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Clandestine Marriage

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The bride's hair must be entirely unpinned by the bridesmaids. Otherwise, none of them will be married before the next Easter "at the soonest." Aine O'Connor
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1. Clandestine Marriage
This appears to be the groom, led by his bridesmen to the marriage bed--notice his lack of stockings. Aine O'Connor
Contents of this annotation:
1. Clandestine Marriage
Translation: The clandestine marriage. Aine O'Connor
Contents of this annotation:
1. Clandestine Marriage
Depicted here is what Bernard terms the secret weddings of "people of distinction." Poor people also get married secretly, usually with far fewer witnesses and in a far less ornate setting. Aine O'Connor
Contents of this annotation:
1. Clandestine Marriage
The bride looks on the marriage-bed as she is undressed by her bridesmaids. Aine O'Connor
Contents of this annotation:
1. Clandestine Marriage

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A "Clandestine" Anglican Wedding Picart does not illustrate a typical Anglican marriage ceremony, which takes place in a church with a presider, and involves vows and sacraments. Instead, he chooses to show what a “clandestine” Anglican marriage might look like. Bernard writes on this decision, telling the reader: “since we have mentioned a custom liable to so many abuses, of so pernicious a nature, and the consequences of which are both dangerous and dishonorable to good families, we must give an account of what is most remarkable in it.” The bride and groom may be all of “twelve and fourteen” when they get married in secret, without publishing the all-important banns of marriage. While Bernard mentions that class differences between the couple are often the reason for these secret marriages, Picart chooses to draw a clandestine marriage between two people of the same class.

The Setting: Like the Augsbourg Lutherans, clandestine marriages take place “at night, at their own houses, or in the country.” Here, readers see the bed-chambers of the groom, about to be occupied by both him and the bride. It is incredible how many people Picart manages to draw into the small space of a bed-chamber!
The Friends: It is easy to notice that there appear to only be people of the same age in Picart’s illustration. The bridesmaids are responsible for leading the bride “to the bed-chamber, undress[ing] her, and put[ting] her to bed.” They also undo her hair; it is terribly bad luck for any pins to remain on the bride’s head, and if a bridesmaid should miss one, she is “under pain of not being married until the Easter following.” Meanwhile, “the men friends and relations” also escort the groom to the bed-chamber. The men also take off the bride’s garters “and put them to their hats.” This tradition has interesting connections to the tradition of tossing the garter at some weddings.
The Throwing of the Clothes: Once the bridesmaids, bridesmen, and the couple have arrived, the party begins. Bernard writes, “the men take the bride’s stockings, and the women those of the bridegroom… and throw the stockings over their heads, endeavoring to hit the owner of them.” Those who manage to hit the couple will be the next to marry (although Bernard does not specify if that could mean “get married to each other”). Like with the bride’s garter, the throwing of the clothes also has a modern-day counterpart—the bouquet toss.
Gallery of Engravings