marriage
Legally bound partnership
Marriage is a legally recognized relationship between two people who typically share a household and who may share the responsibility of raising children.
Marriage may also have a strong religious component, with many couples having their marriage ceremony—their wedding—officiated by a cleric.
Traditionally, marriage has been between a man and a woman, but an increasing number of countries confer the rights and privileges that accompany marriage to same sex couples.
Woman getting married
- groomBetrothed man; stable worker
- vowsSolemn binding promises
- altarSacred ritual table
- aisleCorridor between seating sections
rings · bouquet · chapel · officiant · reception · nuptials · best man · maid of honor
Enforceable written agreement
- licenseFormal grant of permission
- certificateFormal written attestation
- conjugalOf marriage
- spousalOf a marriage partner
wedlock · common-law · divorce · annulment · alimony · prenuptial · bigamy · dowry
Intense fond attachment
- affectionWarm emotional attachment
- intimacyEmotional closeness between people
- passionIntense emotional drive
- courtshipSeeking another's romantic favor
proposal · engagement · sweetheart · fiancé · fiancée · beloved · adore · wooing
Married partner
- companionOne who keeps company
- helpmateSupportive life partner
- unionJoining into one
- allianceFormal union of parties
equal · teamwork · cooperation · compromise · communication · shared · mutual · interdependence
Faithful commitment to another
- fidelityLoyalty or exactness
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
- faithfulnessDevoted loyalty maintained
- vowSolemn personal commitment
promise · trust · bond · dedication · constancy · steadfastness · honor · integrity
Prayer seeking divine favor
- sacramentSacred ritual conveying grace
- riteCeremonial act or practice
- celebrationFestive event marking occasion
- benedictionFormal spoken blessing
liturgy · ketubah · handfasting · unity candle · jumping the broom · circling · henna · mehndi
bride
Woman getting married
aisle · rings · bouquet · chapel · officiant · reception · nuptials · best man · maid of honor · bridesmaids
contract
Enforceable written agreement
- licenseFormal grant of permission
- certificateFormal written attestation
- conjugalOf marriage
spousal · wedlock · common-law · divorce · annulment · alimony · prenuptial · bigamy · dowry · consanguinity
love
Intense fond attachment
- affectionWarm emotional attachment
- intimacyEmotional closeness between people
- passionIntense emotional drive
courtship · proposal · engagement · sweetheart · fiancé · fiancée · beloved · adore · wooing · amour
spouse
Married partner
alliance · equal · teamwork · cooperation · compromise · communication · shared · mutual · interdependence · reciprocity
loyalty
Faithful commitment to another
- fidelityLoyalty or exactness
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
- faithfulnessDevoted loyalty maintained
vow · promise · trust · bond · dedication · constancy · steadfastness · honor · integrity · endurance
blessing
Prayer seeking divine favor
- sacramentSacred ritual conveying grace
- riteCeremonial act or practice
- celebrationFestive event marking occasion
benediction · liturgy · ketubah · handfasting · unity candle · jumping the broom · circling · henna · mehndi · chuppah
household
Domestic unit of residents
- childrenYoung human beings
- procreationGenerating biological offspring
- parentingNurturing and guiding children
in-laws · kinship · lineage · offspring · heritage · ancestry · relatives · clan · adoption · descendants
- connectionslink, links, connect, connection, tie
- familymother, father, parents, siblings, parent
- family lifebirth, kinship, childbirth, pregnancy, new baby
- relationshipsfriends, romantic, family, friend, flirting
- relazioni umanefriendship, love, family, romance, trust
- social lifefriend, family, group, relationship, community
marriagebachelorhood
Unwed man's status
singlehood · spinsterhood · single life · widowhood · maidenhood
marriagedivorce
Legal end of matrimony
annulment · separation · dissolution · split · breakup
marriagecelibacy
Abstaining from intimate relations
chastity · virginity · abstinence · monasticism · bachelorhood
- shotgun marriageCompelled wedding due to pregnancy
- marriage vowsPledges exchanged during ceremonies
- marriage proposalOffer of matrimony
- marriage licenseLegal authorization to wed
- marriage certificateLegal proof of wedlock
- marriage counselingTherapy for troubled relationships
marriages, remarriage, marriageable, marriage equality, intermarriage, remarriages, marriageability, intermarriages, marriage certificate