Right while trying to drive myself insane going through the whole complexities of moving me, wife and kids to Laos came across this,
Foreign citizens intending to marry Lao nationals are required by Lao law to obtain prior permission from the Lao Government. The formal application process can take as long as a year. American citizens may obtain information about these requirements from the U.S. Embassy in Vientiane. The Lao Government will not issue a marriage certificate unless the correct procedures are followed.
We never did any of this as we married in the UK. Does that mean we are not leagally married in Laos??? We havent followed the Laos family law.