Marriage existed throughout the ancient world as an alliance between families and was a legal rather than religious event. In fact, the church did not even bother to make marriage a sacrament until the late middle ages when the Cathars became a problem to the popes.
Once the church figured out a way to make a little money off the deal matrimony became "sacred."
Once the church figured out a way to make a little money off the deal matrimony became "sacred."