As belfebe could probably more eloquently explain, that is *exactly* the way marriage is handled in Mexico. The Mexican government does not recognize church marriages. You have to be married in a civil ceremony for anything to be legal. You can then go and have the religious ceremony, but it has no bearing on the legal status of your union. Personally, I think it is a great way of handling the situation. Covers that whole "separation of church and state" thing rather nicely. ;-)