Marriage: Forms of Marriage

What is Marriage?

Marriage is an institution. It has a broad meaning based on a variety of factors. In this article, we will read about the various forms of marriage; but first, let’s understand the definition and concept of marriage.

Marriage is the coming together or union of a man and a woman to become husband and wife. It is also termed as matrimony or wedlock.

Marriages that failed to produce children is still considered as valid. This is so because children are gifts from God, and are thus considered as an additional blessing to marriage.

The family, which is the smallest unit of any society can be realized or formed when a man and a woman come together as husband and wife. The future of a society therefore depends on the families that it's comprised of.

Please read on the leadership qualities of Joseph that has transformed lives here.

Forms of Marriage

The forms of marriage are also referred to as 'types of marriage'. Below are the various forms or types of marriage alongside their explanations.

• Covenant Marriage

A covenant marriage is applicable to various religion; for instance, christianity and islam. During the wedding of a covenant marriage, the couples make a solemn promise to each other that they will remain together for better and for worse, for richer and for poorer, till death do them part'.

Ideally, the couples are expected to undergo premarital counselling before entering into this form of marriage.

The concept of divorce is strongly discouraged in a covenant marriage. However, separation may occur if one of the spouse is guilty of any of the followings:

1. Adultery

2. Physical abuse

3. Sexual abuse on their child

4. Felony

5. Murder

6. Isolation or loneliness

   .

Please read more on divorce and failed marriages here.

It is worthy of note to state that love and forgiveness are the basis on which covenant marriage thrive upon.

Please read on the attributes of God here.

• Arranged Marriage

An arranged marriage is said to exist between two strangers. This is so because the family of both parties choose a spouse for the man or woman.

Families indulge in this kind of marriage in order to maintain their class, status, honour, pedigree and so on.

Arranged marriage is also called a pragmatic marriage.

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• Endogamy

In Greek, endo means 'within' while 'gamy' means 'marry'. In this regard, endogamy is a marriage between two persons of the same tribe or ethnicity.

Endogamy may be encouraged in certain tradition since it helps the minorities within a state or country to propagate their culture.

Endogamy can be religious. Religious endogamy is said to occur when both parties share the same faith (religion) before their marriage.

Some religion require endogamy for a marriage to take place. Such religion include yazidi in Northern Iraq, orthodox jews and Jehovah’s witness.

• Exogamy

Exogamy is considered to be a marriage between two persons of different tribe or ethnicity.

An instance of exogamy in Nigeria is the marriage between a yoruba man and an igbo woman.

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• Celestial Marriage

Celestial marriage is a type of marriage considered to go beyond the physical life and consequently, the grave. This marriage is believed to continue for all eternity. For this reason, it may also be referred to as a heavenly marriage.

Celestial marriage is believed to exist by mormons. In this case, the couples are believed to be sealed in the God’s presence.

Please read on the sovereignty of God here.

• Cyber Marriage or e-Marriage

This is a modern type of marriage made possible via the internet. An e-marriage is an electronic form of marriage that is done online.

There is no form of physical wedding between both couples in a cyber marriage, rather this is done virtually or online. In fact, both partners do almost everything over the internet.

You can read on the notable dates of internet evolution here.

Note: The couples may physically meet themselves once in a while. However, the point is: 'the wedding is done online. Also, most of the marital activities and done online, including sex'.

• Incestual Marriage

An incestual marriage is strongly prohibited in the christian religion because it occurs between a man and a woman within the same nuclear or extended family. You can think of it as an incest.

Note: This marriage will also apply to a godfather and a goddaughter or the mother of the goddaughter.

Incestual marriage exists a result of incest (sexual relationship between relatives).

In the bible, Lot's daughter committed incest with their father (Gen. 19:31-35).

Please read on consequences of Adam and Eve's disobedience here.

• Shotgun Marriage

A shotgun wedding (and consequently marriage) is done in order to avoid embarrassment from one of the parties involved.

Please read on reputation here.

Shotgun marriage is typically seen in instances where a premarital sex between a man and a woman led to an unplanned pregnancy.

This wedding/marriage was named 'shotgun' because it was assumed that the father of the pregnant bride-to-be utilizes a shotgun to threaten the unwilling groom into such marriage'.

• May-December Marriage

May-December marriage is said to exist when one of the spouse is significantly older than the partner.

At minimum, one of the spouse must be older than the partner by 11 years or more.

As example of May-December marriage is seen when a 40-year-old man marries a 20-year-old woman.

• Proxy Marriage

A wedding or marriage is considered to be a proxy when one or both of the intending marriage partners are not physically present on their wedding day, instead, they are represented by some other persons.

Such persons representing the man or woman are said to 'proxy' for the absent marriage couples. Meanwhile, proxy marriages are not recognized as legally binding in many instances.

Note: If one partner is absent from the wedding, then it's just referred to as a proxy wedding. However, if both partners are absent, it’s called a double proxy wedding.

• Secret Marriage

A marriage is termed to be secret when it is carried out in the hidden, away from family and friends. Meanwhile, present on the occasion of this marriage is the man, the wife and the clergy or pastor or imam.

In some cases, secret marriages are also referred to as judicial secret marriage because it can also be held in a closed court session, and only the presiding judge has a record of the marriage.

The marriage license issued in a secret marriage remains valid in some countries. In this regard, couples may wish to mark the anniversary of their secret marriage.

We have other intersting forms of marriage that are yet to be explained in this article. Please read through them here.