Whether you are marrying locally or travelling to another country, you will want a wedding document to be signed by witnesses?
The answer is not as straightforward as you think. I advise you to check.
Jewish
I was at a UK wedding, a Jewish wedding, where the witness was a member of the family, the best man and cousin of the groom. This caused a delay at the signing, which meant everybody was hanging around waiting to drive off to the reception and meal.
Muslim and Arab
In some places you may be considered betrothed or married without a written document. (Arab countries? Equally you could be divorced without a written document.)
At one time you could not book a hotel room together in some countries unless you were legally married. So a common law husband and wife would not be granted the right to a hotel room on holiday. The employer would not give an allowance for married accommodation.
Translation
It would seem sensible to require a translation of the document. How do you know what you are signing, an agreement to marry, change your religion, a mortgage, a will leaving all your goods to your spouse and their children by other persons after you die?
Civil Requirements
In some countries you can have a religious ceremony and certificate without a civil certificate. In others you are required to have the civil certificate before, or after, the religious ceremony. You may wish to have both, either to please parents, or to ensure that your marriage is recognised by both religious and civil authorities in the case of divorce or any other legal question such as inheritance.
You might also find a document useful, for example, to get immigration to another country, to prove the lineage of your children who are claiming citizenship. If you wanted to go to Israel, or to Spain under the right of return, you might find a marriage document of parents useful later for the children.
Travel and Marriage Certificates
You might also find documents of marriage helpful for obtaining a second passport, or waiver for visa when taking a holiday.
In the UK in 2019 different rules apply to different religions. In the USA different rules apply in different States.
If you are travelling, you may need documents providing evidence of your identity such as passport, birth certificate, divorce certificate, evidence of home address.
In some places a relative cannot be a witness as they are considered an interested party. In some places the officiant can be a witness. In others he or she signs and requires two others to be witnesses. In some places you can just invite two passers-by to witness.
The moral of the story is to find out in advance. This is handy with the modern habit of having two ceremonies, one religious and one civil. I have see two weddings in the home countries of bride and groom, even three ceremonies, in her home country, his, and the country where they met and have friends and colleagues.
In Singapore I performed a mock wedding ceremony, which I called a rehearsal, when the officiant was late at a wedding reception. The bride wanted photos taken in daylight in the garden. The groom said there was no point having a dinner to celebrate a marriage when no marriage had taken place.
Fortunately the bride got her photos in the sun with the groom, best man, maid of honour and the surrounding guests. The officiant turned up just as it turned dark and the meal was being served and he made the marriage official.
Next day I checked whether I could be an officiant in Singapore. It would have taken a year's study, investment of time and money, knowledge of assorted religions and laws, and I had other commitments.
A marriage document can also affect your right to a pension, to stay in a house after a spouse dies, to inherit from the spouse, to be buried beside them, to have them buried beside you rather than a previous spouse they have not divorced.
Laws may change and become more liberal, or more strict. Forewarned is forewarned. Your marriage certificate showing your wedding or anniversary might get you upgrades on an airline, a free drink or Champagne on the airline, or at your hotel. Happy travelling.
https://www.rabbilevh.com/single-post/2015/01/11/Who-Can-Sign-Your-Ketubah
The answer is not as straightforward as you think. I advise you to check.
Jewish
I was at a UK wedding, a Jewish wedding, where the witness was a member of the family, the best man and cousin of the groom. This caused a delay at the signing, which meant everybody was hanging around waiting to drive off to the reception and meal.
Muslim and Arab
In some places you may be considered betrothed or married without a written document. (Arab countries? Equally you could be divorced without a written document.)
At one time you could not book a hotel room together in some countries unless you were legally married. So a common law husband and wife would not be granted the right to a hotel room on holiday. The employer would not give an allowance for married accommodation.
Translation
It would seem sensible to require a translation of the document. How do you know what you are signing, an agreement to marry, change your religion, a mortgage, a will leaving all your goods to your spouse and their children by other persons after you die?
Civil Requirements
In some countries you can have a religious ceremony and certificate without a civil certificate. In others you are required to have the civil certificate before, or after, the religious ceremony. You may wish to have both, either to please parents, or to ensure that your marriage is recognised by both religious and civil authorities in the case of divorce or any other legal question such as inheritance.
You might also find a document useful, for example, to get immigration to another country, to prove the lineage of your children who are claiming citizenship. If you wanted to go to Israel, or to Spain under the right of return, you might find a marriage document of parents useful later for the children.
Travel and Marriage Certificates
You might also find documents of marriage helpful for obtaining a second passport, or waiver for visa when taking a holiday.
In the UK in 2019 different rules apply to different religions. In the USA different rules apply in different States.
If you are travelling, you may need documents providing evidence of your identity such as passport, birth certificate, divorce certificate, evidence of home address.
In some places a relative cannot be a witness as they are considered an interested party. In some places the officiant can be a witness. In others he or she signs and requires two others to be witnesses. In some places you can just invite two passers-by to witness.
The moral of the story is to find out in advance. This is handy with the modern habit of having two ceremonies, one religious and one civil. I have see two weddings in the home countries of bride and groom, even three ceremonies, in her home country, his, and the country where they met and have friends and colleagues.
In Singapore I performed a mock wedding ceremony, which I called a rehearsal, when the officiant was late at a wedding reception. The bride wanted photos taken in daylight in the garden. The groom said there was no point having a dinner to celebrate a marriage when no marriage had taken place.
Fortunately the bride got her photos in the sun with the groom, best man, maid of honour and the surrounding guests. The officiant turned up just as it turned dark and the meal was being served and he made the marriage official.
Next day I checked whether I could be an officiant in Singapore. It would have taken a year's study, investment of time and money, knowledge of assorted religions and laws, and I had other commitments.
A marriage document can also affect your right to a pension, to stay in a house after a spouse dies, to inherit from the spouse, to be buried beside them, to have them buried beside you rather than a previous spouse they have not divorced.
Laws may change and become more liberal, or more strict. Forewarned is forewarned. Your marriage certificate showing your wedding or anniversary might get you upgrades on an airline, a free drink or Champagne on the airline, or at your hotel. Happy travelling.
https://www.rabbilevh.com/single-post/2015/01/11/Who-Can-Sign-Your-Ketubah
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