Ask Me Help Desk - Can I get married another state?

Can I get married another state?

If you get married in Vegas can you get married to the same person in another state?

Every state in the US has reciprocal recognition of marriage. So its not necessary to have a legal ceremony done. However, if you want to go through a religious ceremony for local friends and relatives, there is no reason you can't.

Can I get married without anyone knowing?

Married in Vegas two years ago, and would now like to get married in another state to the same person, can we do this in a catholic church without anyone knowing we are already married?

First, please keep to one thread. I'll ask that these threads be merged.

Why do you want to think you need to do this. If you think you need to have the marriage sanctified by a catholic priest, then talk to your priest and ask him to perform a quiet religious ceremony.

Talk to the priest of that church. Usually you can have a ceremony, if the church will allow it, but to have a new marriage certificate issued, no. The original certificate will remain.

My sister officially married in Hawaii, and is having a wedding ceremony for the family in San Francisco in a Catholic Church. So, while you may be able to have a ceremony, you will still maintain the original marriage certificate.

Quote:

Originally Posted by J_9

Talk to the priest of that church. Usually you can have a ceremony, if the church will allow it, but to have a new marriage certificate issued, no. The original certificate will remain.

My sister officially married in Hawaii, and is having a wedding ceremony for the family in San Francisco in a Catholic Church. So, while you may be able to have a ceremony, you will still maintain the original marriage certificate.

Is she having a wedding ceremony or a ceremony to renew her vows?

It is a wedding ceremony with all of the bells and whistles, but in all actuality they are just renewing their vows.

Quote:

Originally Posted by J_9

It is a wedding ceremony with all of the bells and whistles, but in all actuality they are just renewing their vows.

So the priest knows that they are married, and he is performing the marriage as a marriage and not a renewal of vows?

No, you misunderstand me. The priest knows that they are married, they are renewing their vows with all the bells and whistles of a wedding so that the family that could not attend in Hawaii can attend this one.

>Two Threads Merged<

Both Janine and I answered your question. Once you are married in any state in the US and in most countries, that marriage is recognized by all other states. You cannot nor do you need to go through another civil ceremony.

Now try explaining WHY you are asking and then we may be able to help further.

You can not get a second marriage license legally, so you wll have to tell the minister and he can do a blessing service, where he can bless rings and bless your marriage, some may even pronouce you man and wife,

In the Catholic Church, they will do blessing service to bless your previous union but you have to let the priest know what is going on, and he will call it a blessing service not a wedding.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottGem

Both Janine and I answered your question. Once you are married in any state in the US and in most countries, that marriage is recognized by all other states. You cannot nor do you need to go thru another civil ceremony.

Now try explaining WHY you are asking and then we may be able to help further.

We'll my husband and I were married in Vegas two years ago without our families knowing, and now we have done our formal engagement and want our formal ceremony, but we would like to go through with it without our families knowing we were married in Vegas as they are very religious and so forth. So I guess my question would be is it possible to have the ceremony done without them knowing we are already married?

Ok, As we said you will need to talk to your priest or minister. They may be willing to do this for you without letting on. You honor attendants who usually sign the marriage license as witnesses may have to be in on it because they may wonder why they aren't being asked to sign the license. But there is nothing in the religious ceremony itself that would need to be changed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottGem

Ok, As we said you will need to talk to your priest or minister. They may be willing to do this for you without letting on. You honor attendents who usually sign the marriage license as witnesses may have to be in on it because they may wonder why they aren't being asked to sign the license. But there is nothing in the religious ceremony itself that would need to be changed.

Thank you all so much for your help, it really helped me, if there is anything I can do for you let me know, thanks so much again

Pay it Forward ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by capellad1234

We'll my husband and I were married in Vegas two years ago without our families knowing, and now we have done our formal engagement and want our formal ceremony, but we would like to go through with it without our families knowing we were married in Vegas as they are very religious and so forth. So I guess my question would be is it possible to have the ceremony done without them knowing we are already married?

I am going to throw this out there for you to think about. What are your families going to find more upsetting: Learning that you were married in Vegas two years ago before you have this religious ceremony, or finding out about it after the religious ceremony? Do you really want to go through the rest of your lives having to catch yourself about your wedding date and how long you have been married? Celebrating your 25th anniversary when you have really been married 27 years, etc.

For whatever reason, you and your husband decided to get married two years ago. Instead of owning that decision, you now want to lie to the people who are closest to you. It seems to me that the adult thing to do would be to sit down with the families (together or separately), admit that you are married, say that you have come to realize that having the Church's blessing is important to you, that you realize they are probably deeply hurt that you have hidden this from them, and that you would like them to come to a blessing ceremony to celebrate your new life.

They may be upset when you tell them. They may be relieved that you haven't been living in sin for the last two years. But I can almost guarantee that whatever reaction they have, it's not going to be as bad as it will be if they find out that you played them for fools at this "wedding". Especially if they offer to pay some of the costs for the ceremony (not saying that they intend to, but just hypothetically.)