Can a lesbian couple have a wedding ceremony in a state that does not recognize gay marriage?

my fiance and i have been engaged for several months now. we live in north carolina and our state doesn't recognize gay marriage. we were thinking about getting married or getting a civil union in Massachusetts but having the ceremony on lake lure which is in north carolina. could we do that? or would we be better off just having a ceremony giving our vows to each other?Can a lesbian couple have a wedding ceremony in a state that does not recognize gay marriage?
Your civil union would not be recognized in North Carolina. If you want to have some kind of ceremony in North Carolina that would make you and your friends happy, there is nothing to stop you. It just would have no legal effect.Can a lesbian couple have a wedding ceremony in a state that does not recognize gay marriage?
There are lots of ministers who'll be happy to conduct a commitment ceremony, even if the marriage isn't recognized by the state. Those ceremonies, in fact, are exactly what marriages used to be - in the days before the government decided even people's commitments are taxable. I've attended gay weddings in Georgia (where gay marriage isn't recognized) where couples made a lifelong commitment to each other in front of friends and family, with the blessing of their minister. In the case of my friends who've gotten married, it's a matter of wanting to make a commitment before God, in the presence of loved ones. They figure it's not really the state's business to sanction or validate their commitment, anyway. Those sort of ceremonies have been conducted since the beginning of time. Good luck to you! And throw the bouquet at someone who's commitment-phobic!
You can have any ceremony you like, but the person conducting it will not be able to record this as a marriage.





Basically, the minister (or whoever) would be licensed by the state to recognize any marriage permitted by the state.





If the state does not recognize gay marriage, the ceremony would not be valid under state laws.





Sorry, that's the best and most accurate I can do.
Yes they can, it just wont be recognized by the state. Find a ';person of the cloth';, or whatever you are comfortable and have a private ceremony. Almost all the ';Benefits'; of marriage can be had through legal contracts written up by a lawyer. So maybe there is something to be said for civil unions, but when it comes right down to it, the love you feel isn't spelled out in a piece of paper, a legality, or even a third party's personal views.
Unfortunately, your state would not recognize your marriage. However, you could find someone to perform a ceremony for you. There are many ordained ministers out there that will perform a commitment ceremony for you.





One day, your state will recognize the love both of you share, but right now it's just a waiting game. So until then, good luck to both of you and I hope you have a wonderful marriage!
Call it what you want and do what you want, it is not legal and we know that, but that can not stop us for devoting ourselves to each other.. if i find the right person im gonna have a wedding even if it is not legal i dont car that is what it is isnt it? i will be devoting myself to that person regardles of what people think and i live in a country town in texas
Of course you can! The ceremony part of it is just that. Because that ceremony won't involve the actual paperwork and legality, it can be anywhere. It would be considered either a religious rite or a family gathering (or both) and is therefore completely protected by law.





Congrats!
You can have a ceremony anyplace. I doesn't have any legal meaning in NC though. If you also get legally married in MA it will be recognized, as of now, by NM, NY, RI and CT but not any other states or the federal government.
NO

bloom-