Ok, so up until a day ago, I had every intention to marry my British fiance in England on Oct. 3rd. After talking to a mutual family friend, I realized that since I'll also be living in the UK, having the wedding there might seem like I'm trying to cut my family out of our lives. My fiance and I were thinking about having two ceremonies- One in the USA, and one in the UK. The only problem is all the legal stuff that goes with it. Is it possible just to have a wedidng ceremony in the US without having a marriage certificate? Will we need to get my fiance some sort of visa if the first wedding ceremony is in the US? Or can we go ahead and have the ceremony there without having a legal ceremony, and then have the actual wedding in the UK a few months later, where we'll actually have it certified and legitimate? I know it's a confusing questions, but any input would be greatly appreciated...Thanks so much.
2007-11-19 04:36:04 · 12 answers · asked by Melanie P 2 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
Sure. Just have the ceremony and reception here. And then get married in London with another ceremony. Just remember that you won't be legally married until the certificate is signed. I know of a bunch of people who have done this. It's a great way of pleasing everyone...
2007-11-19 04:49:19 · answer #1 · answered by Bubblelips 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Similar situation here. I'm American and my fiance is from India. He has lived in the US for the past 12 years, but with the exception of some aunts, uncles, and cousins who live in a nearby US city, most of his family still live in India. We knew from the beginning that we would have to have one event where we live and another event in India.
After careful consideration, we decided to have the 'real' wedding and a reception where we live, and then fly to India for a big reception there. We're not having a ceremony in India, other than to receive the blessings of the family elders before the reception. We're not having a ceremony there for the following reasons: 1. No one would perform a civil ceremony for a couple who is already married. 2. In the state where his family lives, non-Hindus are not allowed inside temples, so we couldn't have a Hindu ceremony or blessing. (besides, neither of us is religious). His family is perfectly happy to just host the reception.
From everything I've heard and read, you need to have the legally-binding ceremony - big or small - in the place where you live....in your case, the UK. If you are religious, perhaps you could find a clergy person in the US who would perform a ceremony or blessing for you. You can and should definitely have a good reception for all your family and friends in the US. You asked about having one ceremony and the a legally-binding one later....I don't think you'll be able to do that. The reason being that you'll have an extremely hard time finding anyone to perform a ceremony that doesn't carry any legal weight.
My fiance and I have a few other friends who are in the same situation. Typically, they have a ceremony and reception where they live and then a big reception for friends/family in the other country.
Congratulations!! Good luck.
2007-11-19 04:56:08 · answer #2 · answered by SE 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would be far better to have a reception in the US after the wedding ceremony.
After all, you only have one wedding and one wedding date. Any other (non-legal) ceremony would be fake and really just a mockery of the real one. You could decide to have a commitment ceremony in the US, where you still wear the dress so that the US reception still allows everyone to see you in your gown. However you have to have no superstitions about the groom seeing you in your dress before the wedding.
But it is far too soon to have a renewal of vows and very few people want to be invited to a fake wedding instead of the real thing. That's kind of harsh. It's like you aren't good enough to be invited to the real deal. Many churches would refuse to do it. I know the Catholic and Baptist churches wouldn't, b/c it is kinda making a mockery of their church service. So what I would do is have a casual event after the real wedding. Something enjoyable for all, like a backyard picnic. And have an area set up where people can watch the wedding video, look at the wedding pictures, etc. That way everyone feels like they got to celebrate your marriage ceremony without having to watch a video or reenactment if they don't want to.
I also don't know what your financial situation is but a formal ceremony would involve 2 rental of the church fees, two reception hall fees and in general, twice as much money. I know people on here say they know someone who has done it, but that is a huge expense to consider.
2007-11-19 04:49:58 · answer #3 · answered by phantom_of_valkyrie 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I don't know all the ins and outs of getting a visa, but I know you can have any kind of ceremony you want without having to have a certificate signed. My husband and I got married in a legal ceremony the day before our actual wedding. Most of our friends and family don't know we were legally married by then. The only thing you have to make sure of is that whoever officiates is okay with it.
2007-11-19 05:49:10 · answer #4 · answered by Damsel 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
RE:
Having two wedding ceremonies...?
Ok, so up until a day ago, I had every intention to marry my British fiance in England on Oct. 3rd. After talking to a mutual family friend, I realized that since I'll also be living in the UK, having the wedding there might seem like I'm trying to cut my family out of our lives. My fiance...
2015-08-02 05:14:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can have a wedding ceremony without a marriage certificate. You won't be legally married yet, but it could be a "spiritual" wedding that your family and friends in the US can enjoy with you. Then you can have the other one in England with all the legal stuff.
2007-11-19 05:00:45 · answer #6 · answered by LSU_Tiger23 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can have a commitment ceremony. Why don't you just throw a pre-wedding party and invite all of your friends and family?
2007-11-19 04:44:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that will be a great way to involve both families. As for your legal questions, I don't think there would be any issue with waiting for the marriage license in the UK. I would just explain to your officiant that you're having the "official" wedding a couple months later in the UK, and the rest of your situation. He/She shouldn't have any problem with performing the ceremony.
As for bringing your fiance to the US, you should just need his passport, unless you're staying for an extended period of time.
2007-11-19 04:45:44 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have now someone that have two weddings, and Hindi and christian You could get married on the beach with an Justice of peace and then just get married with your parents in the church. You do not need a full wedding. YOu could see if you could do that the same day I have seen priest do weddings inside a hall I have seen friends that are Catholic and Jewish, they get married once in a hall with both a rabi and a priest. I have seen priest married someone out of the church
2016-03-14 23:38:15 · answer #9 · answered by Elizabeth 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can only get married once. This sounds way to complicated. Have a wedding in the UK and then have a party in the States to celebrate with your family. Invite everyone to your wedding and let them decide if they want to travel to it
2007-11-19 04:45:01 · answer #10 · answered by Alissa 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋