The proper books for registration, blank forms for marriage licenses, certificates, statements and affidavits and such other blanks as shall be necessary to comply with the provisions of this article, shall be prepared by the state department of health and shall be furnished by said department at the expense of the state to the town and city clerks filing records with the state department of health in such quantities as their necessities shall require.
Estate of Cyngiel, No. 773-2003, 2006 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 4145, at *5-6 (Sur. Ct. Dec. 28, 2006)
If a person authorized to solemnize a marriage between adults in New York, performs a ceremony without a license, the marriage is valid (Scheinkman, New York Law of Domestic Relations § 25; 45 NY Jur 2d Domestic Relations Law § 21).
All that is necessary is that a clergyman officiate at the marriage. If the parties fail to obtain a marriage license, it does not effect the validity of such marriage where it is performed in accordance with Orthodox ritual and practice (45 NY Jur 2d Domestic Relations Law § 21).
However, the marriage does not have to comply with every stringency of Jewish law. Courts cannot become involved in delving into the intricacies and depth of Jewish law. As long as a facially valid religious ceremony was performed by a clergyman, the marriage is a valid one.