... the validity of a Bahá'í marriage is conditioned upon
the consent of the two parties and their parents only. So that in case the
other members of your family show any dislike or opposition to your sister's
union with ....., their approval does under no circumstances invalidate it.
Your parents' approval would be sufficient, even though all the rest of your family
may violently oppose it.
- Shoghi Effendi (From a letter dated 31 March 1937, written on behalf
of Shoghi Effendi to two believers; compilation: ‘Consent of Parents to
Marriage’, prepared by the Research Department)
