Reply #48: Kick with comments of 5,6,7...

[uppityperson]

5. Couple chooses who is going to marry them.
In many states, not sure if all, you have someone legally designated to sign the official legal marriage license. Depending on where you are, you can have a friend or a minister designated, or a court official. We had a friend designated, had to write to court to get their name ok'd to sign for us on 1 specific day.

6. Couple exchanges vows in front of their officiant.
"Vows" can be complex or as simply as "yes, we want to do this". You do NOT have to do the "hold, support, sickness/health" thing, unless the person signing with you says you do (some religions for instance).

7. Officiant declares them to be married. Officiant need not do this. The couple must also sign (at least every time I've been married I have had to) (3rd time's the charm) (yes, I am one of "those" people) and have a couple witnesses sign, and the Officially Designated person must sign AND it has to be taken/sent to the courthouse to be filed.

THEN the couple is officially married.

Which raises the interesting question, if they sign one day, and the papers don't get filed until the next, or if the person responsible for filing them with the courthouse doesn't do so, are the not yet legally married? I think there is some provision that states it is legal when the Officially Designated Person and all sign, not filing, but just a passing thought.

Thank you for writing all that and I agree, there is just marriage.