Elizabethan Marriage Customs

1. Elizabethan Marriage Customs

2. Arranged Marriages • Women had little, if any say, in who they married. • Most marriages were arranged so both families would benefit. • Marriages were arranged to bring prestige and wealth to the family. • Children of landowners would be expected to marry to increase the size of acreage. • Many couples met for the first time on their wedding day. This usually applied to nobility. • They would present a miniature picture to the man to give some indication of what his prospective wife might look like.

3. Social Standings and Laws • Women were “second class citizens” regardless of their social standing. They were expected to marry. • Single women were thought tot be witches by their neighbors. • With parental permission it was legal to marry at the age of 14 for boys, and 12 for girls. • This wasn’t usual or traditional for marriage at such young ages. • Most boys married at the age of 21.

4. Wedding Customs • A dowry was a custom that benefited the husband. It was an amount of money, goods, and property that the bride would bring to the marriage. • It was also referred to as her marriage portion. • The law gave a husband full rights over his wife, she became his property. • Arranged weddings were held at local churches and were very religious. • First stage- Crying of the Banns, announcement of the intention to marry. • Wedding invitations weren't issued because everyone in a small town knew everything.

5. Wedding Customs(cont.) • They had wedding feasts and they were carefully planned. • Some of the food consisted of exotic dishes, like peacock, breads, and sweetmeats. • The drinks were usually ale, which is unclean water and some wine.

6. Bride Clothing • The bride did not wear white. • She would wear her best gown and kirtle, or even bought a new one if they had the money. • The dress covered most of the body and a cloak was used as an outer garment. • Colors: red, blue, greens, yellow, white, grey, black, orange and tan. • Although most of the body was covered, it was permissible for dresses to have plunging necklines. • A necklace was often worn.

7. Bridesmaid and Bridegroom Clothing • They dressed in similar attire. • Had flowers throughout the dress and a bouquet. • Bridegrooms, which are groomsmen, wore their best clothes. • It consisted of a doublet, breeches, hose, box, pleated neck ruff, an cloak might be worn, and a pair of boots.

8. Wedding Ceremony • A bridal procession would go from the brides house to the church and was often accompanied by musicians. • In the ceremony, everyone would stand because there were no pews. • When the ceremony was over, the wedding procession would return to their homes. • The families of the couple would sometimes throw a great and enjoyable feast and the couple was wished a long and happy life.