A couple from Alabama? I thought you had to be a resident of the state to get a license. No?
Governor Mitt found a law that said Mass doesn't perform weddings for out-of-staters if it wouldn't be legal in the home state.
The problem is the law Mitt found was passed in 1913 because some southern states banned interracial marriages . . . AND it's never been used in recent history (i.e. town clerks have never asked anyone where they live before), so some towns say they won't ask anyone where they live now either.
Summary: they can get married here, but it won't be considered a valid marriage by Mitt.