types of wedding ceremonies
THE WEDDING CEREMONY : SYMBOLIC | CIVIL| RELIGIOUS:
So you have determined where your special day will be held - Island (local/ domestic) or a Destination Experience. Now it’s time to consider the type of ceremony you would like to have. The both of you will have to be in agreement with this from the onset as this will dictate certain aspects of your day. Below I will discuss the three most common ones listed above:
SYMBOLIC CEREMONY:
This type of ceremony is commonly used by most couples who have decided to go with the Destination Experience. In this process the couple would have been legally married abroad in a private setting and then they would come to Jamaica for example and have the entire wedding with families and friends. However; there wouldn’t be any paperwork to be completed as they would have already been legally married. Hence; the officiant would perform a symbolic ceremony. When planning a destination wedding there are certain legal requirements ( we will discuss further) that you would need to fulfill before being granted a marriage permit | license which some couples finds the process to be a very tedious one as documents have to be copied, notarized and then sent to your planner and then gets submitted to the relevant authorities from them to review and grant the requisite license, so they choose not to go that route but instead have a symbolic ceremony. Some couples may keep the fact that they are legally married between themselves so that it does not take away from their families and friends’ experiences in sharing their joy when they say “I do.”
CIVIL CEREMONY:
This is the process where you may choose to have your ceremony at your local courthouse, on the beach, in a banquet room or at your Registrar General’s Department (Jamaica) etc. You and your two witnesses or if you don’t have witnesses you can be provided with same. You can also have as many guests as you may be permitted to. These organizations will take care of all your legal documentation and file for your marriage certificates on your behalf. This marriage is presided over by a legal official rather than a Rabbi or a Priest.
RELIGIOUS CEREMONY:
This is where your ceremony takes place in a church or any other place of worship. A minister of religion performs this ceremony in full attendance of your families and friends.
Whichever type of ceremony you choose to have it should be a decision that you both are in agreement with. It shouldn’t be about what my friends and families will think if I choose one or the other. Remember the day is about the both of you and the memories that you create.email
