[cripplecreek]

Government and or a controlling authority has always been involved in marriage.

LOL and or a controlling authority like a church?

[ansel12]

Not “a” church, “the church”, or the government, or the tribal leaders, or some authority.

When it came to claiming your rights as a married person, or a widow, or child, the laws were clear and administered by authority, and did not rely on whatever you had personally decided was a legal marriage.