Regency courtships and Regency weddings are the events, which cement our ideas about the time period. The Marriage Act of 1753 set rules to regulate marriages and dictate the conditions which had to be adhered to insure a legitimate marriage. Reading of the bans and the purchase of an official license were necessary. The public reading of the banns must be read in church, publicly three consecutive Sundays prior to the wedding. The two parties must be of 21 years of age unless they have parental permission. The marriage register must be signed by both parties (with full names and titles), witnesses, and the minister. One could be married by special licenses to shorten marriage timeframe.

A Gentleman's View of Marriage

One Lady's View of a Bad Marriage

Religious Disputes on Marriage