OK. I can go with that if you can show me in scripture (chapter and verse) where God states we have to have our marriage recognized by the secular government before God considers it valid. Once again, let me emphasize I'm not trying to convince anyone that they shouldn't get the legal marriage done, just asking for actual scripture that states that this is required by God if we are going to claim God commanded it. If God commanded something, He will have stated so in scripture. It's not our place to make up rules and say they are commands of God.