After six years of marriage, a husband and wife were shocked to learn that they were never legally married.
Los Angeles-based stand-up comedian Atsuko Okatsuka, 34, and her husband, Ryan Harper Gray, discovered that their marriage paperwork was never filed, despite exchanging vows in front of 180 guests in June 2017.
The couple’s revelation came when they tried to add Ryan to Atsuko’s health insurance and were asked for their marriage certificate, which they were unable to locate. Upon requesting a copy from the City of Los Angeles, they were informed that there was no record of their marriage.
After coming to terms with the situation and the realization that they had essentially been dating for the past six years, Atsuko and Ryan decided to remarry at the courthouse.
Atsuko, also known for her comedic skills, remarked, “You couldn’t write this stuff.” The couple believes that a friend who officiated their wedding might have mishandled the paperwork, leading to the predicament.
Fortunately, they were able to rectify the situation by paying a fee and presenting two witnesses to prove the original wedding took place, allowing them to have the certificate backdated to 2017.
Reflecting on the experience, Atsuko joked about the simplicity of the process, saying, “The straights got married again. It was just like, ‘Give us $200. Here’s your wedding certificate, dumb-dumbs.'” She also pondered on the irony of having to remarry the same person without ever splitting up.
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