get there 3 days early to make sure it gets filed in time to get your license and you do have to get a blood test. You will also be fingerprinted right after the ceremony, and the ink doesn't come off easily. Marriages are also not legal unless performed by a judge, and they're performed in Spanish (you can have a friend translate). They take the American dollars all over Cabo and everyone speaks English- it's very touristy in that respect. Downside-All of your guests will need passports, and Cabo isn't that cheap. The airport is about 30 minutes from Cabo San Lucas and 15 from San Jose Del Cabo, and cabs are $$$. There are also a limited number of beaches that are swimmable due to the rough surf. And if you are a type-A personality, the extremely slow response time from the vendors will make you crazy. Good luck with your planning, I hope this helps!

Thank you. We are getting married in the Riviera Maya at the Iberostar Grand. The hardest part has been waiting. They have coordinator on staff and a photographer. Our wedding party is very small only 8 of us going. Our travel agent has helped a ton on coordinating everyones packages. We've made the big decisions like the place for the wedding, the cake and flowers all over e-mail. They e-mails us a list of choices. The finer details they said we can do the day before the wedding. I figured they do this all the time and the beach is what is going to make it beautiful. Research your hotel choices on Tripadvisor.com, super helpful. I hope this helps.

All inclusive does have its cons though, you might not be able to control the details as much... and no problem feel free to stay in touch Its so much fun and stress planning this lol goodluck with your decision!

All inclusive resorts like Sandals doesn't let you control anything. You can't even bring your own photographer... Check it out before you make any final decisions.

You may also want to consider which of your guests have passports and who will have to get a passport to go to Mexico. It may not be a big obstacle for some, but if there is a significant number of immediate family members or close friends that don't currently have passports - it's something to think about.

Best of luck on your decision - I'm sure it will be amazing where ever you choose.

Well I made my decision....it will be Oahu!! Yippie! I took account everyone's input plus some researching and decided that overall Hawaii is the BEST location for my wedding. With that being said, now the planning begins....so excited!

To Future Mrs. Singer -I definitely would like to share ideas with you since you are ahead of the game....hehehe!

Thanks again to all!

I'm getting married in Mexico in March. It's something you have to decide. I've always wanted to go to the Mayan, and I really wanted all inclusive, which you can't really do in Hawaii. Having said that, my sister just lived in hawaii for the past four years and it's stunningly beautiful as well. Depends what you want your accommodations to be and how much you want your guests to spend. Mexico is a lot cheaper.

Aww poop. I missed your last post! hee hee. never mind. hawaii will be gorgeous!

I am a local wedding planner and would love to chat with you or help in any way. Check out my page on WW to find out more about me.

HAWAII is the way to go! It's my home so I am partial to this location lol. Honestly speaking, it's one of the most amazing places on earth and I wake up everyday feeling that way.

Gemina Chong

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