I need an opinion on conducting a non real wedding?

Plan a normal wedding. As long as your friend is not certified to marry people, you are not legally married, so no worries! Do everything you dreamed of doing when you thought about getting married, just with a friend instead of a priest/other officiant.=] Have fun!!

I'd be careful with that. In some states, "holding yourself out as married" is one of the requirements for a common-law (or informal) marriage. IANAL, but Texas happens to be one of those states.

Now it's funny that you should mention this, because my domestic partner and I had friends that did just this. The guy piddled around and didn't get divorced from his original wife (they'd been separated for many, many years - just didn't formalize the divorce) and his wife-to-be just had to have her "white wedding" fantasy. They'd invited family, friends, etc. But he wasn't legally divorced, so he couldn't legally marry. So they have a mock marriage, but didn't tell anybody. There was a lot of drama and a lot of money wasted on the whole affair and it was a huge pain in the butt. And for my help, I got to be an usher instead of being a mans-groom (or whatever the male analog to bridesmaids is).

Anyways, to make a long story short, they did end up getting married in the park a year later (after of course he obtained the divorce), with only a few of the people that actually knew it was a faux-wedding.

So moral of story is, don't lie about it and make it into this whole drama thing.

Maybe you two can call it a "unity ceremony". Or a "commitment ceremony". Or a handfasting ceremony. Call it whatever has meaning to you both.

If you do not go down and get your marriage license then you are not legal for the most part. There are things called common law marraiges in some states, but it is after so many years together. What you want is just a commitment ceremony and reception. It happens all the time. These celebrities that have multiple weddings. They only actually get married once, the rest is all just for show.

Wow I'm intrigued as to why you're not having a real wedding, but being in a weird situation myself and knowing it's none of my business.....I'll move on *lol*

Okay, sounds fairly simple - you have it all organised - you want a reception and you want something similar to a ceremony.

Your ceremony part doesn't have to be legal. It only is legal if you apply for a license at the city that you live in ....

I'm not sure where you live, but a lot of churches for diff. denominations require a legal permit so that's out.

Do you guys have a really good friend or family member that is close to you? In that case maybe you can get them to "marry" you. Look at wedding vows from whatever religion you are or just look up wedding vows online and adapt the words to suit what you want to say. There are samples all over the internet...you can even leave out the word "marry" and do just a swearing of your love for each other....

"...his best friend and my best friend to marry us..." I'm not sure what you mean...you mean like signing a registrar? That means you'll be actually married....you can just have them like a maid of honour and best man...and maybe do a unity candle ceremony or sand ceremony instead of signing anything?

That's off the top of my head, but basically, just go to your vendors as if you are getting married - and you'll get everythign you need for your "fake" wedding...they're just wedding vendors - they don't really care (most of them) once they get paid :)

Then you can get photographer, videographer etc. etc....

It is a lot of money though, so just make sure a FAKE wedding is really what you want. If it's a legal thing - well..polygamy is polygamy....so I guess getting married in a different country (Destination for example?) is out of the question.....

Good luck :)

I wish you all the best, but please don't ask anyone to bring gifts. As this is not a real wedding, that is inappropriate and not fair to your friends and guests.

That being said, I would have a ceremony on the smaller side (again, you don't want anything huge, that would just seem outlandish and silly) maybe a nice outdoor "ceremony" on a beach or other picturesque place, with a reception at your house or nice nearby restaurant.

First, does your State have a common law marriage law?...If so you could be legally married if you hold yourself out as married, even if you don't have a license, etc. California doesn't have a common law marriage law, but Idaho has one that says if you hold yourself out for anytime, you are married.

So, check your state law. Call your county clerk they should know or contact a legal aid office.

If there is no law, then "get married", but without a marriage license. You can even have a minister 'marry" you. He or she should be in on the event. You also need to have a contract between you stating each of your rights. It can be tricky. Check with a local attorney to determine the state law.

Nolo press in California puts out a living together book with forms.

Good Luck.

I do not think it is hard at all. You just plan a wedding like everyone else, but your officiant need not have any valid authority to marry you, and you need not collect a marriage license. On the invitation you would not want to refer to it as a wedding though...perhaps a commitment ceremony or something to that nature. Best wishes to you!

So you want a fake wedding so you can be a princess for a day??? That's ridiculous! What are you celebrating, the fact that nothing has changed???

I understand not wanting to marry, that's fine. What's ridiculous is going through the motions of something that you have no intention of doing to reap the benefits with none of the responsibility.

Really, how you do it is simple, if you don't file a marriage license then it's not legal. You can have any kind of "ceremony" that you want.

JUST DO IT

it's not legal unless you fill out papers

Don't hire a priest, just have your friends say whatever they want and have fun!

keep in mind, if you're not legally married you don't carry the benefits of marriage. If your "husband" is in the hospital you can be denied visitation and if you or he dies (God forbid) the assets won't be given to you (or him, depending)

Just go through the entire process of planning the wedding and reception like normal to have someone from the state or a nondenominational priest but insert your friend or best friend in that role. Maybe even have a fake license like a contract that you two promise to love each other etc etc and sign that. Good luck!