Wedding Resources - I got married in one of those wedding chapels in Las Vegas...?

I got married in one of those wedding chapels in Las Vegas...?

never celebrated my wedding in a church. My husband and I have been married for 17 years. Would you say that this is not a real marriage, since we didn't bother to do it in a church? (Based on a comment I saw - "it's not a real marriage unless it's celebrated in a church.") AFU: No, but we considered it...=0)

Public Comments

Really? Nice. Did you have it done by Elvis? I saw a drive through wedding chapel in vegas on TV once. I'd actually really like to see one. I heard they have Elvis impersonators in some of them Bettie: You may be married in the eyes of the law. You may be married in the eyes of God. But you still ain't married in the eyes of the King!
Its real.
If there's a legal document stating that you and your husband are indeed married, then yes-it is a real marriage!
It's a "real" marriage if you deem it so.
Wow, I've always said that Vegas is the way to go. Congrats on being able to stand each other after all these years, Bettie. If I get married, I want Elvis to officiate!
OH MY GOD!! What is wrong with you!!!...no it's fine :)
It is a real marriage as long as it was performed by Elvis. After all, he is the King of Kings.
of course... you were married before the government if you got a marriage certificate signed by the state of las vegas... If so, then your marriage is official! .
In the eyes of the law, a wedding in LV makes it a legal marriage, so im pretty sure its still a marriage.
What do you mean by "real marriage"? If you mean a marriage that is sanctioned by the Christian Church, then no, your marriage is not. If you mean a marriage where you and your husband genuinely love each other, then that is for you to answer.
rebel Elvis thanks you thank you thank you very much
Nah, some don't want a huge marriage deal. they just want something calm just the two and some needed legal witnesses, unless it was just spontaneous, then good goin.
Well, De Jure you're married. but since you weren't married in a church..i guess in the eyes of God you're still not married..but i don't believe that..
Does the goverment reconigise it? then its a marriage for you.
If you want your marriage to be real in the eyes of God, celebrate in the church. Otherwise, it's legal by the state. I think the rest of the answer is up to you--who do you want to see you as married?
Since marriage is a LEGAL institution and not a RELIGIOUS one, as long as the officiant was licensed to perform marriages then yup, you're married.
Only Catholics believe it isn't a real marriage unless it is done in a Church. The rest of the universe is pretty much ok with it. Since God does not only reside in a Church and He is omnipresent..... It is a real marriage in HIS eyes as well.
isn't a chapel meant to serve as a church? splitting hairs, i think... church is not a place, it's the people...and where two or more are gathered in His name....
Well, Biblically speaking a couple is married when they have intercourse. Legally speaking, it can be done anywhere with the right signatures and witnesses. My Christian friends got married on the beach.
It is real. Maybe even *more* real. lol
What do you feel in your heart...there is alot more to a marriage than where it takes place. You have been married for 17 years, that should tell you something.
If you love him and he loves you, that's as real as it gets. A church is just a building. My brother was married outdoors, in Yosemite National Park. It was more beautiful and closer to God than a church could ever hope to be.
its real....if you wish you can renew your vows in a church
You signed the papers didn't you? Your married as far as the LAW is concerned. :)
If, in all sincerity, you meant that you would honor each other for the rest of your lives, then it's real. God saw what you did, and He expects you to honor your vows. BTW congratulations on your 17 years, many couples don't make it that long these days. Just so happens that I've been married for 17 years as well, and we were married by a Justice of the Peace.
I have a friend who got married in Vegas. What's so odd about it is that she went to great lengths to find the exact chapel there that Jon Bon Jovi got married in, as well. That was about 2002. She's divorced now.
My mother and her wife have been married for about 3 years now. Neither the church or the government recognizes it but that doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is they are married in their hearts.
Thats bull a marriage is between to people not a church. You have been together 17 years that in itself should tell you something how many people married in a church can say the same
that was one gamble that didn't pay off
We have been married for forty odd years. The courthouse by a judge. Works for us.
Blasphemy it isn't a real wedding™ unless the King presides
If it's good enough for Vegas it's good enough for me
Marriage is one of the sacraments that does not have to be performed by an ordained person, or even by a Christian. (The other is Baptism.) So your marriage is quite real. Some denominations have a ceremony that gives your marriage the Church's blessing, but that's because of various policies and traditions of the Church pertaining to marriage, and has nothing to do with whether a marriage is "real."
Marriage is a LEGAL matter, not a church matter. As long as you filled out the proper papers and bought a marriage license - and the person who performed the swearing in was authorized by the State of Nevada to do so, you are legally married. Church is irrelevant in the contract and is optional. If you feel like you need church confirmation, go ahead - but legally you are married.
17 years that is worth celebrating anywhere and 17 years of it is more than enough proof to me that it's a real commitment and I wish you 17 more years to celebrate too.
it would still be real even if you didn't marry at all! I mean 17 years is too long
does the church of satan count? if so, i'd do it there. but no, i don't think a wedding outside of a church is illegitimate. only narrow minded fundies believe that. weddings have been around since before any church. everybody knows that. those that don't, probably go to church.
Marriage was traditionally a religious ceremony, a bond between a man and woman under the "eyes of god". It was most often done for merging two kingdoms or families for wealth, land and property gains, etc. As would be performed in a theocracy where the church is the law, the marriage would be legal as today's legal marriage. So, a marriage technically cannot occur for one that doesn't believe in a god. A legal marriage, or the better term legal union, is all about the law, and has nothing to do with religion. Either way it is none of the government's business and the legal marriage should not exist. In the USA government can have no influence over religion, period. Therefore if your church is willing to marry two men, or two women, or three, or a man and his goat, etc., the law has no control over it. If a couple elects to commit to each other that's fine. But it certainly shouldn't be a legal binding contract. And should not require a license. You want tax breaks? Incorporate. "Hey we've got a good thing going honey, let's get lawyers and judges involved in our relationship." To each their own. I think it would be fun, get married by Elvis at a drive through.
It is a valid and legal marriage. If you were Catholic, and you did not have the catholic church bless your marriage, then the church wouldn't recognize your marriage and you would not be free to receive the sacraments. But you are not Catholic.... so no worries there. :-) I don't know how other religions feel about marriages not done in their church as I am only Catholic. But my baptist friend got married at the courthouse and she is a very devout person in her faith and she still teaches sunday school, so I would think that if there was a problem with it not being a "real" marriage then they wouldn't let her be teaching religion..... I think the real miracle here, is that you have been married 17 years.... WOW!! I can't even keep the same hair color for three months!