US govt shutdown leaves would-be newlyweds standing at the altar

When Dan Pollock and his bride arrived at the marriage bureau in the US capital Washington to pick up their marriage certificate, they were surprised to find it was closed because of the government shutdown.

"It never occurred to us that the DC marriage bureau was federally funded," said Pollock, who, like his wife, is a former Senate staffer who had worked through previous government shutdowns.

"When we showed up at the courthouse, they politely turned us away and said there would be no licenses until the government reopens," Pollock told AFP.

With just two days until their wedding, however, it was too late to change their plans.

"We chose to embrace the insanity," said Pollock. "The entire wedding was a blast nonetheless, and I guess we'll be back in DC to make it official."