When planning a Cabo San Lucas wedding ceremony, many couples ask what the difference between having a minister or a Justice of Peace/judge perform their ceremony is. Ministers perform non-denominational ceremonies, but this does not change your marital status anywhere in the world.
If you wish for your wedding to be recognized as legal around the world, you must get legally married in the U.S. and then have a non-denominational/symbolic ceremony here in Los Cabos. You may also have both a non-denominational ceremony and civil ceremony in Mexico.
By selecting a non-denominational ceremony, you may participate in the creation of your entire wedding ceremony including vows, ring exchanges, prayers, songs, readings, etc., whereas in a civil ceremony, you may not. Your marital status will change with a civil ceremony. It is important that you consider that the ceremony must be performed in Spanish, but will be translated simultaneously in English. The vows that you will exchange are set by the State and cannot be modified. Specific requirements need to be completed for a civil ceremony to take place which are mentioned below:
