I was discussing the origin of present day marriage customs with a friend recently. Neither of us could explain, biblically, the origin of standing before a pastor for a ceremony and signing papers amounting to a legal contract. All, I have been able to find in the Bible are wedding feasts, followed by the wedding night consummation. This also appears to be the form of the wedding of Adam and Eve in Genesis 2:22-24

What are your thoughts?

The particular forms that were, for many decades, standard procedure in our society to legalize and prove two people are really married, of course are not in the Bible, they are part of our society. Many are now thinking them unnecessary, but just look what is happening to marriage in our time. The further society drifts from these practices that solemnizes the binding nature of marriage, the more marriage, as a committed, binding covenant also drifts into dissolution.

So what were the marriage ceremonies like in Bible times? While you won't find a "wedding planner on how to do a wedding" chapter in scripture, there are passages that link to their practices, like Matthew 25. Understanding the ancient wedding customs of Israel does make many Scripture accounts come alive with new meaning. For a wedding is symbolic of Christ being united with His people (the church). Christ is the bridegroom! (Luke 5:34,35, John 3:29)


THE BETROTHAL
When a man wanted to marry a woman, he would prepare a contract to present to her father, sometimes he would present it to her father himself, other times his father would make the initial contact. The contract indicated his willingness and ability to provide for her and described the terms under which he would propose marriage. It also specified a bride price, (or bride wealth) that he would pay.

A betrothal was a very binding ritual.
Turn to Matthew 1:18, where we find that Mary is betrothed to Joseph. They are not yet married, they have not yet come together, but when Mary is found to be with child, Joseph wanted a divorce, and he had a legal right to get one.
Espousal/Betrothal is a binding covenant prior to the marriage feast and consummation - which is why separate rules are given for it in Deuteronomy 22. Joseph is legally her ?husband? and she is legally his ?wife? though they are not yet ?married?.

The betrothal usually takes place months or even years before the marriage.
It is a covenant they enter into in the presence of witnesses (but not a lot of guests) and it is recorded.
In the ritual the groom brings a cup of wine (grape juice) and hands it to the bride to be. If she takes it and drinks from it, it is her pledge to be his wife.

The bride groom then returns to his own father's house, he is to build a dwelling place for himself and his wife.
The bride has no idea when her groom will come back to claim her, so she waits in a state of preparation, for him to come back.

The symbolism is amazing!
Christ signed the covenant with His own blood upon Calvary,
The cup, with wine, is offered to all of Christ's followers.
Will we drink, thus showing our desire to be His.
Christ says He will not drink from that cup again until we drink it together at Lamb's wedding Supper. (Matt. 26:29)

Right now Jesus is in heaven, in His Father's house, preparing rooms (mansion) for us, and He's promised to come back, and take His faithful to heaven that wherever Jesus, is there His redeemed may be also. John 14:2-3
The church, is in a state of waiting preparedness. Not knowing the hour when the bridegroom comes to claim his bride.

Rev. 19:7-9 The marriage feast.