What is required to initiate a ceremonial marriage?

To initiate a ceremonial marriage, the essential requirements are a marriage license and the conduct of a ceremony. A marriage license serves as the official authorization by the state for a couple to marry, ensuring that they have met the legal prerequisites, such as age and capacity to consent. Following the acquisition of the license, a ceremony is necessary where the couple publicly expresses their commitment to one another, usually in the presence of an officiant and witnesses.

The other choices do not meet the criteria for a valid ceremonial marriage. While a legal separation is relevant in other legal contexts, it is not part of the marriage initiation requirement. Parental consent may be necessary in certain situations, particularly for minors, but it is not a blanket requirement for all marriages. Moreover, while witnesses may enhance the ceremony, they are not strictly a requirement in many jurisdictions, nor is hosting a reception considered a necessary component of initiating the marriage itself. Therefore, the combination of a marriage license and a ceremony stands as the unequivocal prerequisite for establishing a ceremonial marriage in New York.