my understanding is that the wedding is good and all but it's just a ceremony. it's not official and legal until the marriage certificate is signed, which I believe happens during the reception
If that's true, what happens in this case regarding insurance, beneficiaries etc. if legally she wasn't official his wife yet?
Good question. I don't even remember when I signed mine. I guess it was at the reception. If they both hadn't signed yet, I wonder if the signatures of the officiant and the witnesses would suffice to make it legal in such an odd situation.