I think the source of your error is buried in this statement of yours " and certainly not a religious ceremony".  And I pointed out that the Jewish/Catholic approach to marriage is an analog to how God communicated His own love for us, as a permanent exchange of persons.  

So treating all "religious ceremonies" as if they had the same (mere human) intent is an error.  Jewish and Catholic approaches to marriage are "3D" mimicking as it were God's expression of His desired union with us.

No need to respond.  I am just using your error to teach others who may want to know more about the Catholic approach to marriage, and its Jewish roots.