How Civil Wedding Ceremonies Differ From Traditional Ceremonies
A civil wedding is a legally binding marriage arranged, registered and recognized by some government authority. It can be done by an individual, a church or a state, or it can be purely secular and done by a national religious body. A civil wedding differs from a wedding organized as a civil ceremony by the United States government when the state of Washington is involved. In a civil wedding, the venue for the ceremony will be decided by each authority managing the marriage. This means that if the marriage has to be held in a state other than Washington state, the venue will be decided according to that jurisdiction.
Some jurisdictions have 'no tolerance' laws for civil weddings. The requirements for a valid marriage license vary by state. The city hall where the marriage should be held cannot deny you a marriage license. However, some cities do not recognize the marriage license if the couple have not had time to get to know one another before the wedding.
A civil wedding can be held in a church, at a museum or any public place. It does not have any particular clergy or religious significance. There is no need to have clergy present at the ceremony. The bride and groom are led into the church by their parents or legal guardians. The bride is formally recognized and her groom by solemnizing officers of the church.
After the bride and groom are welcomed into the church, they are formally recognized and the priest performs the wedding ceremony. In some jurisdictions, the officiating officer must produce the original birth certificate of the bride and groom as well as a copy of marriage license. He may also ask for a sworn oath from the people present to swear that they will not marry someone else. The civil registrar will then issue the marriage license and take it to the civil registry where the certificate will be registered.
There are many reasons why couples choose to get married in civil weddings rather than in a religious service. Some couples want to be able to make the choice about religion. For example, Jewish couples who do not wish to take a formal Jewish service have their civil weddings in their hometown synagogues. There are also Buddhist couples who wed in Buddhist temples. Some other couples prefer to get married in places that they think offer a more meaningful connection with their partners. For these couples, the religious service is optional.
Most couples agree that civil wedding ceremonies result in a stronger relationship with their partners. They also say that it lessens the strain of bringing up children in a traditional family unit. There is no need to worry about children from a previous marriage becoming upset at the idea of being raised by two parents. Some civil wedding ceremonies are even said to have a positive impact on the future of a couple's relationship with each other.
