http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proxy_marriage
A proxy marriage is when the bride and the groom are getting married separately, but are getting married to each other.
It was common for European monarchs and nobility to be wed by proxy marriage. A famous example of this is the marriage of Napoleon I of France to Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma. Catherine of Aragon wed Prince Arthur by proxy. A famous 17th-century painting by Peter Paul Rubens depicts the proxy marriage of Marie de Medici.[1]
During the early 1900s, proxy marriages increased significantly when many Japanese picture brides arrived at Angel Island, California. Since the early 20th century it has been most commonly used for marriages involving members of the military on active duty.[1] Various Internet sites now offer to arrange proxy and double-proxy marriages for a fee, although the service can generally be set up by any lawyer in a jurisdiction that offers proxy marriage.
An unusual example came on August 10, 2003 when Ekaterina Dmitriev was married by proxy in Texas to Yuri Malenchenko, a cosmonaut who was at that time aboard the International Space Station. It was the first "space wedding" in history.[2]
Montana is the only state that allows double-proxy marriage.
(oops title should be Marriage)