In this form of ancient Roman marriage, it was not as urgent a matter, since it was not about political and economic gain. The Engagement Ceremony Both family and friends were invited to an engagement ceremony before the wedding. During the ceremony, the father of the bride-to-be was asked whether he promised to give his daughter in marriage. They may have assets that they would like to see pass to their children intact. If no such contract is signed, the other spouse may well be able to make a claim for a financial interest in a real estate holdings, investments, etc. At a later date, the spouses can opt to make changes to their original agreement. Because the laws of all states that recognize common law marriage require death or formal divorce to dissolve a common law marriage, you are not skirting your obligations or the gravity of commitment by foregoing a formal wedding. All states that provide for common law marriage require that both parties be of majority age, 18 years old. This can mean taking a break, finding social support, or working directly on the problem together. You can show empathy and love, and avoid criticism. This can strengthen your bond, and also clear the way for deeper feelings for one another. Having patience will be essential in saving your marriage, and it’s important to maintain balance and perspective if any conflict arises. Then there are others who see the city as a place to have a wedding that’s unlike anything they’d probably envisaged their own ceremony to be. There are couples who arrive in the city with a Las Vegas marriage their main focus. Then there are others for whom a good night at the tables means a gold band to place beside the extra chips on the hotel dresser. For those genuine couples it is the thought of love and marriage that makes them want to give up all that they are familiar with in order to have a “traditional” life of marriage with the person they’ve fallen in love with. The problem is that because of the false marriage applications, the genuine couples are made to jump through immigration hoops before their dreams of love and marriage and happy ever after can take place.