Marriage is a social bond or legal contract through which a marital relationship is established between two people. Although the definition of marriage varies from culture to culture in different countries, marriage in general is an institution through which intimacy and sexual relations between two people gain social recognition . In some cultures , it is recommended or considered compulsory to get married before engaging in any form of sexual activity. In the language of detailed definitions , marriage is a global universal culture. Marriage can usually be recognized by a state , an organization , a religious authority , an indigenous group , a local community, or a group of individuals. This is often seen as a deal. Marriages are usually solemnized through a formal religious or secular ceremony. Marital activities usually create a socially-recognized or legal sense of responsibility among couples , and through this they can legally give birth to children voluntarily. In some parts of the world , family-planned marriages , child marriages , polygamy and forced marriages are celebrated as cultural traditions. Needless to say , due to international law and women's rights initiatives, marriages mentioned in different parts of the world have been included in the law as a punishable offense. In terms of legal recognition , most sovereign states and other jurisdictions limit marriage to people of the opposite sex, and a handful of these states recognize polygamy , child marriage, and forced marriage. Over the past twentieth century , a growing number of states and other jurisdictions have legally recognized intermarriage , interfaith marriage , and more recently , same-sex marriage. Some cultures allow divorce through divorce, and in some places child marriage and polygamy do occur, despite state restrictions. Marriage is the beginning of the family. In addition, marriage provides opportunities for procreation and inheritance. Through marriage, interrelated men are identified as husband (husband) and women as wife (wife). The combined life of husband and wife is termed as "conjugal life". Different rituals of marriage are prevalent in different religions. Similarly, marriages are performed in different ways in different societies. Although marriage is a religious ritual, it is also a legal practice in modern civilization. Extramarital sex is a sin and a crime recognized as illegal and called adultery .