From a legal perspective, only when both parties have obtained a marriage certificate can they be protected by law and become a true "couple". If they only take wedding photos without obtaining a marriage certificate, it does not belong to a true marital relationship, but rather a romantic relationship. But morally speaking, the two belong to the relationship of unmarried couple.
Conditions for obtaining a marriage certificate
1. Both parties shall jointly go to the marriage registration authority in the place where one party's permanent household registration is located to handle the marriage registration.
2. Both parties meet the legal age for marriage.
3. Both parties are single without a spouse.
4. Both parties are not direct blood relatives or collateral blood relatives within three generations.
5. Both parties are voluntarily marrying.
6. Both parties do not suffer from any diseases that are medically deemed unsuitable for marriage.