Bonds were required for a period of time (in a lot of different states) and most of the time, there was no actual cash posted. The person/people who signed the bond were swearing that if there was some lawful reason that prevented the marriage, they were liable for a bond in that amount.

Both were recorded in the clerk's office - in the form you see them in this post, depending on how the law read (in terms of need for bond) during any given time.