The laws regulating the solemnization of marriages among the Christian community in India is laid down by the Indian Christian Marriage Act of 1872. Initially enacted by the British-Indian administration, Christian marriages in the country are performed by an authorised Minister or Priest in a church. After the marriage ceremony is completed, the minister or priest registers the marriage and issues a certificate of marriage in the name of the couple and thereby, makes it official. To register a marriage officially, it is essential for each party to the union to make an application to the concerned authority that is located in their vicinity regarding the intention of marriage.