Marriage Rites and Rights

Recent years have seen extensive discussion about the continuing retreat from marriage, the increasing demand for the right to marry from previously excluded groups, and the need to protect those who do not wish to marry from being forced to do so. At the same time, weddings are big business, couples are spending more than ever before on getting married, and marriage ceremonies are increasingly elaborate. It is therefore timely to reflect on the rites of marriage, as well as the right to marry (or not to marry), and the relationship between them. To this end, this new interdisciplinary collection brings together scholars from numerous fields, including law, sociology, anthropology, psychology, demography, theology and art and design. Focusing on England and Wales, it explores in depth the specific issues arising from this jurisdiction's Anglican heritage, demographic development, current laws and social practices.

1. Introduction Rebecca Probert, Joanna Miles and Perveez Mody 2. Marriage Rites - Trends in Marriages by Manner of Solemnisation and Denomination in England and Wales, 1841 - 2012 John Haskey 3. From this Day Forward ? Pre-Marital Cohabitation and the Rite of Marriage from the 1960s to the Present Day Rebecca Probert 4. No Frills: Wedding Presents and the Meaning of Marriage, 1945 - 2003 Louise Purbrick 5. Civil Partnership Ceremonies: (Hetero)normativity, Ritual and Gender Elizabeth Peel 6. The Rite that Redefines the Rights ? The Contemporary Role and Practice of Pre-Nuptial Agreement Ayesha Vardag and Joanna Miles 7. The ` Pure ' Relationship, Sham Marriages and Immigration Control Helena Wray 8. Unregistered Muslim Marriages: An Emerging Culture of Celebrating Rites and Conceding Rights Rajnaara C Akhtar 9. Forced Marriage: Rites and Rights Perveez Mody 10. Church of England Weddings and Ritual Symbolism Sarah Farrimond 11. Playing ` House of Lords Bingo ' : A Critical Discourse Analysis of Hansard Debates on Civil Partnership and Same Sex Marriage Rosie Harding 12. Let ' s Talk About a Divorce: Religious and Legal Wedding Peter W Edge 13. Why Marriage Needs to be Less Sexy Jonathan Herring