Post by savivi on Jul 23, 2013 12:44:24 GMT -5
Hello all,
I have a question that isn't delicate enough to be considered etiquette, but I'm still going to ask it anyway! I would appreciate any help in the right direction.
At what point on the wedding day did upper class newlyweds consummate the marriage in England? I've read extensively on weddings, people's own accounts, but this entire part seems to be glossed over, or at least hiding from me. Movies basically just show them walking out of the church, or driving off as their guests wave, and leave it at that.
I know the wedding (barring licenses) took place between 10:00 am and noon, then there was the wedding breakfast, the bedding ritual was going out of fashion so that could have been skipped, and then sometimes the bridal tour/honeymoon got started.
But let's say the couple lived in the same area and weren't going on a honeymoon. Did the wedding party consciously break up and leave the two alone to have at it? Did the wedding breakfast take place at the bride's house and then they traveled to the husband's together, alone? Or did they just go to a room while the guests still partied? Did they wait until evening when all the guests had gone?
Or it is completely case by case basis, and anything seems reasonable?
I think bedding rituals are fascinating, but they were far more ceremonial than anything else.
What I'm curious is about is when exactly was it the right time to do the deed?
I have a question that isn't delicate enough to be considered etiquette, but I'm still going to ask it anyway! I would appreciate any help in the right direction.
At what point on the wedding day did upper class newlyweds consummate the marriage in England? I've read extensively on weddings, people's own accounts, but this entire part seems to be glossed over, or at least hiding from me. Movies basically just show them walking out of the church, or driving off as their guests wave, and leave it at that.
I know the wedding (barring licenses) took place between 10:00 am and noon, then there was the wedding breakfast, the bedding ritual was going out of fashion so that could have been skipped, and then sometimes the bridal tour/honeymoon got started.
But let's say the couple lived in the same area and weren't going on a honeymoon. Did the wedding party consciously break up and leave the two alone to have at it? Did the wedding breakfast take place at the bride's house and then they traveled to the husband's together, alone? Or did they just go to a room while the guests still partied? Did they wait until evening when all the guests had gone?
Or it is completely case by case basis, and anything seems reasonable?
I think bedding rituals are fascinating, but they were far more ceremonial than anything else.
What I'm curious is about is when exactly was it the right time to do the deed?