Although there has been much attention paid to how the law has been evolving on the cutting edges of marriage and divorce law, as it happens, there are still some ambiguities on more essential and mundane aspects of marriage and divorce that the courts are still clarifying.

We have all seen versions of perfect wedding couples and beautiful wedding venues with all the accoutrements. The happy and nervous couple in the flower-adorned venue, whether it is a religious facility, a banquet hall, or the outdoors, is flanked by the wedding party, being lovingly viewed by their gathered guests. At the apex of the scene, between the couple stands the officiant designated to marry the couple, delivering customary and appropriate words of inspiration. The entire process leads to the climactic moment when the couple gaze into one another's eyes and the person performing the ceremony says those very familiar words: "by the power vested in me by the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I now pronounce you man and wife" (or similar designations). Exuding joy and elation, the newly married couple shares a symbolic kiss and exits in newly wedded bliss into a car, dragging tin cans in its wake, to announce their nuptials. Amidst the joy and happiness, no one stops to wonder at what seems to be a very obvious question: what if the "power" was not "vested" in the officiant to marry the engaged couple?