legal restrictions on marriage 1860s

[alfraser]

I have a marriage from 1868 which took place in the Church of Scotland. However at least three of the couples children all went on to marry within the Catholic church. This has led me to question the parents marriage, would there have been any restriction in 1868 in getting married in a Catholic church and thus requiring a Church of Scotland ceremony? The only other question mark I have is that it may have been a rush job (offspring number one came along in Feb following a late October wedding)!

[Lodger]

Hi Alfraser, the short answer is no, there were no restrictions concerning Catholic marriages in Scotland at that time.
As for the "rush job", it was quite normal, although even at that time couples who had a child before 9 months of marriage were still being chastised by the kirk session.

My maternal great grandparents were strict Church of Scotland and yet 3 out of their 4 daughters married into the Catholic church. (The other daughter never married).

Regards,
Lodger.