Difference between 'marriage ceremony' and 'wedding ceremony'

tricky subject....
According to me, marriage is something in which only two people participate, the bride and the groom whereas wedding is somwsort of celebration which follows marriage in which one's relaives and friends are invited as guests.

Gulshan,
correct me if i am wrong
The term marriage stands for the relation and wedding is the ceremony conducted.
So the correct usage is "i am going to be married soon"

Hello MC,

If you see in invitations they are putting Mr. X weds Mr. Y. They are not using the word marriage here. So i don't think that is the difference between the two.

You are absolutely correct, MC. Marriage is not a ceremony. Wedding is ceremony that is held for establishing a relation between a man and woman.

Ave you noticed a mistake we often make in invitation letters.

"....cordially invite you to the marriage of our son Rinu with Anu."

Is this proposition correct ?

Marriage: Marriage is the basic social protocol and doctrine by following which a man and a woman get a permit to live lifelong and reproduce children for carrying their legacy.

Wedding: Wedding is the ceremony that is arranged for solemnizing marriage.

No. One is married to someone and not with someone. So the preposition is 'to' and not 'with'

Yes Gulshan it is just like the following:

Older- I am older than him.

Elder- Iam elder to him.

Yes Gulshan.In my wedding invitation 11 years ago I used "to" as proposition.But no one followed me in practicing this !!!

"Marriage" is the formal union of a man and woman recognized by law, by which they become husband and wife.

"Wedding" is joining in marriage. It includes all associated celebrations concerning marriage. The whole function of a marriage is called wedding.

First of all wedding generally should be between Mr and Mrs, and not between Mr and Mr.

By an invitation card we invite a person to the whole ceremony and not to the marriage. If he is invited for the marriage then either the bride or the groom is to be replaced.

Good explaination B) B)

Bhanu- The correct spelling is 'explanation' and not 'explaination'. This is now clear that wedding means 'ceremony' for marrying a man with a woman.