Sorry for the not-very-descriptive title, the brain isn't working well at the moment.
I've been looking into doing the REAS for my honeymoon, but I'm having a hard time justifying the cost for various reasons.
As I've mentioned occasionally before, I'm a travel agent. I'm currently working on a big group going to the Dominican Republic for a wedding. Although I've sent clients to the DR before, I've never sent a wedding group there before. What I found out today was a little surprising to me.
In order to get married in the DR, both the bride & groom must have: valid passports (not required to enter the country, just to get married there), original birth certificate - english version and translated into Spanish ($40 US fee each), and a notarized affidavit from each stating that they're single in both English and translated into Spanish ($40 US fee each) plus it has to be "legalized" by the DR embassy ($75 US fee each).
That's a total of $310, just to have the paperwork translated and "legalized". That's not including whatever fee they have to pay to the notary before sending to the Embassy. That's totally separate from the charges for the wedding itself.
And my first thought was - thank heavens I'm getting married in Las Vegas, where the only requirement is the purchase of a $55 license.
Then I was sent information on the "honeymoon package" for the resort. It consists of: upgrade to a suite with jacuzzi, a honeymoon spa experience (no mention of what that is), tropical fruit basket upon arrival, romantic dinner for 2 (it's an all-inclusive resort, so that's no big deal), "First Morning after romantic breakfast with sparkling wine and flowers" (whatever that is), 24-hr room service (DCL already has that!), bathrobes & slippers, 1 hour of nighttime horseback riding, souvenir package.
Cost for that: $75 per person, per day. That's $1050 for a week. Again, totally separate from the actual cost of the wedding.
Makes the REAS look like a bargain!
I've been looking into doing the REAS for my honeymoon, but I'm having a hard time justifying the cost for various reasons.
As I've mentioned occasionally before, I'm a travel agent. I'm currently working on a big group going to the Dominican Republic for a wedding. Although I've sent clients to the DR before, I've never sent a wedding group there before. What I found out today was a little surprising to me.
In order to get married in the DR, both the bride & groom must have: valid passports (not required to enter the country, just to get married there), original birth certificate - english version and translated into Spanish ($40 US fee each), and a notarized affidavit from each stating that they're single in both English and translated into Spanish ($40 US fee each) plus it has to be "legalized" by the DR embassy ($75 US fee each).
That's a total of $310, just to have the paperwork translated and "legalized". That's not including whatever fee they have to pay to the notary before sending to the Embassy. That's totally separate from the charges for the wedding itself.
And my first thought was - thank heavens I'm getting married in Las Vegas, where the only requirement is the purchase of a $55 license.
Then I was sent information on the "honeymoon package" for the resort. It consists of: upgrade to a suite with jacuzzi, a honeymoon spa experience (no mention of what that is), tropical fruit basket upon arrival, romantic dinner for 2 (it's an all-inclusive resort, so that's no big deal), "First Morning after romantic breakfast with sparkling wine and flowers" (whatever that is), 24-hr room service (DCL already has that!), bathrobes & slippers, 1 hour of nighttime horseback riding, souvenir package.
Cost for that: $75 per person, per day. That's $1050 for a week. Again, totally separate from the actual cost of the wedding.
Makes the REAS look like a bargain!
