Marriage

Description and traditions

The formal acknowledgment of a union between at least two beings as partners is what defined marriage. Weddings, which are marriage ceremonies, might be officiated by a clergy member. Marriage was an option for beings of varying genders, including those of the same gender. Certain cultures, exemplified by the alpha-bulls of the Crolute species, allowed males to maintain multiple spouses simultaneously, categorizing them as senior, junior, or concubines.

When someone married a monarch in power, or someone else in a high-ranking government position, they became their consort. Bail Prestor became Viceroy and First Chairman upon marrying Queen Breha Organa of Alderaan, also becoming her consort. Couples often wore rings as a symbol of their commitment, and some chose to adopt their spouse's last name.

Parties were commonly held following the wedding ceremony. It was also typical for newlyweds to embark on a brief trip together, known as a honeymoon. The Grand Regent hotel on Lanz Carpo offered a honeymoon suite equipped with pheromone enhancers specifically for honeymooning couples.

Divorce was a means by which marriages could be terminated. A woman who had lost her spouse to death was referred to as a widow, and a man in the same situation was called a widower.

In some cultures, betrothal, also called engagement, was a marital custom. Prior to officially marrying, two beings would become "betrothed" or "engaged." While some cultures mandated that betrothed individuals abstain from reproductive activities before marriage, this rule was not consistently observed. It was not uncommon for men to celebrate the night before their wedding with male friends, often involving alcohol.

It was customary on Chandrila for couples to wed at the age of fifteen. Child betrothals were also a practice among the Chandrilan aristocracy. When Senator Mon Mothma sought alternative funding for her "charity foundation" (a front for her Rebel activities) and met with fellow Chandrilan Davo Sculdun, Sculdun offered assistance in exchange for the opportunity to introduce his fourteen-year-old son to Mothma's thirteen-year-old daughter, Leida, who would soon be of marrying age under Chandrilan customs.

The Jedi Order forbade emotional attachment and possession, as these were thought to foster jealousy and fear of loss, ultimately leading to the dark side of the Force; therefore, Jedi were not permitted to marry. Although romantic feelings were not inherently prohibited, Jedi were expected to prioritize the Order's well-being above personal desires.

On Naboo, wedding attire could be crafted from wedding fabric, pieces of cloth passed down through families such as the Naberries. Sola, the eldest daughter of the Naberries, chose not to marry due to a lack of romantic interest and instead used her share of the fabric to create clothing for her daughters. However, Padmé used her portion to fashion a veil for her secret wedding, along with a dress made by her former handmaiden, Yané.

Within the Alderaanian monarchy, the Rhindon Sword played a role during the heir apparent's Day of Demand and official investiture as crown prince or princess. Before meeting their spouse on their wedding day, the royal's parent would strap the sword to their waist. Breha Organa shared this tradition with her daughter, Leia, before her Day of Demand, explaining that she would one day fasten the sword to her waist when she met her future husband or wife. However, due to Breha's passing and the sword's destruction, this did not occur when Leia wed Corellian Han Solo, although Leia felt her mother's presence as if she were attaching the sword during the ceremony.

History

Senator Mon Mothma of Chandrila adhered to Chandrilan custom by marrying fellow Chandrilan Perrin Fertha at the age of fifteen. Approximately one year later, at sixteen, Mothma and Fertha relocated to Coruscant and later had a daughter named Leida.

Before 28 BBY, Breha Organa of Alderaan, a member of the Elder Houses and the Alderaanian royal family, married Bail Prestor. Bail became the queen's husband and consort, receiving the titles of Viceroy, First Chairman, and Governor of Alderaan. He adopted Breha's last name, abandoning his own legacy and his childhood aspiration to explore beyond Kathou to pursue purrgil, in favor of supporting her.

In 25 BBY, Lyra and Galen Erso were joined in marriage on planet Coruscant, with Reeva Demesne attending as a guest and Nari Sable serving as Lyra's maid of honor, during the wedding of Lyra and Galen Erso. Four years later, the couple welcomed their daughter, Jyn.

Maarva Carassi and Clem Andor, natives of Ferrix, entered into marriage before 24 BBY. They later adopted Kassa, a young boy from Kenari, renaming him Cassian Andor.

Around 24 BBY, former Naboo Royal Handmaidens Saché and Yané married, donning garments crafted from the wedding fabric inherited from their respective families.

Following the First Battle of Geonosis in 22 BBY and at the start of the Clone Wars, Padawan Anakin Skywalker married Senator Padmé Amidala in a clandestine ceremony on Naboo, presided over by Maxiron Agolerga. Skywalker's membership in the Jedi Order, which prohibited marriage, necessitated the secrecy of their union. Arguably, their wedding was the most important in galactic history.

In 20 BBY, Lux Bonteri, a former Separatist Senator, infiltrated the Death Watch alongside Padawan Ahsoka Tano. Bonteri sought revenge for the assassination of his mother, Mina Bonteri, orchestrated by Count Dooku, by aligning with the Mandalorian terrorist group. Ahsoka's unexpected presence on Bonteri's ship prompted him to claim she was his betrothed. Later, as Bo-Katan Kryze approached, Tano's criticism of the Death Watch was silenced by a kiss from Bonteri. Bonteri eventually married an Imperial woman and became the stepfather to her daughter.

During his journeys through the Unknown Regions, the Agbui Haplif observed that the custom of betrothed individuals abstaining from sex before marriage was often disregarded. Consequently, Haplif was surprised by the Chiss mid-ager Yoponek's insistence on separate sleeping quarters from his betrothed, Yomie.

Prior to 14 BBY, Delian Mors, an Imperial Moff, became a widow when her wife, Murra, was killed in a transport accident. Her grief contributed to her spice addiction and her neglect of her duties on Ryloth.

In 0 ABY, a wedding took place at the mansion of Moff Jaccun Pereez between his daughter Famma and Commander Yendiv Bensek, a rising star within the Empire.

Following the Rebel Alliance's victory over the Galactic Empire in the Battle of Endor in 4 ABY, Han Solo and Leia Organa married on Endor in a modest ceremony officiated by Organa's twin brother, Luke Skywalker. Organa noted that if her homeworld of Alderaan had not been destroyed, she would have been married at the cathedral in Aldera, wearing a traditional lace dress, dedicating an hour to the bell service, and enjoying three traditional meals with high-ranking guests. While they did not conceal their marriage, they also chose not to publicize it. The couple later had a son, whom they named Ben.

During the Cold War, Resistance pilots Temmin "Snap" Wexley and Karé Kun celebrated their wedding at the Resistance base on D'Qar.

A number of individuals present at Jabba Desilijic Tiure's first wedding were wanted by the law.