My understanding of the process (at least in the present day) is that
a couple first apply for a Marriage License, possibly having to submit
results of a blood test. With the license in hand they then go to a
preacher or judge to perform the marriage ceremony. Said celebrant
will file a report of the marriage with the civil authorities who then
register the marriage and issue a Certificate of Marriage to the married
couple.
So there are two possible sources of information, any record kept of
info from the original application for the License, plus the registered
record of the marriage itself. Note that a License may be issued but the
marriage itself never take place, or a License may not have been
legally required at a particular place and time.
For NYC interest, the 4/95 Catalog of the NYC Municipal Archives includes
the following paragraph which did not appear on the previous catalog:
* Health Department marriage certificates and indexes for
all Boroughs prior to 1938 are available on microfilm. Index
to City Clerk marriage licenses for all Boroughs, 1908 through
1929, available on microfilm; licenses 1908 - 1929 have not been
microfilmed; license copies available via special order only.
Regards,
Charles Sullivan