How to get married in Oaxaca

Your Ultimate Guide to Oaxaca Destination Weddings

With growing popularity for wowing guests with rich history, beautiful weather, one-of-a-kind culinary experiences, and vibrant wedding traditions, Oaxaca attracts hundreds of couples from the US, UK, and beyond for their destination wedding. If you’re dreaming of all things Oaxaca for your wedding day, you must first master some legalities before preparing for your wedding in Oaxaca, Mexico.

This guide will take you through the legal requirements and documents you need to prepare for your civil or religious destination wedding in 2023 or 2024.

Written from my own Oaxaca wedding experience, I hope you find this article helpful. If, after reading this article, you are left with more questions about how to get married in Oaxaca, don’t hesitate to ask! I’d love to help! Reach me at Diana@joyandlightphography.com

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Do I Need to Be a Resident of Oaxaca to Get Married There?

No. You do not need to be a resident of Oaxaca, Mexico to have a civil or religious wedding there.

Can I Get Married in Oaxaca with a Tourist Visa?

Yes! You can apply for a marriage license utilizing a valid passport and Mexican tourism visa.

Is Same Sex Marriage Legal in Oaxaca, Mexico?

Yes. Since October of 2019, same sex marriage is legal in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Civil Ceremony Weddings in Oaxaca, Mexico

It is recognized and legal for USA citizens to get married in Oaxaca. To ensure your Oaxaca legal civil wedding runs smoothly make sure you collect the required documents and follow the below steps.

Documents You Will Need for Your Oaxaca Legal Civil Ceremony Wedding

(All documents except for your passport will need to be translated to Spanish and properly notarized).

Steps to Civil Ceremony Weddings in Oaxaca, Mexico

1 – Take required documents to the local municipality (AKA – Oficialias).

2 – There You will present your documents and fill out marriage forms.

3 – Pay for your marriage license. (Approximately $520 MXN Pesos / $30 USD Dollars)

4 – The ceremony can then either take place at the local registry office or arranged elsewhere.

5 – Congratulations! The Oaxaca marriage document is recognized in the USA, UK, Canada, and beyond.

**In Oaxaca City the registration office you will need to visit is located at: Armenta y López no. 1038, Centro, Oaxaca, C.P. 68000.

Phone number is 51 4 22 58 / 51 4 83 94

For a listing of all other registration offices, click the link below.

https://www.oaxaca.gob.mx/civil/oficialias/

Foreign nationals marrying other non-Mexicans can be married in Oaxaca by following the above process. For additional questions about getting married in Oaxaca, contact the nearest Mexican consulate.

https://mx.usembassy.gov/marriage/

Guide to Getting Married in Oaxaca Santo Domingo Church

My biggest piece of advice before you begin this journey, is that you have patience and give yourself plenty of buffer time. Overall processing times are significant slower compared to the USA or Europe.

Santo Domingo is a Catholic Temple, unlike other catholic parishes, there are certain things that you will not be allowed to do. For example, flower girls dropping flower petals or playing more contemporary music. Other things to know about getting married in Oaxaca’s Santo Domingo Church is that this temple books significantly in advance. I HIGHLY recommend you book at minimum 12 months ahead. If you are seeking to get married on a weekend (Friday or Saturday) in Oaxaca’s high wedding season of September – November, plan to book 16 months ahead.

When it comes to booking Oaxaca Santo Domingo Church, I can’t emphasize how important it is to book significantly in advance.

Steps for Getting Married at Oaxaca Santo Domingo Church

Templo Santo Domingo de Guzman is a catholic temple overseen by the Oaxaca Dioses and as such you must follow the steps set by canon law. For this step-by-step guide to getting married in Oaxaca Santo Domingo, I will assume you are traveling from abroad.

1 – Contact your local catholic parish to start marriage prep. They will ensure you have completed all required sacraments and start the necessary background checks.

2 – Inform your local parish of your desire to be married at Templo Santo Domingo de Guzmán.

3 – Contact Santo Domingo de Guzman and confirm your desired date is available.

4 – 50% of the mass fee will be due to reserve your date. See above for more payment details.

5 – Ensure you gather and complete your marriage preparation. Once you have completed your parish marriage requirements – asked them to prepare and send your marriage packet to:

Parroquia de la Preciosa Sangre de Cristo (Templo Santo Domingo de Guzmán) C. de Manuel Bravo 108, RUTA INDEPENDENCIA, Centro, 6800, Oaxaca de Juárez, Oaxaca, Mexico

*Heads up! To avoid delays, ensure that your local dioses seal and signature is not overlooked.

6 – Aim to have your documents submitted no later than 3 months prior to your wedding date.

7 – Make remaining payment 30 days prior to your wedding date. Congratulations!! You are all set!

Have more questions?! I’m happy to help! You can reach me at diana@joyandlightphotography.com or contact:

Luciana Garcia Hernandez – Spanish Only

Templo Santo Domingo de Guzman Email: ofisanto@gmail.com

Phone: +52 951 516 3720

Address: C. Macedonio Alcalá s/n, RUTA INDEPENDENCIA, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca de Juárez, Oaxaca, Mexico

How Much Does It Cost to Get Married in Oaxaca Santo Domingo Church?

The cost of weddings in Oaxaca Templo Santo Domingo de Guzmán is $22500 MXN pesos or approximately $1200 USD (at the time of this 2023 writing). If living abroad, the easiest way to pay is via direct wire transfer (details listed below). It is best practice to always double check with recipients for updates.

Recipient: Frailes Dominicos de Santo Domingo en Oaxaca, A.R.

Bank: Santander

Account Number: Changes depending on the season. Please confirm with main office.

*Heads up! Some wiring services might ask you for a BIC code. I spent so much time trying to confirm and track this one down. After countless hours of double… and triple checking, I found that the BIC code is also known as a SWIFT code. For sending payment for the services of Templo Santo Domingo in Oaxaca (Santander Account) BIC code is: BMSXMXMMXXX.

Always ensure bank information is up to date with Santo Domingo Officials.

What’s The Cost of a Wedding in Oaxaca, Mexico?

You can expect to spend around $20,000 USD for an intimate affair with less than 30 guests taking place at a wedding venue or hotel. More elaborate affairs with guests of 150+ start at $55,000 USD.

Getting Married in Oaxaca? I’m here to Help!

For couples interested in knowing more about how to get married in Oaxaca or have questions about how to best bridge cultures while minimizing language barriers on your wedding day – I’d love to connect and help you create a seamless bilingual photography experience. 

CLICK HERE AND LET’S GET CHATTING!

CLICK HERE AND LET’S GET CHATTING!

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