Generally, members of the Bahá’í Faith having a Bahá’í wedding ceremony must obtain consent from their parents to the marriage before the wedding can take place. This is a process that begins with the couple requesting consent and ends when the wedding vow is said. Each of the parents have the right to give consent and to change their minds at any time during the process. The couple also has the right to change their minds up until the vow is said.
Ideally, the consent process is one that helps the couple and the parents confirm the character strengths of the couple and build a foundation of unity that will spread love and support throughout the couple's marriage.
“...[M]arriage is dependent upon the consent of both parties. Desiring to establish love, unity and harmony amidst Our servants, We have conditioned it, once the couple’s wish is known, upon the permission of their parents, lest enmity and rancor should arise amongst them.” (Bahá’u’lláh: Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 42)
“Bahá’í law places the responsibility for ascertaining knowledge of the character of those entering into the marriage contract on the two parties involved, and on the parents, who must give consent to the marriage.” (Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual Assembly: Lights of Guidance, #1231)
Parental Consent Guidance:
There is guidance on this topic available to you through your local Spiritual Assembly and through books such as:
- Lights of Guidance
- Consent for Parents by John Skeaff
- Marriage Can Be Forever—Preparation Counts! by Susanne M. Alexander and Johanna Merritt Wu
Guidance is updated regularly, so it is important that you obtain recent information.
Guidance on when a child does not have to seek consent was updated in a January 2011 letter from the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly quoting the Universal House of Justice from January 19, 2010. Parental Consent letter (pdf download)
