Results: Marriage - legal or spiritual?

For most people, there are two basic aspects to a marriage - legal and spiritual. The legal aspect is a contract between those being married and the state, outlining rights and responsibilities ranging from inheritance of property to the ability to make medical decisions for one another, among many others. The spiritual aspect of marriage for most is the swearing of oaths to one another in the presence of family, friends and (if theists) their deity or deities of choice to bear witness to the oaths as they are sworn and then the keeping of those oaths. In your opinion, which of the aspects of marriage are more important - spiritual or legal?

My boyfriend and I have decided to marry this fall while we are in Scandinavia, swearing our oaths to one another in a part of Sweden with both historical and modern significance to people of our faith. However, we have also decided to save ourselves the time and paperwork involved and have the legal aspect of our marriage handled in the USA. Which do you think we should do first - the legal filings in the US before we depart or the spiritual marriage and swearing of oaths in Sweden?

Since none of his friends or family would be able to attend the spiritual ceremony and the legal aspect is merely filing papers, do you think we should throw a party similar to a reception when we return?