Specifically - could someone tell me about the age of participants (would both be children, or one child and one adult? Is there a correlation between age of marriage and expected lifespan in society?) When did consent come into play in marriage, and how has the concept of consent and age and the motivations for marriage evolved in various countries?

And how socially acceptable child marriages were when they were taking place - normal or unusual?

And for the ceremony - what the expectations were. Was there a long engagement, was the ceremony a formality intended to be honored later, or did they expect consummation immediately?

If anyone feels like answering, I'd be grateful.

(I've been considering child marriage to be anything under about 16; I do understand that "adult" has changed drastically per society over time.)