Symbolic Ceremony

My UO.... i wouldn't give a damn. And I don't understand why anyone would harp on this.

If people are getting married outside of the USA (and are living in the USA), I assume that they plan on signing legal documents in the states. I can still be there to celebrate their marriage and union without seeing the legal ceremony/signing of documents.

I think most people know that weddings in other countries have different laws for legal marriages. Even Giuliana Rancic when she married Bill in Italy had to have a civil ceremony when they came home because the Italian wedding wasn't legal.

@masquerade Bride...I couldn't have said it better my self! I agree!

We are considering doing the same thing . The marriage requirements in the Bahamas are a pain unless you are there atleast 24 hours . Honestly if any of my friends or family did this I wouldn't care one bit .

As a guest, I'd assume you were doing paperwork before or after and in fact, most people seem to do that nowadays. Signing legal papers is one thing, but making your vows to each other is something different and that is what loved ones are there to see.

That is the day you are exchanging vows in front of family and friends and before all the legal stuff was even a thing, people still had ceremonies to celebrate.

Thanks for the opinions everyone!

Masquerade for the win.

My suggestion for those of you who are so hell bent on being at the ACTUAL wedding with the ACTUAL license because that's more important than ACTUALLY celebrating with your friends, no matter what they call it?

Vet every invite you get. Call them up and tell them you want to be there AT the location and watch them sign. That you won't travel for a mere 'vow renewal' even if they care enough about you to invite you, whether it's in the Bahamas or in NYC. You want to know that this is the day they get legally married.

Or your'e not coming.

Problem solved. And it sure says a lot about your level of care about them.

In Florida, the couple signs the marriage license application at the courthouse. They don't sign anything after the ceremony. I and the (optional) witnesses sign after the ceremony. I don't show the license to anyone else, because it has confidential info on it.