- Betrothal: The Hebrew noun is "Erusin" from "Aras" in Greek "eros" — to be "espoused", a verbal and legally binding contract, normally accompanied with the "bride-price", and following which — as seen in the words of Jesus – the Second Man and the "Last" Adam — it was often customary for the man to depart to prepare a home for his bride.
And during which time the bride was "Kiddushim" from "Kodesh / Qadash" — "Sanctified" i.e. set apart. - Wedding: The Hebrew noun is "Nisuin" from "Nasa" - to be "lifted up" or carried (over the threshold)
- Betrothal:The words "Till death us do part, I plight (or plait, pledge) to thee my troth (truth, loyalty faithfulness)" while taking each other by the right hand (handfasting) were apparently the common vows in England and Scotland. Banns (proclamation), Marriage and a Church registration were available for those who then wanted the contract registered and sanctified (set apart) to God, though there was no legal requirement. Marriages were conducted by Latin-speaking priests prior to Queen Elizabeth I's reign (in 1558), English-speaking priests normally after 1558 though Latin continued in the Church of Scotland.
The minimum age for the contract could be as low as 12 for girls, following a statement in 1275 by Edward I regarding a minimum age for sexual relations. Parental consent was expected particularly in England more so than in Scotland for it to be accepted by the community at such a young age. Note, there was no formal church registration requirement, and prior to the 1600s, worldwide records are few and far between, except for royalty and noblemen eg China's Confucius line. It has made life very difficult for historians.
- In 1753 the Marriage Act in England was formalised, legal rules were tightened considerably, and the minimum age (without parental consent) was set at 21. Marriage could only be performed in a Church of England (with the bishop's permission), a Jewish temple (with the rabbi's permission), or in a Religious Society of Friends (Quaker) ceremony (with the minister's permission). In 1836 many more denominations and groups were admitted, with the Latin speaking Catholic Church finally receiving official approval in England (and Australia) in 1850.
- On 1st January 1901 in NSW and Queensland it became an offence for a child to have sexual relations before the age of 16. It followed a similar Act passed in the UK in 1885. Click here for Age of Consent laws in states / countries worldwide.
- In 1929 in the UK the minimum legal age for marriage was raised to 16.
- In 1942 in Tasmania, the minimum legal age for marriage for men was raised to 18.
- In 1961 in Australian Federal law this was formalized throughout Australia. Only under exceptional conditions, sanctioned by a judge, could a marriageable age be lowered to 16 for men (and to 14 for women).
In 1991 the minimum legal age for marriage for women was raised to 18, with a judge's sanction required to lower the age to 16. - In 1987, 18 became the new minimum age in England, Wales and Northern Ireland not requiring parental consent.