Thanks Dey, I had the same understanding but I wanted to check.
In US, UK you have to register your marriage at the registered council office beforehand and get married there. But in today's times, most of the hotels, banqueting halls, gurudwaras, mandirs etc are all registered and can carry out the registration process after the religious rituals are conducted. Nonetheless you still need a certificate to say your married.
But if you don't legally get married and live with your partner for 10 years or more, legally you have a common law marriage.
Does that apply to India as well?