There are some things that make life very confusing if it is left to the state. Gay marriage is one of them. If you want to get divorced, do you have to go to a state where gay marriage is recognized to do it? Are you married on federal tax forms? Logistically, it is kind of crazy to have it banned in some places and not in others. Then again, if all you had to do to get divorced is move to a state that doesn't recognize your marriage, that would be a true "quickie" divorce.

I'm always kind of flabbergasted by the people who think marriage is a religious event first and then a civil event. It is clearly civil first because you have to have a license, from the government. You can get married without religion involved. You can't get married without the government involvement. Marriage is the legal combining of two people's lives, finances, etc.

Probably because the religious event takes more planning, more time, more money and involves a lot of people. ;)

:D Except for the weddings with religious content in which people keep it simple and inexpensive. And the weddings without religious content in which people are elaborate and expensive.

Perhaps people are going based on components of different religions that make reference to "marital union." Many people who want to get married based on a higher power(s) (or some spiritual reference) will view marriage as religious first and civil second regardless of the ordering of the license and ceremony (if there is a ceremony). People consider themselves presenting their union before the higher power(s) and family and friends.

I wonder if same-sex couples will be considered for common law marriages in the states that allow common law.

Tell that to the polygamists who consider themselves very married despite the lack of government approval. ;)

You can get married without government involvement. The marriage just won't be recognized by the state.

Dr Phil is right -- people will emphasize the primacy of marriage in the religious sense or marriage in the legal sense depending on their own opinions and beliefs.

Yes, this is what I was thinking when I read that. In some of those countries discussed earlier where civil and religious marriages are separate events, it's not uncommon to do one and not the other...including the religious without the civil.