Do you believe it is important to sign a wedding certificate?
Importance is subjective. Consider this: There are four types of weddings. Heart, social, legal, religious/traditional/cultural. Each is its own separate thing. A couple can get legally married any time they want by obtaining, completing and filing a marriage license correctly. If its emotionally important to you that the date on the license is your social wedding day, then the license will be completed on that day. As an officiant, Ive performed many ceremonies for couples who were already legally married. If the couple isnt legally married or doesnt present a license for the officiant to sign, the ceremony becomes a commitment ritual and cannot legally include any language that would imply legal marriage. (mr&mrs, husband&wife, etc.) The issue is fraud. Many couples with bad intentions have faked getting legally married. As an officiant, I dont want to be pulled into that situation because I was an ignorant pawn in their nefarious scheme. An honest and frank conversation with your beloved would be of great benefit. If you get legally married before the social wedding, would you be able to access/purchase/file for anything only available to a legally married couple? One of my couples were graduate students at a local university and if they were legally married they could get special housing. So we processed their marriage license about four months before the wedding day. Finally, who you tell is your business.