Curious Question

CRAZYDEVILWOMAN

First off this is my first post, so Hello ladies! I have a curious question: Can people get married legally, then have a religious ceremony and reception later? The reason I post this question is I have a friend who wants to do this but isn't sure its possible. I know that you can be married in a church and still not be married legally, but this is sort ofthe opposite. I'm not sure . .  . ???

bbyckes

Yes.  It's called a vow renewal.

People do it all the time. Sometimes people will "need" to JOP it for insurance, immigration or other reasons and then will have the big production later.  It's possible.

quotequeen

If she wants to know whether her church will perform the ceremony she will have to talk to the church.  At least some pastors won't be willing to do it if they know she has hidden the fact that she's already married from her guests.  (I don't know whether your friend is planning to tell everybody or not.)

CRAZYDEVILWOMAN

She is doing for insurance reasons, I know that. And I believe that she plans to tell their family and friends that they're going ahead and getting married, then have a wedding ceremony officiated by a priest and reception in *about* a year so they can have time to plan, ect. Also, as her friends, would we throw her a shower before the legal marriage or the church ceremony or do you think it would matter?

Also thank you for your answers! Very helpful!

loop0406

I would wait and throw the shower for the big wedding. And yes, it's legal to get married in court and then throw a party later. It's called renewing the vows

quotequeen

The shower is sticky.  Many people are very opposed to showers after the couple is married/before vow renewals, but you also can't invite anybody to the shower who isn't invited to the wedding.  So doing it now before the legal marriage would be a problem because the guests aren't invited to that part, and the part they are invited to is so far off and might never happen.  Generally, when a person chooses to get married in private (for whatever reason) she is choosing to forego pre-wedding parties as well.

spinner84

Yes, it's possible, it's what they do in many countries in Europe (though the dates are close to each other).

It is also possible in LDS churches, if the couple wants to get married in the temple but can't (because of premarital sex, for example). They can get legally married, then married in the LDS temple a year later.

jwang517

yes, it's possible. and more and more people are doing it nowadays. some don't tell the family, some do.

wait until the big real vow renewal/reecption to throw her a shower.