I hope this doesn't sound too stupid, but I always wondered if you don't go to a church or don't believe in God, how would you get married? Would you just go to a court and let a judge marry you? Belcause if you didn't believe in God, then you probably wouldn't go to a church or hire a priest to marry you. I was just wondereing about this for a while and I hope that this doesn't sound too dumb. Just an honest question. :)

A lot of people just go to a courthouse. That's what my sister did, not because she didn't believe in God. It was mainly because they wanted something fast and easy that didn't cost a lot of money. I know the Catholic Church now insists that couples go to counseling sessions before they get married because of the high divorce rates. I don't know if that makes a whole lot of difference though because people are still getting divorced left and right or not even bothering to get married at all.

That would be a civil ceremony.

Good question.
Marriage isn't an issue for me cos I'm never gonna get married.
My parents got married in a registery office. That's standard practice for people who don't wanna get married in a church.

well my aunt and uncle got married in this one uh place it wasn't a church or office or anything I think they are just like legally married or something by some person....I think they can get married anywhere.

My parents got married in their house....I dunno who did the ceremony though...

Originally posted by Jersey Girl
My parents got married in their house....I dunno who did the ceremony though...

Same with mine. I doubt a priest did theirs because we dont go to church but mom still INSISTS were like total catholic people and just this your I found out who Mary is. You could get married on a raft by a guy in an elvis suit from Vegas if you want... Although noone does it... i think.

They could go to VEGAS!

I'm going to Vegas! lol That would still require a church, though.

LAS VEGAS BABY!!
Get hitched then hit the Casinos!!

Okies, speakin of Vegas, my science teacher mentioned this. Can you go to Vegas and have like a drive-threw divorce? If not, it's my science teachers fault

Originally posted by Ewan's My Man
Okies, speakin of Vegas, my science teacher mentioned this. Can you go to Vegas and have like a drive-threw divorce? If not, it's my science teachers fault

I'm not sure about drive through divorces, but I do know Vegas has drive-through weddings.

And to answer Chris' question....as many people said you can get married in a courthouse, in your own home, by a priest, by a justice of the peace, in Vegas, etc. etc. etc. There are many options out there that don't involve churches. And even religious people don't have to get married in a church. My friends got married at the groom's grandparent's house, and it was still a religious ceremony and they were married by a preacher.

At least in large cities (such as Los Angeles) there are many "wedding chapels" which are non-denominational. They provide the place and the legal "minister." I don't know what the requirements are to perform the ceremony, but I assume that it would be a judge or justice of the peace or ?????

I've been to a couple of these ceremonies and they are quite lovely. These were in an outdoor setting, with the actual vows being taken in a gazebo.

My parents got married at their home with some family friends for witnesses. They aren't very religious people, and they didn't want to spend tons of money on a wedding, either.

I think you get married by the justice of peace if you don't believe in god and I think no matter what you believe in you can get married anywhere you want.

Well, my folks got married in my great-grandmother's house and were married by a non-denominational minister that a friend of my mom's knew. That works. I want to get married in a garden by someone who isn't very religious. A friend of mine just got married and the whole service was about their marriage being a marriage for God and doing everything for God. I'm thinking...too much.

I stopped going to church and I don't have much faith in god anymore, I don't know what I'm going to do for marriage I could still get married in a church I'll just lie.