getting legally married few months before ceremony

I was thinking about this last night, and all the reasons my couples have gotten married legally at a different time than their party celebration. Almost every one was for a really, really valid reason; deployment, military housing, adoption, insurance, visas, etc. And I betcha if they told any nosy person why, and a sane person weighed the consequences involved, they'd probably come to the "who gives a crap" side of the argument. Would any of you be the person who got pissed because a couple did a legal marriage so one of them could adopt the children sooner? To have enough insurance to fight a deadly disease? Just so you could see the "legal" wedding? (Which you don't really see anyway; almost no one signs a license in a ceremony...) You'd have a pretty hard heart, and I bet you wouldn't have the guts to say anything.

It's far from being just a piece of paper, but it's also far from being the only thing that matters.

I wouldn't be upset if I found out after attending a wedding that the couple was already married. The reason I attend a wedding is so that I can celebrate their love. When it became legal is none of my business.

I wouldn't care. If it was a very close friend or family member I would be hurt if I found out about it after.

I could care less what everyone does, but I consider your WEDDING to be the day your marriage became legal.

What you do after that, you yourself can call it whatever. I myself would not call it a wedding.

A: Military is different

B: FH wanted a big wedding, not I, I was fine and dandy with our eloping, so Pretty Princess Day doesn't apply unless its pretty prince day ? HA

C: when else do I get to spoil my family and friends ? It's not about me it's about them. Every part of it was planned for their comfort and happiness, not us

We ALMOST had to do this. FH was up for a promotion in Vienna. If he accepted the position, we'd have to live there for 2 years. I could only go with him if we were married. Had the job offer taken place, we were going to just go downtown, have a quick ceremony then throw a kick ass party afterwards.

I did and so did my sister. She wanted to be married in the Greek church on a certain date and it fell on a Saturday the next year. And for me it was cost effective to do a vow renewal on a cruise then the actual wedding. Plus i got my family to go on vacation together. I saved $1000 by getting married ahead of time for the same wedding.

I think it's a good idea to make sure everyone knows you're already married. It really hurts as a family member or guest when you find out you've been lied to.