Point of no return in a church wedding

[anonymous-user]

This is purely hypothetical, but at what point in a Church of England wedding ceremony do you become legally married? i.e. what is the latest point you can say 'actually, I've changed my mind'.

I'm happily married, this is just to satisfy a pub bet and I can't find it on the internet anywhere.

[Monkeylegend]

I don't.

[Fermit The Krog and Sarah Sexy]

I would say that when it's announced 'I now pronounce you man and wife' it's official. That or when you sign the register.

[Vaud]

My guess is at the signing of the register as that is the point it is formally witnessed?

[anonymous-user]

Signing of the register. The religious ceremony before that is basically for show.

[TooMany2cvs]

Depends on whose opinion you prioritise. The big man upstairs probably has you pegged at "I do", but the law waits until you scrawl in the book.

[mybrainhurts]

If you cross your fingers, it's never valid.

[Some Gump]

Signing if the register.

[mybrainhurts]

Can you keep your options open if you sign Adolf Hitler, or something?

[rainmakerraw]

Is this different compared to non-religious weddings, then? At our wedding (register office) the registrar made a point of jokingly commenting that we were legally married after the vows. She said it's a common misconception that it's after signing the register, but 'too late, you're already legally contracted into marriage!'. Then we finished the ceremony, and signed the register at the end.

[mybrainhurts]

rainmakerraw said:

register office

Refreshing to find someone who knows it's not a "registry" office. Well done, that man...

[rainmakerraw]

mybrainhurts said:

Refreshing to find someone who knows it's not a "registry" office. Well done, that man...

[TwigtheWonderkid]

rainmakerraw said:

Is this different compared to non-religious weddings, then? At our wedding (register office) the registrar made a point of jokingly commenting that we were legally married after the vows. She said it's a common misconception that it's after signing the register, but 'too late, you're already legally contracted into marriage!'. Then we finished the ceremony, and signed the register at the end.

She's wrong. For a UK marriage, religious or otherwise, both are a requirement. Some form of spoken wording/vows between the couple and the couple plus 2 witnesses must sign the register. If any of that is missing, the marriage isn't valid.

Civil partnerships don't need vows.

See here.

https://www.gov.uk/marriages-civil-partnerships/we...

[Turquoise]

mybrainhurts said:

If you cross your fingers, it's never valid.

Everyday's a school day.

[ClockworkCupcake]

TooMany2cvs said:

Depends on whose opinion you prioritise. The big man upstairs probably has you pegged at "I do", but the law waits until you scrawl in the book.

Surely if you believe in the Big Sky Fairy, then it's when His representative on Earth says "By the power vested in me I now pronounce you Man and Wife"? (or words to that effect)

If you believe in the law of the land, then it's when all the signatures are on the register as that is then a legally binding contract.

[Turquoise]

ClockworkCupcake said:

Surely if you believe in the Big Sky Fairy, then it's when His representative on Earth says "By the power vested in me I now pronounce you Man and Wife"? (or words to that effect)

If you believe in the law of the land, then it's when all the signatures are on the register as that is then a legally binding contract.

If you believe in common sense, it's when the pre nup is signed.

[ClockworkCupcake]

Turquoise said:

If you believe in common sense, it's when the pre nup is signed.

Signing a prenuptial / premarital agreement doesn't make you married. The clue is rather in the name.

[Turquoise]

Wow.

It wasn't a serious comment.

[Voldemort]

It's (hopefully) some time after the Church service. One is not legally married until the union is consumated...

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Voldemort said:

It's (hopefully) some time after the Church service. One is not legally married until the union is consumated...

Really? That must be a shock for all those elderly people who marry in their 70s and 80s for companionship. Are you saying they are not legally married at all?