marriage by license

[zannette]

I'm looking for reasons why a couple would choose to marry by license. The most obvious one could be they were in a hurry! But if no offspring emerged prematurely, what else could they be hurrying for? Is it likely that one or the other of the couple anticipated family objections, and if banns were read on 3 occasions I guess such objections might become known or even acted upon. The couple in question married in Lancashire. As far as I know the bride was over 21, don't know about the groom.
If either was requiring parental consent then I think the license would be refused anyway?
Any thoughts on this please.

[stanmapstone]

 Licences were popular with certain families, especially those that did not wish to have their domestic affairs paraded  before the other parishioners on the three Sundays that the banns were read. A Licence was popular because it had the advantage of relative speed as once the licence was issued then the marriage could take place.  A Licence was also popular because it facilitated a marriage in Lent when banns should not have been called. The licences were valid for three months,

Stan

[clayton bradley]

If it's before 1837, perhaps they were not Anglican? There were many Catholics in Lancashire, who had to marry in the Anglican church until 1837 but didn't want to attend the church otherwise.

[zannette]

Thank you very much for that, very informative and has given me other things to consider.
all the best