Planning Resources
After all of the big decisions have been made, do not forget about the following important details:
Months before the wedding:
One month before the wedding:
International requisites for a Costa Rican wedding
Please Contact Marcelo Galli for international Requisites for Costa Rica weddings: info@marcelogalli.com
The following is the information required for foreigners getting married in Costa Rica
Please email the following information to Marcelo Galli on both groom and bride:
WITNESSES:
Are you coming alone or with friends? If you bring any friends along, they can be witnesses (except relatives to the third degree). If not, let Marcelo know so he can make the necessary arrangements. If you do want your guests to bear witness, send me the info on items 1-5 on two (2) people of your choice (two witnesses are required).
NO NOTARIZED DOCUMENTS:
You will not need to bring any notarized legal documents because all your data will be included in a sworn statement which you both sign the day of the wedding. This avoids you having to notarize at the Costa Rican Consulate, and will save you time and money.
THE CEREMONY:
The ceremony speech is a beautiful one, with a traditional touch yet contemporary in its feel. Nonetheless, if you would like to examine the speech, make any adjustments, insert in the ceremony family readings, prayers, poems, songs, selected segments in Spanish, etc. Marcelo can customize the speech to your liking.
CERTIFICATION OF MARRIAGE:
The procedure for a valid marriage in Costa Rica involves the signing of two documents once concluded the ceremony. One is a sworn statement attesting principally to your marital status, thus avoiding any further proof. The other is the marriage document itself. After the ceremony, Marcelo cannot give you a Certificate because first paperwork must be submitted to the Civil Registry of Costa Rica. The whole processing of documents, which includes translation and authentication by the Consulate of your country of residence, may vary but normally takes 10-12 weeks. Once everything is ready, the Marriage Certificate will be sent, along with instructions, to the address you provide on Item 8. Marcelo will keep you updated with paperwork progress, via email, so you know exactly when the documentation is sent.
Any questions you may have, please feel free to contact Marcelo Galli: info@marcelogalli.com or visit his website: marcelogalli.com
Months before the wedding:
- Choose bridal gown
- Make honeymoon reservations
- Arrange legal and religious requirements
- Hotel reservations
- Plan and print invitations and other stationary
- Mail invitations to guests outside of the country
- Choose wedding rings
- Book make-up artist and hairdresser
- Choose attendants and their gowns: Bridesmaids, best man, usher, flower girls, ring boy.
- Book transport service
- Ask florist for a floral arrangement sample
- Make the bridal registry
One month before the wedding:
- Reconfirm number of guests to the hotel
- Engrave invitations
- Deliver invitations
- Organize thank- you notes
- Draw up seating plan for reception
- Hand out seating plan to hotel Event Staff
- Spiritual and religious preparation
- Check date and hours with all the services you hired: Photographer, florist, video, music, make-up artist and hairdresser
- Final fitting for full bridal outfit
- Schedule a menu tasting with your Event Manager at Los Suenos Marriott
- Pack for honeymoon
International requisites for a Costa Rican wedding
Please Contact Marcelo Galli for international Requisites for Costa Rica weddings: info@marcelogalli.com
The following is the information required for foreigners getting married in Costa Rica
Please email the following information to Marcelo Galli on both groom and bride:
- 1. Full name. (first, middle and last; no initials, please).
- 2. Profession/Occupation. (Please describe; for example: YES: engineer, electronic technician, school teacher, broker, assistant in electric company, etc; NO: service technician, assistant, assistant manager, strategy consultant, manager, operations manager, coordinator, etc.)
- 3. Current address. (street address, please). This is your home address.
- 4. Passport number and nationality. Please make sure each passport is signed by the bearer. Fax a preliminary copy of each passport -photo/information page only, please- to Costa Rica, fax number: 011-506-227-1157, or –preferably- scan them together and email to: info@marcelogalli.com (Scans: please send the scan in JPG format and size no larger than 500k. Under 150k: best) If you decide fax the passport copies, just bring a set of good, clear copies with you and you can give them to Marcelo when you meet a few hours prior to the ceremony. If there’s enough time, you can put them in the mail: Marcelo Galli, 3537 NW 82nd Avenue, SJ 414 Doral, Miami, FL 33122
- 5. Marital status. If divorced, please indicate the date, city and state, name of Court that decreed the divorce, and the full name of ex-spouse, no initials, please. Note: If the bride is divorced, her divorce date must be at least 300 days prior the date of the upcoming wedding. If not, he will provide further instructions.
- 6. Date and place of birth. (city, state or province, country).
- 7. Full name of Father and Mother and current citizenship. (no initials, please; Mother’s maiden name, please).
- 8. Mailing address. (No PO Box, please) This is the address where the final documentation will be sent. Courier company requires a street address. Package containing the Certificate of Marriage will require a “received” signature.
- 9. Phone number: Necessary for the courier company (in case they can’t find the address).
- 10. Email address: In case we are not in contact directly (through the hotel, perhaps), to let you know the Certificate of Marriage is on its way.
WITNESSES:
Are you coming alone or with friends? If you bring any friends along, they can be witnesses (except relatives to the third degree). If not, let Marcelo know so he can make the necessary arrangements. If you do want your guests to bear witness, send me the info on items 1-5 on two (2) people of your choice (two witnesses are required).
NO NOTARIZED DOCUMENTS:
You will not need to bring any notarized legal documents because all your data will be included in a sworn statement which you both sign the day of the wedding. This avoids you having to notarize at the Costa Rican Consulate, and will save you time and money.
THE CEREMONY:
The ceremony speech is a beautiful one, with a traditional touch yet contemporary in its feel. Nonetheless, if you would like to examine the speech, make any adjustments, insert in the ceremony family readings, prayers, poems, songs, selected segments in Spanish, etc. Marcelo can customize the speech to your liking.
CERTIFICATION OF MARRIAGE:
The procedure for a valid marriage in Costa Rica involves the signing of two documents once concluded the ceremony. One is a sworn statement attesting principally to your marital status, thus avoiding any further proof. The other is the marriage document itself. After the ceremony, Marcelo cannot give you a Certificate because first paperwork must be submitted to the Civil Registry of Costa Rica. The whole processing of documents, which includes translation and authentication by the Consulate of your country of residence, may vary but normally takes 10-12 weeks. Once everything is ready, the Marriage Certificate will be sent, along with instructions, to the address you provide on Item 8. Marcelo will keep you updated with paperwork progress, via email, so you know exactly when the documentation is sent.
Any questions you may have, please feel free to contact Marcelo Galli: info@marcelogalli.com or visit his website: marcelogalli.com