To understand this very well, let me give you a list of things that are not required for church marriage to be valid and list of things required for marriage validity.

Things that are NOT required for marriage validity are:

1. Suit (any colour)
2. Gown (any colour)
3. Rings, yes "wedding" Rings are not requirements for validity.
4. Shoes
5. Flowers
6. Little bride and little groom
7. Flower girls
8. Men in suit
9. Bridal train
10. Aseobi girls
11. Food
12. Bridal showers
13. Make ups
14. Cakes
15. Best man or best woman
16. Convoy
17. Camera
18. Pre-wedding, wedding and post wedding shots

I can't exhaust the list. . .

THINGS REQUIRED FOR MARRIAGE VALIDITY:

1. The bride and the groom: MALE and FEMALE... (come as you are, they can dress as they wish provided it is decent.)

2. The consent or vow (it must be freely given, if it is discovered that you were forced either by your parents or anyone or even abducted to marry, the marriage is invalid).

3. Two witnesses (you need at least two witnesses to witness that your vows were freely given.)

4. You must understand what you are going into. In other words, you must have SENSE. The Canon law (Can 1095) puts it like this: "The following are incapable of contracting marriage:
1. those who lack the sufficient use of
reason." Underline the word SUFFICIENT.

5. Age: Can. 1083 §1. "A man before he has completed his sixteenth year of age and a woman before she has completed her fourteenth year of age cannot enter into a valid marriage." This law is the MINIMUM for the universal church, but every bishop in their dioceses is expected to apply this age rule according to their diocese or country. It means the age requirement for a man and a woman can only be increased.

6. Another aspect that invalidates a marriage is that of antecedent and perpetual impotence to have intercourse, whether on the part of the man or the woman, whether absolute or relative. It nullifies marriage by its very nature. The marriage is complete once there is consummation. For consummation to happen, there must be full penetration.

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The implication of the above is that strictly speaking, you don't need two celebrations in the name of marriage or wedding. You don't need to do an elaborate traditional marriage and start making another big arrangement for church wedding.

This is how it goes. . .

The moment you decide to marry, you and your spouse should go straight to the parish office and tell your pastor (parish priest). He will register you and check through that you actually understand what you are about to do. The parish can organize a course to teach you basic things about marriage and family planning. The parish sometimes can invite professionals on different fields to guild you on many issues that you will be grateful for. Then, your banns will be announced and date for marriage fixed.

You can choose to bless your marriage during a weekday mass with your witnesses present. You and your spouse will take your vows. That is all. The mass will be between 45 mins to 60mins. You will come as you are and after the mass, you both can go about your normal businesses.

The following weekend, you can go ahead and have an elaborate traditional wedding and feed your village people.

This is also very theological because you first appear before God with your wife, then in the traditional, you appear before the people to celebrate.

The point in all these is that, you have celebrated your marriage according to the tradition of your people and blessed it also before God. The multiplications and spending of money to feed everyone, buy suits and gowns, book halls and arrange flowers girls are not necessary IF you don't have the money.

Don't kill yourself biko in the name of having a big wedding. All marry na marry.

#FacebookTelevision


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Thank you.
I wonder why people actually throw the real essence and values away. They'll rather spend to show off on their wedding day, later they'll divorce before long.

canada2022:

This is also very theological because you first appear before God with your wife, then in the traditional, you appear before the people to celebrate.

The point in all these is that, you have celebrated your marriage according to the tradition of your people and blessed it also before God. The multiplications and spending of money to feed everyone, buy suits and gowns, book halls and arrange flowers girls are not necessary IF you don't have the money.

All you described has absolutely nothing to do with God. Your marriage ceremonies have absolutely nothing to do with that which God commanded where marriage between a man and woman is concerned.

Read Genesis 2 vs 24 and Matthew 19 vs 3 - 5 to learn God's simple formula where marriage is concerned. According to His Law, a marriage is a contract agreement between a man and a woman- no permissions or witnesses necessary- they are bound as one when they join/mate/cleave - finis!

All your other ceremonies, rites etc., do not add or remove from the marriage in any way or form.

Kobojunkie:
All you described has absolutely nothing to do with God. Your marriage ceremonies have absolutely nothing to do with that which God commanded where marriage between a man and woman is concerned.

Read Genesis 2 vs 24 and Matthew 19 vs 3 - 5 to learn God's simple formula where marriage is concerned. According to His Law, a marriage is a contract agreement between a man and a woman- no permissions or witnesses necessary- they are bound as one when they join/mate/cleave - finis!

All your other ceremonies, rites etc., do not add or remove from the marriage in any way or form.

read the entire write again

canada2022:
read the entire write again

I did,that is why I felt it essential to point out that even that it focuses on stating has nothing to do with God's idea.