jp vs Pastor

If you are doing a wedding for a state defined union, you would typically have to have a pastor authorized as an officiant with the county or state where the marriage is being held. That officiant then has to do the paper work to process a marriage license with witnesses and your signatures.

Some states will recognize a marriage done without state procedures. This is seen as a common law marriage. This type of marriage still ought to include witnesses to the union, but often the common law marriage is established by virtue of a continuing a presence of a couple within the community as being husband and wife.