They are supposed to march themselves down to the courthouse, and instead of just one person showing up they both do and go the additional step that many people already do of standing before the justice of the peace. This does not have to be a big deal, it’s just that churches are used to being tied up in civil authority. They need to get unused to it quick because if they make a wrong move they will be sued up the yingyang for denying people their civil rights.
Do you really think that people don’t want their marriage to be legal?
No one makes people seek to make their marriage legal, they could have followed your advice in 1950 or 1850 or 2010, or 1810, no one cares if you don’t legalize your marriage, but normal people don’t want to live like that.
For instance, in the military you are just a single person, unless you show them that you are legally married to someone.
Would you want to be in the military with a wife and a few kids, and them not be recognized as your family?
What about the ending of marriages?