 This practice originated in 1878, and was originally intended for those persons in a common-law relationship who presented themselves as married and wanted to make such marriage official.The practice of confidential marriages is unique to California, and is only approximated by Michigan, which offers court-ordered secret marriages.Prior to 1989, the U.S. Department of State offered a Certificate of Witness to Marriage (form FS-97) for those couples whose marriages were solemnised in the presence of a consular official overseas.