Marriage Among Religions
Buddhist 
Buddhist Wedding Prayer
Today we promise to dedicate ourselves completely to each other, with body, speech, and mind.
In this life, in every situation, in wealth or poverty, in health or sickness, in happiness or difficulty, we will work to help each other perfectly.
The purpose of our relationship will be to attain enlightenment by perfecting our kindness and compassion toward all sentient beings.
- Lama Thubten Yeshe
Wedding customs
The Buddhist views on marriage are very liberal. In Buddhism, marriage is considered as personal and individual concern, and not as a religious duty. Buddhism does not compel a person to be married. It does not force somebody to remain as a bachelor. It is not laid down anywhere that Buddhists must produce children or regulate the number of children that they produce. Buddhism allows each individual the freedom to decide for himself all the issues pertaining to marriage. It might be asked why Buddhist monks do not marry, since there are no laws for or against marriage. The reason is obviously that to be of service to mankind, the monks have chosen a way of life, which includes celibacy.

Marriage Through The Ages
Buddhist marriages have been considered as secular matters in Buddhist countries. The parties took a blessing from monks at the local temple after the civil registration formalities have been completed. Although Buddhist monks do not solemnize a marriage ceremony, they do perform religious services in order to bless the couples. From the Buddhist point of view, marriage is neither holy nor unholy. Buddhism does not regard marriage as a religious duty nor as a sacrament that is ordained in heaven.
http://www.yourinterfaithwedding.com/buddhist_wedding_readings_106969.htm 
http://www.buddhistmatrimony.com/articles/wedding-customs-buddhist.php
HINDU: Seven Steps or Saptha Padhi 
"Let us take the first step to provide for our household a nourishing and pure diet, avoiding those foods injurious to healthy living."
"Let us take the second step to develop physical, mental, and spiritual powers."
"Let us take the third step to increase our wealth by righteous means and proper use."
"Let us take the fourth step to acquire knowledge, happiness, and harmony by mutual love and trust."
"Let us take the fifth step so that we are blessed with strong, virtuous, and heroic children."
"Let us take the sixth step for self-restraint and longevity."
"Finally, let us take the seventh step and be true companions and remain lifelong partners by this wedlock."

"We have taken the Seven Steps. You have become mine forever. Yes, we have become partners. I have become yours. Hereafter, I cannot live without you. Do not live without me. Let us share the joys. We are word and meaning, united. You are thought and I am sound. May the night be honey-sweet for us; may the morning be honey-sweet for us; may the earth be honey-sweet for us and the heavens be honey-sweet for us. May the plants be honey-sweet for us; may the sun be all honey for us; may the cows yield us honey-sweet milk. As the heavens are stable, as the earth is stable, as the mountains are stable, as the whole universe is stable, so may our unions be permanently settled."

http://www.hinduwebsite.com/hindumarriage.asp 
https://www.documentsanddesigns.com/verse/Indian_wedding_vows.htm 

Traditionally, Hindu weddings are arranged, although the couple must consent. Marriages are expensive, and the cost of the wedding can be a great strain.  Dowry is currently a huge social and economic problem.

JUDAISM:
Blessed art though, O Lord, King of the Universe, who created mirth and joy, bridegroom and bride, gladness, jubilation, dancing, and delight, love and brotherhood, peace and fellowship. Quickly, O Lord our God, may the sound of mirth and joy be heard in the streets of Judah and Jerusalem, the voice of bridegroom and bride, jubilant voices of bridegrooms from their canopies and youths from the feasts of song. Blessed art though, O Lord, who makes the bridegroom rejoice with the bride.
Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who hath created joy and gladness, bridegroom and bride, mirth and exultation, pleasure and delight, love and brotherhood, peace and friendship. May there soon be heard in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of joy and gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the jubilant voice of bridegrooms from the wedding canopy, and of youths from their feasts of song. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who gives the Bridegroom joy in his bride.

Some Traditions:
The calling up of the groom to recite a blessing over the Torah. 
The groom covers the bride’s face with a veil just before the wedding ceremony (based on the story of Jacob and Leah). 
Generally, the groom (chatan) breaks the glass with his Right foot. It is a reminder of the destruction of the Temple, and a symbol of how fragile relationships can be. 
Traditionally, the bride circles the groom seven times. 
Wedding Canopy; Wedding Dance; Festive Meal
 Sheva B’rachot, The Seven Blessings

http://weddings.about.com/od/yourweddingceremony/a/Jewish-Wedding-Readings.htm 
http://jewish-wedding-rabbi.com/jewish-wedding-traditions.html/ 

CHRISTIAN:
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man." 
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."
Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. 
Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. 
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church.
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 
Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

(The Roman Catholic interpretation is that divorce is not allowed. 
Polygamy became forbidden because of Roman Empire law, not because of any religious law.)

ISLAM:
The only requirement for Muslim weddings is the signing of a marriage contract. Marriage traditions differ depending on culture, Islamic sect, and observance of gender separation rules. Any Muslim who understands Islamic tradition can officiate a wedding. 
The marriage contract includes a meher -- a formal statement specifying the monetary amount the groom will give the bride. The meher is considered the bride's security and guarantee of freedom within the marriage.
The marriage contract is signed in a nikah ceremony, in which the groom or his representative proposes to the bride in front of at least two witnesses, stating the details of the meher. The bride and groom demonstrate their free will by repeating the word qabul ("I accept," in Arabic) three times. Then the couple and two male witnesses sign the contract, making the marriage legal according to civil and religious law. 
The officiant may add an additional religious ceremony following the nikah, which usually includes a recitation of the Fatihah -- the first chapter of the Quran -- and durud (blessings). Most Muslim couples do not recite vows…. However, some Muslim brides and grooms do say vows, such as this common recitation:
Bride: "I, (bride's name) offer you myself in marriage in accordance with the instructions of the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him. I pledge, in honesty and with sincerity, to be for you an obedient and faithful wife."
Groom: "I pledge, in honesty and sincerity, to be for you a faithful and helpful husband."

From the Quran:
Forbidden to you (for marriage) are: your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, your father's sisters, your mother's sisters, your brother's daughters, your sister's daughters….
 Also (forbidden are) women already married…. Thus has Allah ordained for you. All others are lawful, provided you seek (them in marriage) with (bridal) from your property, desiring chastity… 
 And let those who find not the financial means for marriage keep themselves chaste, until Allah enriches them of His Bounty. 
And divorced women shall wait (as regards their marriage) for three menstrual periods, and it is not lawful for them to conceal what Allah has created in their wombs, if they believe in Allah and the Last Day. 
The divorce is twice, after that, either you retain her on reasonable terms or release her with kindness. And it is not lawful for you (men) to take back (from your wives) any of your Mahr (bridal-money given by the husband to his wife) which you have given them…
And those of you who die and leave wives behind them, they (the wives) shall wait (as regards their marriage) for four months and ten days, then when they have fulfilled their term, there is no sin on you if they (the wives) dispose of themselves in a just and honourable manner  
There is no sin on you, if you divorce women while yet you have not touched them, nor appointed unto them their (bridal-money). But bestow on them (a suitable gift)….
And those of you who die and leave behind wives should bequeath for their wives a year's maintenance and residence without turning them out, but if they (wives) leave, there is no sin on you for that which they do of themselves, provided it is honourable 
And give to the women (whom you marry) their (bridal-money) with a good heart

Baha’i Faith
 “Bahá’í marriage is union and cordial affection between the two parties.  They must, however, exercise the utmost care and become acquainted with each other's character.  This eternal bond should be made secure by a firm covenant, and the intention should be to foster harmony, fellowship and unity and to attain everlasting life.”
‘Abdu’l-Bahá
The pledge of marriage, the verse to be spoken individually by the bride and the bridegroom in the presence of at least two witnesses acceptable to the Spiritual Assembly is, as stipulated in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas (The Most Holy Book):“We will, all, verily, abide by the Will of God.”

The Baha’i Faith requires the consent of all living parents for marriage.
Divorce is allowed in the Baha’i Faith, but only after a ‘Year of Patience’ where both parties establish separate residences, while attempting to reconcile.

 He is the Bestower, the Bounteous!
Praise be to God, the Ancient, the Ever-Abiding, the Changeless, the Eternal!  He Who hath testified in His Own Being that verily He is the One, the Single, the Untrammelled, the Exalted.  We bear witness that verily there is no God but Him, acknowledging His oneness, confessing His singleness.  He hath ever dwelt in unapproachable heights, in the summits of His loftiness, sanctified from the mention of aught save Himself, free from the description of aught but Him.
And when He desired to manifest grace and beneficence to men, and to set the world in order, He revealed observances and created laws; among them He established the law of marriage, made it as a fortress for well-being and salvation, and enjoined it upon us in that which was sent down out of the heaven of sanctity in His Most Holy Book.  He saith, great is His glory: “Enter into wedlock, O people, that ye may bring forth one who will make mention of me amid My servants.  This is My bidding unto you; hold fast to it as an assistance to yourselves.”
http://www.santamonicabahai.org/marriage.pdf

Marriage, among the mass of the people, is a physical bond, and this union can only be temporary, since it is foredoomed to a physical separation at the close. Among the people of Bahá, however, marriage must be a union of the body and of the spirit as well, for here both husband and wife are aglow with the same wine, both are enamoured of the same matchless Face, both live and move through the same spirit, both are illumined by the same glory. This connection between them is a spiritual one, hence it is a bond that will abide forever. Likewise do they enjoy strong and lasting ties in the physical world as well, for if the marriage is based both on the spirit and the body, that union is a true one, hence it will endure. If, however, the bond is physical and nothing more, it is sure to be only temporary, and must inexorably end in separation. When, therefore, the people of Bahá undertake to marry, the union must be a true relationship, a spiritual coming together as well as a physical one, so that throughout every phase of life, and in all the worlds of God, their union will endure; for this real oneness is a gleaming out of the love of God. In the same way, when any souls grow to be true believers, they will attain a spiritual relationship with one another, and show forth a tenderness which is not of this world. They will, all of them, become elated from a draught of divine love, and that union of theirs, that connection, will also abide forever. Souls, that is, who will consign their own selves to oblivion, strip from themselves the defects of humankind, and unchain themselves from human bondage, will beyond any doubt be illumined with the heavenly splendours of oneness, and will all attain unto real union in the world that dieth not. 

Origins of American Christian traditions:
Seating of the Family on Opposite Sides of the Church :Family and friends of the bride and groom are seated on opposite sides of the church to symbolize the cutting of the blood covenant. Genesis 15:9-10
Center Aisle and White Runner
The center aisle represents the the pathway between the animal pieces where the blood covenant is established. (Exodus 3:5, Matthew 19:6)
Seating of the Parents
Seating the parents in a place of prominence is meant to recognize their responsibility for the couple's union.
Groom Enters First
God initiated the relationship through Christ, who called and came for his bride, the church. Ephesians 5:23-32
Father Escorts and Gives Away the Bride
In Jewish tradition, it was the father's duty to present his daughter in marriage as a pure virgin bride. This giving away of the bride, demonstrates the parent's blessing on the union and the transfer of care and responsibility to the husband.
White Wedding Dress
The white wedding dress has a two-fold significance. It is a symbol of the wife's purity in heart and life, and in reverence to God. It's also a picture of the righteousness of Christ described in Revelation 19:7-8. 
Joining Right Hands
As we saw in the blood covenant, the two individuals would join together the bleeding palms of their right hands. In a wedding, as the bride and groom face one another to say their vows, they join right hands and publicly commit everything they are, and everything they possess, in a covenant relationship. 
Exchanging of the Rings
While the wedding ring is an outward symbol of the couple's inward bond, illustrating with an unending circle the eternal quality of love, it signifies so much more in light of the blood covenant.
A ring was used as a seal of authority. When pressed into hot wax, the impression of the ring left an official seal on legal documents. Therefore, when the couple wears a wedding ring, they demonstrate their submission to God's authority over their marriage. 
Bridal Veil
Not only does the bridal veil show the modesty and purity of the bride and her reverence for God, it reminds us of the Temple veil which was torn in two when Christ died on the cross. (1 Corinthians 7:4)
Pronouncement of Husband and Wife
The two are now one in the eyes of God.
Presentation of the Couple
When the minister introduces the couple to the wedding guests, he is drawing attention to their new identity and the name change brought about through the marriage. In Genesis 15, God gave Abram a new name, Abraham, by adding letters from his own name, Yahweh.
The Reception
A ceremonial meal was often a part of the blood covenant. The reception also illustrates the wedding supper of the Lamb described in Rev. 19.
Cutting and Feeding of the Cake
The cutting of the cake is another picture of the cutting of the covenant. When the bride and groom take pieces of the cake and feed it to each other, once again, they are showing how they have given their all to one another, and will care for the other as one flesh. At a Christian wedding, the cutting and feeding of the cake can be done joyfully, but should also be done lovingly and reverently, in a way that honors the covenant relationship.
Throwing of Rice
Guests symbolically throw rice as a gesture of blessing for the spiritual and physical fruitfulness of the marriage.
http://christianity.about.com/od/weddingceremony/a/weddingtraditions.htm 
http://www.godsknot.com/pages/wedding-bible-verses 

Contemporary religious attitudes to polygamy
Hinduism The Rig Veda mentions that during the Vedic period, a man could have more than one wife.[22]  The Apastamba Dharmasutra and Manusmriti allow a second wife if the first one is unable to discharge her religious duties or is unable to bear a son.[25]
The Hindu Marriage Act was enacted in 1955 by the Indian Parliament and made polygamy illegal for everyone in India except for Muslims. Prior to 1955, polygamy was permitted for Hindus. 
Buddhism
It is said in the Parabhava Sutta that "a man who is not satisfied with one woman and seeks out other women is on the path to decline". Other fragments in the Buddhist scripture can be found that seem to treat polygamy unfavorably, leading some authors to conclude that Buddhism generally does not approve of it[31] or alternatively that it is a tolerated, but subordinate marital model.[32]
Judaism
The Torah contains a few specific regulations that apply to polygamy,[39] such as Exodus 21:10: "If he take another wife for himself; her food, her clothing, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish".[40]Deuteronomy 21:15–17, states that a man must award the inheritance due to a first-born son to the son who was actually born first, even if he hates that son's mother and likes another wife more;[41] andDeuteronomy 17:17 states that the king shall not have too many wives.[42]
Multiple marriage was considered a realistic alternative in the case of famine, widowhood, or female infertility[44] like in the practice of levirate marriage, wherein a man was required to marry and support his deceased brother's widow, as mandated by Deuteronomy 25:5–10. Despite its prevalence in the Hebrew Bible, scholars do not believe that polygyny was commonly practiced in the biblical era because it required a significant amount of wealth.[45] 
 
Christianity[edit]
Polygamy is not forbidden in the Old Testament. Most Christian theologians argue that in Matthew 19:3-9 and referring to Genesis 2:24 Jesus explicitly states a man should have only one wife.
The Bible states in the New Testament that polygamy should not be practiced by certain church leaders. 1 Timothy states that certain Church leaders should have but one wife: " (chapter 3, verse 2; see also verse 12 regarding deacons having only one wife.
In modern times a minority of Roman Catholic theologians have argued that polygamy, though not ideal, can be a legitimate form of Christian marriage in certain regions, in particular Africa.[80][81] The Roman Catholic Church teaches in its Catechism that "polygamy is not in accord with the moral law."[82]
Islam[edit]
Under Islamic marital jurisprudence, Muslim men are allowed to practice polygyny, that is, they can have more than one wife at the same time, up to a total of four. 
Based on verse 30:21 of Quran the ideal relationship is the comfort that a couple find in each other's embrace:
And among His Signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that ye may dwell in tranquillity with them, and He has put love and mercy between your (hearts): verily in that are Signs for those who reflect.— Qur'an, Sura 30 (Ar-Rum), Ayah 21[108]
The polygyny that is allowed in the Koran is for special situations, however it advises monogamy if a man fears he can't deal justly with them. This is based on verse 4:3 of Quran which says: If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, Marry women of your choice, Two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (a captive) that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice.
— Qur'an, Sura 4 (An-Nisa), Ayah 3[109]
There are strict requirements to marrying more than one woman, as the man must treat them equally financially and in terms of support given to each wife, according to Islamic law.
Muhammad was monogamously married to Khadija, his first wife, for 25 years, until she died. After her death, he married multiple women, mostly widows,[112] for social and political reasons.[113]  One reason cited for polygyny is that it allows a man to give financial protection to multiple women, who might otherwise not have any support (e.g. widows).[114] 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygamy