Formal ceremony recognize marriage vs reception

[verbotten]

Hi, I don't understand the difference between questions 15 and 18 in IMM5490E Sponsored Spouse form.

15. Was there a formal ceremony to celebrate/recognize marriage?

18. Was there a reception?

Aren't you celebrating/recognizing the marriage with reception of guests and relatives?
can someone explain please.

This is how it happened:

We invited Wedding Officiant of New York conducted the non-religious wedding ceremony.
We exchanged vows, rings, and held the reception/celebration with guests and relatives right after, same place-restaurant.

 

[pisces17]

Hi, for Q.15, we answered "No". My husband and I got married at a Household Register Office and signed the necessary documents. So there was really no formal ceremony. We had a small reception afterwards. For Q.18, we answered "Yes" and provided the details.

So i'm guessing if you had a big wedding, you can answer yes to both questions.

 

[heatherusa]

Hi, I don't understand the difference between questions 15 and 18 in IMM5490E Sponsored Spouse form.

15. Was there a formal ceremony to celebrate/recognize marriage?

18. Was there a reception?

Aren't you celebrating/recognizing the marriage with reception of guests and relatives?
can someone explain please.

This is how it happened:

We invited Wedding Officiant of New York conducted the non-religious wedding ceremony.
We exchanged vows, rings, and held the reception/celebration with guests and relatives right after, same place-restaurant.

Sounds like it was formal to me. Informal would have been the two of you with a witness at City hall and maybe no formal wedding dress

 

[britincanada]

Hi, I don't understand the difference between questions 15 and 18 in IMM5490E Sponsored Spouse form.

15. Was there a formal ceremony to celebrate/recognize marriage?

18. Was there a reception?

Aren't you celebrating/recognizing the marriage with reception of guests and relatives?
can someone explain please.

This is how it happened:

We invited Wedding Officiant of New York conducted the non-religious wedding ceremony.
We exchanged vows, rings, and held the reception/celebration with guests and relatives right after, same place-restaurant.

To Question 15, I answered YES as we got married in a small chapel in Niagara Falls, They Guys in Tuxedos and myself in a formal Wedding gown with a matron of Honor and Flower girl So in that respect we had a formal ceremony to Celebrate our love for each other.. 22 people not including ourselves and the Minister attended.

To Question 18, I answered YES also as we had a very small (40 guests) but formal Wedding Reception..with DJ, Sit down Dinner, Wedding Cake etc..

the only thing we didn't do was to have a Honeymoon or Engagement Party!

I would say YES yours was formal..we had a Civil Ceremony..which was non-religious as neither of us goes to church or practices religion, which I am guessing is the same reasons for you?

 

[canadianwoman]

15. Was there a formal ceremony to celebrate/recognize marriage?

18. Was there a reception?

Aren't you celebrating/recognizing the marriage with reception of guests and relatives?
can someone explain please.

This is how it happened:

We invited Wedding Officiant of New York conducted the non-religious wedding ceremony.
We exchanged vows, rings, and held the reception/celebration with guests and relatives right after, same place-restaurant.

You answer 'yes' to both.

'Formal' in question 15 does not mean 'formal' as opposed to 'informal' or 'casual'! It basically means "Did you get married?" For the purposes of this form, an informal wedding on the beach with two witnesses, a non-religious wedding at City Hall, and a church wedding with 500 guests, are all 'formal ceremonies.'
Maybe if like pisces17 you got married at a Household Register Office by just signing some forms, you could put 'no' for 15, but even then, if you were dressed up, there were rings and witnesses, I would put 'yes'.