The civil marriage records of NYC exist in a variety of forms. 1853-1937 records were kept by the Department of Health(DOH). These were recorded AFTER the wedding took place. From 1853(there are a few before this but not many) thru 1865 they exist in a register book ONLY with one line per wedding. These LIBER books are available through the Muni Archives and some through the FHL (1873-1887). They are indexed within themselves(recorded within a certain letter as they came in but not alphabetized) sort of before 1873 and then from 1873-1888 they have a separate liber book index by grooms only, I think. The register is separate from the index from 1873 on. The 1888 index exists but not the 1888 register. Registers ceased being kept in NYC after 1888. From 1866-1937 the Health Department(DOH) issued certificates which are what is indexed at the IGG website. These are available through Muni Archives and the FHL. FROM 1866-1887 THEREFORE A CERTIFICATE AND A REGISTER LINE ENTRY SHOULD EXIST FOR EACH WEDDING REPORTED TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. THIS MIGHT GIVE YOU A SECOND CHANCE TO READ POOR PENMANSHIP OR FAINT MICROFILM COPIES. THEY WERE CREATED ESSENTIALLY AT THE SAME TIME AND PROBABLY ARE RECORDED IN TWO DIFFERENT SCRIPTS. Beginning in 1908 the City Clerk office started issuing marriage licenses BEFORE the wedding. They continue to do this today. These licenses include a certificate filled in AFTER the wedding was performed and returned to the city. They provide more detailed information including county in Ireland birthplace for the ones I have from 1920 and 1929. The index at IGG is for the HEALTH DEPARTMENT certificates from 1866-1937. The DOH ceaed its marriages records in 1937. The City Clerk records are available at Muni Archives from 1908-1929. It is $15 to get one but since they are not truly "indexed" they will only get it for you if you 1) have a date and 2) specify that you do not want the Health Department record because you already have it or you know they did not record a DOH certificate. I was able to get the ones for both my grandparents from 1919 and 1929. The 1919 was the only civil record while the 1929 had both the City Clerk license and the DOH certificate filed. You may of course search there yourself. The "index" is put together every few months as the licenses were completed. Therefore if the wedding DID NOT take place there is still a license on file. A collateral who did not get married may finally break the brick wall down if they created a marriage license from 1908 on. Later licenses are available through the City Clerk. No plans are in the works to get the City Clerk index online at IGG. They are not available through the FHL either. THEREFORE, FROM 1908-1937 WHEN THE DOH CEASED ISSUING CERTIFICATES, THERE ARE TWO INDEPENDENT CIVIL MARRIAGE RECORD KEEPERS. SOME COUPLES HAVE BOTH LIKE MY MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS IN 1929, SOME HAVE JUST THE CITY CLERK AS MY PATERNAL GRANDPARENTS DID IN 1919 AND SOME MIGHT HAVE JUST THE DOH CERTIFICATE. BE THOROUGH AND DON'T GIVE UP AFTER 1907 IF YOU ARE NOT ON THE IGG INDEX.