What is a Marriage/Wedding in the BIBLE? What is required?

What is it? When a man and woman become one flesh, when they agree to each other to be faithful, agreeance with each set of parents to be mated.

How do you do it? What is required? There is NO commandment on the process, but there are examples of how the forefathers went through this process.

When a Father of the potential husband or the potential husband pays the Father of the potential wife an agreed upon sum of either money, goods, or both. Or the potential husband works for the Father of the potential bride for a period of time.

If the Father and daughter both accept, and they consumate this is being married Biblically.

See this story in scripture: Abraham sent goods and money to pay the Father of the potential bride, both the Father and daughter had to agree, unions were not forced on the women. Once the union was accepted by all parties Rebecka went to Issac, upon seeing him they had sex and that completed the "Marriage" process.

There's No need for all the other traditions we know now. Biblically if all parties are in agreeance to the union, dowry is paid, and those two have sex they are considered Married in the eyes of the Lord.

There is NO commandment to give instructions on how to be a married couple.

Gen 24:8 And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.

Gen 24:10 And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.

Gen 24:14 And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.

Gen 24:15 And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.

Gen 24:16 And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.

Gen 24:17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.

Gen 24:18 And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.

Gen 24:27 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren.

Gen 24:34 And he said, I am Abraham's servant.

Gen 24:35 And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.

Gen 24:36 And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath.

Gen 24:37 And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:

Gen 24:51 Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the LORD hath spoken.

Gen 24:52 And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.

Gen 24:53 And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.

Gen 24:57 And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.

Gen 24:58 And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.

Gen 24:62 And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country.

Gen 24:63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.

Gen 24:64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.

Gen 24:65 For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.

Gen 24:66 And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.

Gen 24:67 And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

Why do we have all these other steps nowadays?

Back when countries were ruled by Kings and Queens with the Catholic Church overseeing all of this is when additional requirements came into play for the Royals and the common folks wanted to mimic the Royal families.

The Catholic Church would have a say in who the King should marry, because if it was a union between an UnCatholic nation they would excommunicate the King and country of the land that brought in an outsider. And all Catholic nations wanted to stay in good graces with the Catholic Church.

The Royal class people like to show off their status with fancy dresses and suits. Drape themselves in jewels and gold.

The King would have a signet ring that was passed down from the prior generation. Women wanted their own rings.

Brides came with a dowry, money, goods, or estate for the common folks. Royalty came with those and unions of goverments which has it own set of benefits like armies, other lines of income, and connections to other allies.

There were mentions of weddings in the Bible, but they weren't like what we know them to be today or when under the rule of the Catholic Church. They were groups of family and friends to celebrate the union of 2 people, but they did not rent the church, separate the families to sides, and perform a ritual for the union of those 2 people after getting a license from the state.

It was more like what we know as a reception. They gathered, talked, ate, and celebrated the two people and families that had joined lives, but this was not required for two people to be married.