Is it possible to be SECRETLY married?

[moaningpaper]

Do you think it would be possible to be SECRETLY married?

?

i work with someone who got married in gretna green as a student. years later his wife was pregnant, and his mum was horrified that they weren't married. he just said, 'oh, we got married years ago', and she just said, 'oh, that's all right then'.
can happen.
but am i right in thinking that nowadys witnesses have to be known to you, not strangers, or previously known to the registrar?

Interesting thread MP - is this as a result of my comment .

As far as I know it's absolutely possible to get married in a registry office with two witnesses plucked off a street corner - have known a few people who have done that.

It's down to you whether or not you own up afterwards...

I personally WOULD tell - I know of one couple who married on Christmas Eve and then told thir families as they visited them over Christmas and because of the timing they didn't feel the need to have a party or anything afterwards - just became an extra reason to celebrate over Christmas...

MP - if you mean get married and not tell anyone then the ceremony bit is easy I think. Afterwards I'm guessing HR and other parties may need to be informed for legal reasons (so that they know your change in status for pension blah, blah, blah)....Then I guess it comes down to can you keep a secret? BTW, the children thing is interesting - hadn't thought of that...

Yes, it is. Someone I know is and kept it secret from everyone apart from me. Wish I didn't know really incase I ever let it slip.

My understanding is that usually if you are married under the laws of a foreign country, it is valid here.
Thus you can have a beach wedding, or up some mountain, or get cheap tickets to some random place in Europe.

I kept my marriage secret at work for four years. So much so that, when pregnant, one of my colleagues asked me if I was thinking about marrying the Dad!

I don't think i ever formally told HR that I had got married when i was at work - kept my own name and dh was already named as beneficiary on pension stuff...

Mp I wonder too, PIL would expect a decent party (have offered to pay for it btw), whereas dp and I just want to get it over with
I am wondering if we could do it now ish (I'm pregnant do not feel like a party AT ALL) and tell people next year and ahve one hell of a party then - post baby.
Am tpyign with the morals of not telling PIL, dp's granny (fading atm) and my mum...

And as for witnesses I believe YorkieGirl is overseeiing all these spontaneous marriages as most are due to her urging