11 Bizarre Marriage Laws That Still Exist in 2025
Love might be blind, but apparently, lawmakers had 20/20 vision when drafting some of the strangest marriage rules still in place today. This list looks into the wild, wacky, and downright confusing regulations that somehow survived modern times. These are proof that romance and red tape have always had a complicated relationship!
Greece
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Couples planning a wedding in Greece need more than a venue and a dress; they need newspaper space, too. You must announce your marriage plans in a local newspaper at least eight days before the big day. Even today, a printed announcement is required, especially for Greek Orthodox weddings.
Monaco
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In Monaco, lovebirds have to make it official in the most public way possible — by posting marriage bans at the local town hall. These announcements must stay up for at least ten days, giving anyone who might object a chance to come forward.
Saudi Arabia
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Under national regulations aimed at preserving social structures and controlling population demographics, men are prohibited from marrying women from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Chad, and Myanmar. Couples must also undergo a detailed application process before international marriages are approved. This system respects citizenship rights and access to services.
France
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Posthumous marriage has been allowed in France since 1959. If you can prove the couple intended to marry before tragedy struck, and get special permission from the President of France, the union can still happen. The living spouse doesn’t gain inheritance rights, but the emotional closure is recognized legally.
Montana
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Montana is the only U.S. state that allows a double proxy marriage. Neither the bride nor the groom has to be physically present at the ceremony. Instead, two stand-ins sign the paperwork on their behalf. This rule remains popular with deployed military members and couples living abroad.
Utah
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In Utah, first cousins can legally marry only if both partners are over 65 years old. This rule is based on the idea that older couples are much less likely to have children, which sidesteps genetic concerns usually tied to cousin marriages.
Vermont
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A wife needs to obtain written permission from her husband before she can get dentures. This dusty rule came from when dental prosthetics were costly, and husbands were legally responsible for medical expenses.
Delaware
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In Delaware, if you got married on a dare or as part of a joke, you can legally get it annulled. The state recognizes that some weddings might happen in the middle of a wild moment without serious intention, and the law allows people to walk it back. Proof is necessary, though.
Kentucky
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Kentucky draws a hard line at three marriage attempts. If you marry and divorce the same person three times, the law says you cannot try a fourth time. Most places are not aware of how many chances people have with the same spouse, but Kentucky decided enough is enough after three tries.
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
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In Truro on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, a man should present six blackbirds or three crows before being granted permission to marry. This law was part of a pest control plan to protect crops, and catching birds proved that the groom could provide.
California, Texas, Colorado, and Montana
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Marriage by proxy is still allowed under exceptional circumstances in a few U.S. states — California, Texas, Colorado, and Montana. It’s mainly used when a partner is away for work, often military service, or stuck overseas.
Massachusetts
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Massachusetts once tucked a particular rule into its books: married couples cannot sleep without clothes in a rented room. Even though it sounds ridiculous, technically, the rule still exists.
Arizona
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Arizona gives marriage clerks a surprising amount of power. They can deny a marriage license if they believe one or both applicants are mentally incompetent. No court order, no formal medical proof needed. This is to prevent exploitation or abuse, but it also opens a gray area for personal judgment.
Mississippi
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If a woman has a child within ten months of divorce, her former husband is legally presumed to be the father. This presumption holds unless someone challenges it in court and proves otherwise. Even now, the rule automatically kicks in to keep things straightforward, or at least to try.
Louisiana
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Louisiana offers an option most other states do not: the covenant marriage. Couples choosing this type of marriage agree to stricter rules for divorce, including mandatory counseling both before marrying and before splitting up. This encourages couples to work harder at reconciliation before ending things legally.