The Bible talks of marriage, but doesn't imply that you need a ceremony, a reception, or a license. What is it that makes the marriage? Is it the vows? The Bible doesn't really seem to discuss marriage vows either. Is it the consummation that makes people married? If a man and woman are in a committed relationship and tell each other they'll never leave each other, does that equal a marriage? The Bible talks of a man leaving his parents and cleaving unto his wife and they shall be one flesh. So according to that verse, what if a man has left his parents, entered into a relationship with a woman, they live together, and say they'll never leave each other, is that what a marriage is?