Love and marriage doesn’t come into this situation at all – usually it’s nothing more than a cold financial deal between two adults who are attempting to beat the system. For these people, marriage does not equate to love, and the problem with this kind of marriage is that it’s so commonplace that it overshadows and dominates how officialdom treats all couples who are trying to move to one country or the other in order to be together. Many countries today continue to enforce laws that prohibit marriage between certain relatives. Throughout the history of marriage, the majority of unions have been arranged, where the parents have selected whom their children will marry. While the tradition continues in some cultures today, most modern marriages are based on romantic love, with couples deciding freely to marry. The bridesmaids enter, followed by the maid or matron of honor. Next come the ring bearer and/or flower girl and finally, the bride, escorted by her mother and father. Informal weddings or those with a small wedding party may opt to choose a single file processional or none at all. A non-traditional ceremony may include a dog as the ring bearer, a cat as the flower girl and their masters (bride and groom) taking their places before them at the altar. California marriage laws do not permit for common law marriages but do allow for proxy marriages (only for armed forces members) and same sex domestic partnerships in San Francisco and Marin counties. A California marriage license is valid for 90 days. Contact the clerk of the county you wish to marry. This would need to be in writing and once again, each person would do well to seek out independent legal advice before signing anything. What is a Ketubah? A ketubah is a different form of marriage contract. Under the provisions of the Jewish faith, it is forbidden for couples to cohabit without one. Non-Denominational Traditional Wedding Vows The words that many of us are familiar with that start off a traditional wedding ceremony, being, “"Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy matrimony” can be found in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer.