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There are many purposes and reasons behind marriage. Many Christian followers believe the primary purpose of marriage is procreation but there are many other purposes and reasons for marriage. These include:

Companionship

Completeness

Fruitfulness

Protection

Lifelong Union

To serve and glorify God

The husband protects the wife by laying down his life for her (Ephesians 5:25). The wife is to protect the home (Titus 2:4-5) and the parents together protect their children to raise up a godly seed (Malachi 2:15; Psalm 112:1-2).

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A wedding ceremony can be held with a minimum of tree people: the bride, the groom and the priest. Although in today’s catholic tradition, there are other people that play special roles including:

The Priest or Presider: The priest plays a crucial role in the wedding ceremony and besides the bride and groom, is the most important individual to be present. He leads the bride and groom through their martial vows and makes their union official.

Parents: The father of the bride traditionally escorts the bride down the aisle and gives her hand in marriage away to the groom. Parents of the bride and groom can also be selected to give readings during the ceremony.

Bride and groom: In a catholic wedding, the bride and groom are the ministers of the sacrament of matrimony.

Witnesses: For marriage to be recognised as a civil law, two people are usually required.

The wedding parties: The wedding party consist of the bridesmaids, maid of honor, groomsmen and best man. The wedding party warmly greets guests as they arrive at the church.

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Catholic wedding vows are usually preceded by three questions from the priest:

Priest: (Name), do you take (name) to be your wife? Do you promise to be faithful to her in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love her and to honor her all the days of your life?

Groom: I do.

Priest: (Name), do you take (name) to be your husband? Do you promise to be faithful to him in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love him and to honor him all the days of your life?

Bride: I do.

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Ecclesiastes 4:9: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?"

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Requirements for Marriage
The Church restricts sacramental marriage to men and women who do not meet certain requirements. In order to get married in the Catholic Church, you must:

Be a baptised Catholic

Not be too closely related

Be free to marry (the recipients should have married before)

Marry someone of opposite sex

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Physical gestures during the Sacrament of Marriage in a mass include:

The Sign of the Cross

Sign of Peace

Preparation of gifts

Receiving the Eucharist

Reading of the vows

Placing the rings

Lighting the unity candle

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2. THE LITURGY OF THE WORD

• Old Testament or New Testament Reading

• Responsorial Psalm (sung, if possible)

• Gospel Acclamation (sung, if possible)

• Gospel

• Homily

What this is about?

• Listening to the scriptures and responding. When the scriptures are read, God speaks to his people.

• You also speak to your guests through the choices you make.

3. GIVING OF CONSENT

• A short exhortation (or Introduction) by the Priest

• Questions Before the Consent

• Reception of the Consent

What this is about?

• You marry each other

• You make the promise to each other

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9. SIGN OF PEACE - COMMUNION

What this is about?

• Prayerful preparation for communion by remembering we are called to become what we receive in Communion – the Body of Christ (cf. St Augustine).

10. SOLEMN BLESSING OVER THE COUPLE

(during the Concluding Rites)

What this is about?

• A blessing-prayer by the community for the newly-married couple. Also a prayer that the couple may become blessings for the community.

11. SIGNING OF THE MARRIAGE REGISTER

What this is about?

• Required by law.

• Points to the broader social dimension of your marriage.

12. RECESSIONAL

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4. BLESSING AND GIVING OF RINGS

What this is about?

• A richly symbolic action that seals your commitment to one another.

5. PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL

What this is about?

• Praying for the needs of the church, the world and local community and the issues that are important to you.

6. PREPARATION OF THE OFFERINGS (BREAD AND WINE)

What this is about?

•Preparing the altar for the Eucharist.

7. THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

What this is about?

• Prayer of praise and thanks to God the Father for his goodness to us.

8. THE NUPTIAL BLESSING

(during the Liturgy of the Eucharist, after the Lord’s Prayer)

What this is about?

• The Church asks God to bless your marriage.

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Many catholic marriages follow a sequential order of mass. The order is as follows:

1. INTRODUCTORY RITES

• Procession (with music)

• Entrance Hymn/Song (optional)

• Greeting and words of welcome

• Collect

What this is about?

• Setting the atmosphere

• Welcoming people officially, putting them at ease, and making them feel welcome

• Preparing the assembly to listen to God’s word.

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In European nations, marriage was traditionally considered a civil institution.

Around 5AD, great Christian theologists such as Augustine wrote about Marriage and Christian Church started showing interest in the ceremony.

Christians then began to have their marriages conducted by ministers in Christian gatherings

In the 12th century, Roman Catholic Church formally defined marriage as a sacrament, sanctioned by God.

The values of marriage were a life-long and monogamous covenant between a man and a woman.

In Catholicism, it is believed that the Sacrament of Matrimony is between God, the man and the woman

In 2100 B.C., marriage was established when the earliest surviving written laws in the Mesopotamian Code of Ur-Nammu provided many specifics governing marriage from punishments for adultery, to the legal status of children born to slaves

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Abott, E. (2010). A History of Marriage. Seven Stories Press

Life Noggin. (2014, November 10th). HISTORY OF MARRIAGE. 30th October 2017.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYJ9TzqXJLs

Slick. M. 2014. What is the purpose of marriage. Retrieved October 30.

https://carm.org/what-is-the-purpose-of-marriage

Barry. M. 2017. The People Involved in a Wedding. 30th October 2017.

https://oureverydaylife.com/the-people-involved-in-a-wedding-12585347.html

Catholic Australia. 2012. Marriage. 30th October 2017.

https://carm.org/what-is-the-purpose-of-marriage

Catholic Wedding Help. 2016. Catholic Wedding Vows. 30th October 2017.

http://catholicweddinghelp.com/topics/catholic-wedding-vows.htm

Challies. 2017. What’s the Purpose of Marriage? 30th October 2017.

https://www.challies.com/articles/whats-the-purpose-of-marriage/

FamilyLife. 2015. Embracing God’s Purposes for Marriage. 30th October 2017

http://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/marriage/staying-married/gods-plan-for-marriage/embracing-gods-purposes-for-marriage

Yesterday. 2015. A Brief History of Marriage. 30th October 2017

https://yesterday.uktv.co.uk/article/brief-history-marriage/

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Jews considered marriage a commandment

Marriage is a concept so old, that it predates recorded history

From the early Christian era (30 to 325 CE), marriage was thought of as primarily a private matter, with no uniform religious or other ceremony being required.

Polygamy (to marry multiple people) was very popular in the past.

Monogamy (to marry one person) didn’t become the norm until the 9th century

Early marriage was a result of old social orders' having to secure a sheltered domain in which to breed, handle the giving of property rights (or money), and ensure bloodlines.

One of the first recorded uses of the engagement ring was in 1477

Archduke Maximilian of Austria proposed to marry Burgundy with a diamond ring.

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Rings

Rings are a major symbol in a Christian marriage and is used to convey unity and to serve as tangible reminder to each spouse of the martial commitment. The ring symbolises endless love, just as the circle has no start and no end. The ring is worn on the left finger because it a believed a vein in this finger directly leads to the heart.

White gown

Traditional vestment of the bride and symbolises inner beauty and purity.

Dove

Doves are meant to represent peace and new beginnings.

Unity candle

The unity candle symbolises their marriage and their Christians home will now serve as light. The light implies as each one's life and as a light to the people around.

Church

The church serves as an important religious symbol. Saint Barnabas indicates that holding a wedding in a church demonstrates the couple’s faithful commitment to a Christian marriage

White

Symbolises purity of the soul, light, innocence and goodness.