[QUOTE=clairobscur]
You don’t go to a clerk’s office in France. You’re married in the city hall by the mayor or one of his deputies, generally in a hall large enough to accomodate the guests.
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[/QUOTE]
When I think about it, if a civil marriage simply consisted in going to some clerk’s office, maybe more people would be married in a church just for the ceremony. Of course, a civil marriage isn’t as ceremonious as a religious one (though actually, the only difference is that there’s a mass before and often music of your liking), but at least you’ve your guests, cheers, pictures, etc… More moving and inspiring than signing a form in an office, I would assume.