Wedding vs Marriage: What Are the Differences?

Getting married is an amazing commitment between two people. Not only is it a verbal commitment to your partner, but it’s also legally binding. Married couples are privy to tax benefits and countless other perks.

However, some people don’t fully understand the difference between a wedding vs marriage. Any couple can file for a marriage license and go through the ceremony. However, making a marriage work is another story entirely.

We’re here to clear things up and provide some guidance. Keep reading for everything you need to know in our wedding and marriage guide.

What is a Wedding?

First, let’s talk about weddings. A wedding is a binding ceremony between two people. Through the ceremony, you are legally married to one another.

Weddings are typically administered by a priest or another religious leader. However, secular weddings are common and just as official.

Weddings must be witnessed by other people and require a wedding license acquired through the state. Generally, weddings are proceeded by wedding rehearsals and followed by a reception.

The wedding rehearsal is a practice run for the wedding party to make sure everyone knows their roles and what they’re supposed to do. The reception is an after-party where the wedding party and their guests can dine, drink, dance, and celebrate the union.

When looking at the difference between a wedding vs marriage, it’s important to note that a wedding is a singular event that certifies a marriage.

What is a Marriage?

Now, let’s take a dive into marriage. Unlike a wedding, marriage is not a temporary or singular event. Marriage is a relationship or union between two people.

It is an endless pursuit of happiness through learning, growth, and compromise. But most of all, marriage is the love and partnership between two people. It is a continuous agreement to support one another and remain faithful.

This is the difficult part. Nearly half of all marriages end in divorce.

This could be due to communication issues, irreparable differences, infidelity, money issues, lifestyle changes, and more. The question is whether or not the people care about each other enough to weather these storms.

No marriage is perfect or without strife. However, some marriages are meant to last and some aren’t.

If you’re having marital issues, it’s never too late to save your marriage. However, you and your partner must commit to the process of making things better. There must be love, respect, and compromise on both ends.

Fighting with your spouse is normal. Having disagreements is normal. Even having feelings of hopelessness is normal. 

However, none of these are indicative of a failed marriage.

Do You Know the Difference Between a Wedding Vs Marriage?

Now that you understand the major difference between a wedding vs marriage, are you ready to tie the knot? Or if you’ve already married your partner, are you willing to continue striving to make things work?

We hope you enjoyed our marriage and wedding guide. And if you’re looking for more relationship or wedding tips, we have more to offer. Check out some of our other articles before you go to find the information you need to make your relationship thrive.