Marriage question....

[sparky11867]

We are planning a late may wedding in the DR, but I just read somewhere that it could take up to 6 months for the Oficialia de Estado Civil to process our paperwork. Is this true? Is there a faster way to go? Maybe contact the DR consulate here in Chicago?

Thanks!

[Fabio J. Guzman]

¿Where did you get this information? I don't believe it's true.

[sangria]

i would say its not true...

we were married Sat March 8/08 & had the marriage certificate in our hands on Tue March 11/08.

this was in puerto plata

we did need to send our documents 1 month early which I am assuming was to register us...

[sparky11867]

What did you send exactly and where did you send it to to? If we mail everything in the next few days, do you think we'll be good to go by May 28th? Or, even better, should we try to use a wedding planner at one of the resorts to take care of things?

[eztime]

okay I have a similar problem..the name on my fiancé and birth certificate does not match the name on her cedula is this going to be a problem or is there a way around it

[sangria]

Originally Posted by sparky11867

What did you send exactly and where did you send it to to? If we mail everything in the next few days, do you think we'll be good to go by May 28th? Or, even better, should we try to use a wedding planner at one of the resorts to take care of things?

Initially I did not want to have the wedding at the resort and chose a wedding planner in puerto plata that turned out to be a NIGHTMARE. We were fortunate enough to attend a wedding that she organized in January and to briefly sum it up...NO ICE, ran out of food, ran out of alcohol, NO POP, bad DJ and this woman provided the clothes for the ring bear & flowergirl but FORGOT to make them & delayed the wedding by 4 hours while she tried to pull something together.

Needless to say this was not what we were looking for. We then tried a restaurant on the Malecon in Puerto Plata but they seemed a little sketchy...saying one thing & then changing the price & what was included.

In the end, I felt for the sake of my guests that it was best to use the hotel. We were married at VIVA Wyndham Playa Dorada & the hotel was fantastic & the Guest Service Manager Rosangela de la Rosa was extremely organized & everything turned out great.

We brought in our own band and did things our own way....not the quick boring way the hotel normally facilitates their weddings.

I would reccommend using the hotel facilities because you know you will get what you ask for, you don't have to worry about drinks or food & you can enjoy your wedding stress free.

I had to send my documents to the hotel 1 month prior. I sent them by fax & brought the originals with me. They need birth certificate, single status affidavit & passport. Single status notarized & then sent to be translated to spanish & legalized by the dominican consulate in your country. Birth certificate does not have to be notarized but does need to be translated & legalized.

You should speak directly with the hotel to see what they need & how fast. You will be ok because you just need to fax them.

When i couriered my docs to the consulate in Ottawa, I sent them on a Monday & had them back on Thursday.

Sangria