When did you sign the certificate?

I've never personally seen people sign during the ceremony. From the weddings that I've been to, they usually have their ceremony, take their photos, then before they do their entrance they sign or they sign right after the ceremony before their photos.

I've never been to a ceremony where they sign in. I believe they just signed directly after before heading to pictures.

It's usually signed immediately after the ceremony. After our ceremony we went to a separate room with our immediate family, wedding party and the minister to sign it.

We are going to sign it after the ceremony. We are doing a first look and pictures before the ceremony. After the ceremony we will have extended family photos and then FH and I will go back to the bridal cottage on site for a moment alone. We will have the officiant and our MOH and best man meet us there and sign the paperwork then. We will then have them leave and go back to the cocktail hour and FH and I will enjoy a drink and a moment to enjoy being married before we go for dinner and dancing.

The first wedding I went to that didn't sign during the ceremony was in America. Back home in NZ everyone signed it during the ceremony, with their MOH and BM. So for me it is normal to sign during the ceremony and I want to keep that tradition with my wedding. Thw only time I had a problem with watching this was for a wedding that had 7 or 9 on each side of the bridal party, and everyone of them signed the documents! Also, they didn't sign all of the documents at one time, but rather had one page out, then everyone signed that one page. Then the next page, they all went in a circle around the table to sign, and this repeated for the entire process. It felt like forever before it was over. But usually it doesnt take long, and usually someone would sing or play a song during that moment so family and friends could enjoy that while waiting.

In some states you don’t even sign it. In MA, only the officiant signs the day of the wedding.

Yeah in texas only the officiant signs the license. We had to sign the paperwork when we applied for it but when I looked at the license for the day of it only has a spot for the officiant, no bride and groom or witness spots.

I’ve never seen it signed at a ceremony.

After the ceremony finshes we go back to the bridal suite and have a private signing prior to our entrance.

Our officiant told us we would be signing afterwards.

We’ve decided to go to the courthouse to sign the document with an official judge the day before so the signing is a small intimate celebration itself with immediate family only and already out of the way before the ceremony the following day. Thanks everyone!

My officiant (a retired county judge) who has done several thousand weddings says he's only seen the certificate signed during the ceremony a couple of times. He is encouraging us to sign it right before the ceremony while we're waiting for all the guests to arrive / be seated. For us that seems easier than trying to block time afterward when we'd rather be taking photos and then joining our cocktail hour.

View Quoted Comment Make sure you tell your officiant. The ceremony you have the next day will need different language if you’re already married.

I've only seen it signed during the ceremony one time.

In DE, you actually sign the license when you go in to apply for it, at least 24 hours before your wedding. Only the officiant and the witnesses sign the day of the wedding. Following our ceremony, we went to a private room with our officiant, WP, and parents and the officiant, MOH, and BM signed the license.

Jen-I feel the same way! I really don’t want to do it after and would prefer to be using that time, no matter how little, to be spending time taking photos and being with family and friends.

We will not be changing the wording of the main ceremony as in our culture, signing an official government paper does not have to mean you are married yet. Marriage usually starts at the ceremony. Everyone is entitled to their own practices, cultures, and opinions, as you are as well. There’s no reason to push one group’s practice or beliefs onto others who don’t do it or view it the same way. America is melting pot after all, not a placed for forced assimilation.

View Quoted Comment Regardless of your culture, in America you’re married with the piece of paper from the government-that’s how the country works. It’s fine if you don’t have to change your ceremony but in many cases/religions, the language does have to be changed.

We will sign at the reception. Fun fact: In MN back in the early 90's only one party had to be present to get a license. My then husband went alone. I never had to sign the license - so......he could have married me w/out me knowing!!! Isn't that wild?

Malted milk-that is wild!!!! One of my friends said even now her husband can go to the Missouri courthouse and change her last name without her present, but she can’t do the same. I hope that changes soon.

Sarah-the government needs an official date for tax and legal purposes. We are signing the paper ahead of time for convenience. The government does not dictate the date of my marriage for me or my family, which is the case for many countries around the world. Again, please don’t force me to assimilate to your perceived ideas, opinions, or culture. You say some religions.. well that’s not my religion who why would I care? Let’s try to be open to other people’s practices. We are all different.

And don’t say it’s fine if you...followed by but in many religions etc. that’s contradictory. If you think it’s fine, there should be no but. You’re just trying to push your beliefs onto me. No thanks.

I am not trying to push anything on you. I’m simply letting you know that in many circumstances you have to change the wording of the ceremony if you are already legally married. Great if that doesn’t apply to you. It applies to many people that don’t realize it, though, and it’s important to know.