Spouse visas - Are weddings absolutely necessary?

[robhostein 57]

I ask this question, assuming two people are really in love.

 

I know at some point in this process, there has to be a marriage. I'm not saying that these two people don't plan on getting married. But must there be an actual wedding? You know the traditional wedding, in a church, where many, many people are invited, friends, friends of friends, bride's family, groom's family, etc etc. And the wedding cake, and the flower girl, etc etc. And of course the immigration officers want pictures of said wedding.

 

What if they just eloped? Or just went to the court house and had a judge perform the ceremony? Just the two of them?

[Unlockable 7,314]

No. As long as it is legal it can be as small and private as you like.

[TBoneTX 45,329]

No difference except in cost, stress, headaches, and the groom's feeling like a useless appendage being swept along in the maelstrom of female wedding-planning.

 

Most women want an actual wedding, or a wedding party after the marriage.  The latter happened to me vis-a-vis Mrs. T-B.

 

The most dangerous food is Wedding Cake.

Socrates died of an overdose of Wedlock.

 

[AnJay 137]

We eloped and went to city hall with two family members:) My friends did the same. No problem at all.  I would never in my life spend huge amount of money on the wedding. 

[robhostein 57]

That is good to know. Thank you!

[nastra30 2,287]

You can just do it in a courthouse. Bottomline; it has to done legally where it's done.

Edited March 21, 2019 by nastra30

[Going through 5,671]

We just went to the courthouse, and then a restaurant afterwards---just us and two other people.  I did do the white dress thing, but it wasn't a "wedding dress" by any means...didn't even cost $100.  Had a small bouquet of flowers made up at the local flower shop.  Only thing I still regret, though, is not having professional photos taken of us as a couple on the day.

[eckoin 211]

We also did courthouse, no witnesses. The probate judge who officiated told us that we have to do it at a park due to construction at the courthouse. We met her "about 2 miles down the block, behind the Subway", she married us. I was 7 months pregnant by the time we got to it, so not much of a celebration afterward. Didn't take pictures--it was the two of us, the probate judge, and a few mildly curious onlookers who seemed to have witnessed many other weddings recently. 

 

It's fine. The legality of the marriage is the least of USCIS worries; the bona fide nature of the marriage is what matters. 

Edited March 24, 2019 by eckoin