Thread: How long did a Victorian wedding take from plans to the day?

Hi



In my ancestory most of my ancestors married inbetween March and October times due to warmer weather. Out of curiosity I would like to known the estimate from how long it took to view a church to the big day?



I know that four weeks residence was required but it must have taken a bit of time to plan the day before the usual procedures ie if a couple wed in July for example?



Ben

Weddings can be as elaborate or as basic as you want, now and in Victorian times. If a couple were already living in a village, they'd probably call the banns, so the wedding would take at least 4 weeks. But they could get married within a day or so if they married by licence, and of course they could do the same at the register office.



Richer Victorians would have had posh dos, that required extensive catering etc, but most families who were poorer would have maybe just worn their Sunday best and had homemade fare.



Many folk married on Christmas day, and there were many that married at times convenient for labourers, ie after the harvest was in. And often the reason for the marriage would be a baptism a few weeks later, which shows that weddings were possibly arranged at the last minute!



If you google "Victorian wedding" you will find lots of sites with information about dresses, cakes etc, but I imagine there was as much variation then as now, except that the choice of venue was more limited.

I think quite a lot were planned within 2-3 months...and certainly before the birth of the 1st child!!



I don't think they went in a lot for the 18-24 month expensive planning that occurs today!



Banns had to be read for 3 Sundays prior to wedding day (as does today) unless they paid for a Special Licence.



A person had to live in the Parish of marriage for 6 weeks to be classed "of this parish" Only 1 of the couple had to live in the Parish.



So, basically the wedding could take between 4 weeks and "as long as they wanted"



Loz

Hi



I think that if a Victorian couple wed in say July, they would probably have been viewing a church and planning things in around April or May for the July wedding.



Ben

Just a thought but in later Victorian times they might have a civil marriage. The early registrars didn't always have an office as now, but might be a local shopkeeper. They couple might also not have as much choice of when to marry if both were working, so the ceremony might co-incide with a local holiday. White weddings were not always possible (and were not the fashion until surprisingly late on) - the bride would wear her best clothes, which may just be her best dress, and a hat.

Hi



yes that could also explain why some married in certain months, because they had to really.



Two of my ancestors married on the 25th July 1864. The husband was a servant and I heard that they had to ask their employers for permission to get married. I found out on a date and time site that the above mentioned date was on a Monday, so it could have been a holiday day.



I would have thought that particular wedding took a couple of months planning before the day.



Ben

Hi Ben

To be honest I guess it depends on the circumstances. I know talking to my relatives that even in the 30s some of their weddings were are fairly short notice, and certainly much lower key than today. I would think that the higher the social status the longer it might take. Happy hunting anyway.