Marriage is the sexual act. A wedding is the celebration of culturally/socially/religiously blessing the sexual act. No sexual act, no consumation, no marriage.
The concept of 'sex before marriage' is nonsense which has muddied the waters.
The notion that the church is the source of marriage rather than the sanctification of marriage has likewise muddied the waters.
The vows in the Western church and the notion that the 'marriage takes place via vows' (a contract) rather than via sex has also muddied the waters.
Marriage is the sexual act. A wedding is the celebration of culturally/socially/religiously blessing the sexual act. No sexual act, no consumation, no marriage.
The concept of 'sex before marriage' is nonsense which has muddied the waters.
The notion that the church is the source of marriage rather than the sanctification of marriage has likewise muddied the waters.
The vows in the Western church and the notion that the 'marriage takes place via vows' (a contract) rather than via sex has also muddied the waters.