My fiance and I are going to get married soon, but didn't want to have the wedding just yet. We were wondering if it was required to have a wedding to be legally married.
2007-07-08 12:51:07 · 25 answers · asked by Teresa G 1 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
There has to be a wedding, but it doesn't have to be a big deal in a church or with bridesmaids, etc. The ceremony is all that's required in order to be married, and that can be performed by a judge or justice of the peace at city hall, the county courthouse, or your backyard.
The actual ceremony can be done in the course of a couple minutes with only minmum witnesses (usually two, but it can be as few as one or as many as three, depending on where you are). The required elements are simply that you state your willingness to marry and exchange general promises to be married in front of witnesses.
A church ceremony, a white dress, flowers, the reception...none of these are legal requirements of marriage.
But once you choose to forgo them, you can't have another wedding. You may choose later to have a reaffirmation of vows or a church blessing, but you would already be married.
2007-07-08 13:14:53 · answer #1 · answered by gileswench 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not at all and it is actually quite common to have the wedding party or proceeding after legally being married. What is required is your marriage license. Details vary from state to state but there are no undue burdens on getting married. It should be quick and cheap anywhere. After you knock that out you can plan whatever you want whether a church wedding and big party at a fancy hotel or a get together with the few but close at a house or something. Congrats.
2007-07-08 12:54:48 · answer #2 · answered by Another Garcia 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't have to have a big wedding ceremony and reception, it can just be the 2 of you and a judge/JP/minister, or other officiant. The 2 of you have to stand before a person and recite vows to acknowledge that you are marrying the other person, and then that person has to sign the marriage license and it has to be filed though the courthouse. Some places require 1 or 2 witnesses to sign as well, check with your courthouse on that. That can be people you choose, or the officiant can provide them. Best wishes!
2007-07-09 10:28:32 · answer #3 · answered by LoveWithNoBoundaries 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do not know of any Law in any country that states that there has to be a wedding for a couple to marry. all you have to do to marry is turn up at a registry office with two witnesses and they perform a small ceremony and off you go as a married couple. whether you decide to go for lunch, have a celebration party or a wedding, it is up to the two of you.
there is also a considerable cost involved in weddings so a lot of people do wait to have the wedding until they feel ready to do so.
good luck
2007-07-08 13:00:40 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no you don't have to physically walk down the aisle in a white dress with everyone there to get married. you can just go to the justice of the peace or something. They'll marry you...My husband and I actually got married by the Justice of the Peace in VA last august and then had a real wedding with friends and family this past april.
2007-07-08 12:54:09 · answer #5 · answered by Danielle 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some ship's captains can also perform legally binding marriages, so you could go on a cruise and still celebrate a little without the whole wedding deal. They may even give you a free cake and dinner or champagne in the cabin. Plus, built in honeymoon! (make sure the captain your considering can do it though-not all are authorized to)
2007-07-08 12:58:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not neccesarily....I have a relative who is well let just are a bit hard in life (money is not easy) but have a daughter that want to get married....she told the child they have to pay their own wedding as she cannot support such event...The daughter who with her fiancee just started working and doe not have the means....so in order to be responsible and not to bring shame to the family...they get married first according to religion ie just moms and dads and them with a priest and registered and it is not after a few years did they have a proper wedding...no one in the close community say anything.....in fact to me she is the most responsible well thinking girl i have seen
2007-07-08 12:57:54 · answer #7 · answered by soundfamiliar 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The wedding is the bit where you go to church or court or wherever you decide, and say your vows to each other, that's the wedding. You don't have to have a reception party, but if you don't do the bit where you say your vows and sign the paper work then you aren't married.
2007-07-08 23:09:53 · answer #8 · answered by sparkleythings_4you 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can go to City Hall and sign the paperwork to make you legally married, they might have some standard vows you need to say with a JP but it usually only takes a few moments.
2007-07-08 12:54:16 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope. You can go to the county courthouse in most states. In SC a notary public can marry you.
No wedding required!
2007-07-08 12:54:14 · answer #10 · answered by crankyissues 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋