A marriage license is a real marriage. In China, a man and a woman who meet the legal conditions for marriage can be considered truly married only after marriage registration, when their marriage relationship has legal effect and is recognized and protected by the State.
The reason to get a marriage certificate is to be truly married:
1. Ensure the implementation of the socialist marriage system
Through marriage registration, the state can supervise the establishment of the marriage of citizens, which is conducive to maintaining the seriousness of the law, preventing the occurrence of arranged, bought and sold marriages, early marriages and bigamy, and ensuring the consolidation of the socialist marriage and family system with the coercive power of the state.
(2) Protect the legitimate rights and interests of the parties to the marriage
The state implements a marriage registration system, which can give timely legal aid to men and women who strive for independence in marriage, and protect the legitimate rights of men and women who request marriage based on love. It can also help guide the marriage parties to avoid being trapped in an unhappy marriage through ignorance or deception.
(3) Timely prevention and punishment of violations of the Marriage Law
Through marriage registration, state functionaries can directly carry out legal education on the parties to the marriage, promptly discover violations of the marriage Law, and take corresponding effective measures.
So you have to get a marriage certificate to be really married.