Marriage Options (advise)

[Loren Y 2,756]

Just now, Rocio0010 said:

That is just super nice of you!!!

Thanks, done it a dozen times at least for people from Visa Journey, Happy to help out.

[AJ2019 58]

4 hours ago, powerpuff said:

~ Topic moved from K1 forum to Moving to the US & your New Life in America as this is related to a marriage process, not immigration  ~

 

Just to note, it depends on a state. We had a religious ceremony (NY state) and it was must to get a marriage license before we had the ceremony. In fact it’s illegal for a religious officiant to conduct a marriage ceremony without a marriage license. Not sure how many other states have that, but it’s a thing in NY.

same in FL + a 3 day waiting period after obtaining marriage license unless one completes a premartial course.

[JeanneAdil 6,606]

almost all states there is a 3 day wait

this is from the old days when we had to do a blood test and wait for the results

at least they did away with the blood test 

[Neonred 3,600]

4 hours ago, Loren Y said:

Agree with @Dashinka, do a quick trip to Vegas on Spirit or Frontier or Suncountry does cheap flights from Minnesota to Vegas, I'll be in Minnesota the end of June, and I'm flying Suncountry.  Arrive in the morning during the week, I can pick you up at the airport, drive to the License Bureau so you can pick up your license, do the ceremony  ( Symphony Park is where I usually do them), Quick trip to the clerks office to record it and get you your certified copies, and back to the airport to catch a return flight back. Can have everything done from Landing to back at the airport in 2 hours or so. Message me if you are interested, and I will get you my contact information.

 

Also, If you wanted to do it on the weekend, that is not a problem either, you can order certified copies online the Monday after and have them in a few days via mail.

After getting our marriage license, we got married on the beach here in Naples, FL.  That was several years ago. 

 

I am so impressed that Loren Y is willing to help out fellow VJ members in this way.  Sounds like a great opportunity that I might have been interested in so long ago.

[SteveInBostonI130 3,477]

I think there is some misunderstand here.  Marriages are typically handled by the state of residence, or by special laws in some states that allow destination weddings (Vegas) and online (Utah). 

 

For typical marriages the local town/county clerk issues a marriage license.  The license is just a permission to marry and not a marriage certificate.  It needs to be signed by an official at the time of the wedding and submitted back to the town/county to be recorded.  Then a marriage certificate is issued.

 

In most, if not all, states the license can be signed off by either a religious or civil official.  The "court" weddings are where the license is signed by the town clerk or magistrate.  Church weddings are were the license is signed by the religious officiant.  Both ways are valid.  

 

 

[SalishSea 18,054]

13 hours ago, Rocio0010 said:

You HAVE TO get married through the court. Otherwise there is no legal marriage. The church portion of it is just your preference.

This is not the case where I live, either.  Anyone who is licensed by the state to officiate weddings can perform legal marriages, whether it is in a church, on a beach, a private home, whatever.

 

 

[powerpuff 6,746]

7 hours ago, SteveInBostonI130 said:

I think there is some misunderstand here.  Marriages are typically handled by the state of residence, or by special laws in some states that allow destination weddings (Vegas) and online (Utah). 

 

For typical marriages the local town/county clerk issues a marriage license.  The license is just a permission to marry and not a marriage certificate.  It needs to be signed by an official at the time of the wedding and submitted back to the town/county to be recorded.  Then a marriage certificate is issued.

 

In most, if not all, states the license can be signed off by either a religious or civil official.  The "court" weddings are where the license is signed by the town clerk or magistrate.  Church weddings are were the license is signed by the religious officiant.  Both ways are valid.  

 

 

You explained it much more eloquently than I. This is what I meant - if it’s legal, it’s legal, whether a church/mosque/etc. No need to go to court after, they will turn you away since you have already gotten married and the marriage certificate is being processed. 

[Chocobo 196]

Hubby and I had a friend marry us at our house.  In our state (Illinois), anyone who has the appropriate license can marry you.  So, we had friends and family come over for a lovely, small ceremony and then some finger foods and cake for a reception.  Our friend filed the marriage certificate with the county and we got the certified copy for our USCIS paperwork.  Very inexpensive and it was awesome!  A friend of ours has a very good camera and took the photos for us.

[RONNIE T GEORGE 6]

Thank u people for all your advices . They have really helped us to decide wisely.. We obtained marriage license which allows us to use a judge or church depending on what is convenient for us. The court clearly told us that as long as we get marriage licence, we can wed via court or church and get a certificate, take it to county   for marriage registration and obtain government approved marriage certificate the same day. So we are going to use church instead of court . 

Edited March 25, 2022 by RONNIE T GEORGE

[TBoneTX 45,826]

Good for you.  Best wishes.