Religious Rites. The impetus for developing a religious marriage ceremony came from two sources. Christian families, as well as the Church, desired to have a couple's union blessed by a priest or bishop. This practice developed early among people who had recently been converted to Christianity. After the secular marriage rites were complete and the bride had been handed by her parents to her husband, a priest was invited to bless not only the couple but also their bridal chamber and marriage bed. Gradually, this practice was superseded by the Roman liturgy, which was spread across Europe by missionaries, especially in the eighth and ninth centuries, as part of Carolingian church reform. In this liturgy the nuptial blessing was conferred on the couple in the church during mass and prior to communion. The secular rites of marriage took place at...