The Honeymoon

The bridal couple usually left for their honeymoon after the wedding breakfast. The honeymoon originated with early man when marriages were by capture, not by choice. The man carried his bride off to a secret place where her parents or relatives couldn't find her. While the moon went through all its phases-about 30 days-they hid from searchers and drank a brew made from mead and honey. Thus, the word, honeymoon. The honeymoon is now considered a time to relax.

In the early 19^th century, it was customary for the bride to take a female companion along on the honeymoon. The bride wore a traveling dress, which may have been her wedding dress, especially if the wedding had been an intimate affair with few family and friends, or they were traveling by train or steamer immediately after the reception. Colors for the dress were becoming and practical--brown or black for mid-Victorian. But whatever she chose, the bride was advised not to wear something conspicuously new out of respect to the sensitivity of her husband who might not want people to know he was just married. If the bride was married in her traveling dress, she often wore a bonnet with it instead of a veil.

If changing into the traveling costumes, the bride and groom did so immediately after the cake was cut. Bridesmaids went with the bride to help her, at which time she gave them each a flower from her bouquet. By the time the couple was ready to depart, only family and intimate friends were present. As the couple drove off in a carriage pulled by white horses, the remaining party-goers threw satin slippers and rice after the couple. If a slipper landed in the carriage, it was considered good luck forever. If it was a left slipper, all the better.

The best man preceded the couple to the train or steamer to look after their luggage. No one asked where the bride and groom were going. It was bad taste. Only the best man knew, and he was sworn to secrecy.

Finally, upon their return from their travels, one final custom required that the groom carry the bride over the threshold to their new house.

This was done to protect the bride from any evil spirits which may be hiding beneath the threshold. This would also ensure that the bride did not stumble, which would bring bad luck. The groom would carry his beautiful bride to safety and happiness so they could start their new lives together.

Reproduction Currier & Ives Marriage Certificate, published by N. Currier, "Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1848 by N. Currier in the Clerk's office of the District Court of the Southern District of N.Y.," 152 Nassau St. Cor. of Spruce, N.Y.

1848 Requirements of the Husband & Wife

Requirements of the Husband

A man shall leave father and mother and cleave to his wife (Matt 28)

Let every man have his own wife. (1 cor)

Husbands shall dwell with their wives according to knowledge, giving honor unto them, as unto the weaker vessle.

Husbands love your wives, even as Christ loved the Church, and gave himself for it (Eph 5)

So ought man to love their wives as their own bodies, he that loveth his wife, loveth himself (Eph 5)

Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence (1 Cor.)

If a husband provide not for his own wife and children, he is worse than an infidel (1 Tim)

A man shall cheer up his wife (Deut 24:5)

Husbands love your wives, and be not bitter against them (Cor 3:12)

Art thou bound to a wife, seek not to be loosed (Cor 1:27)

Marriage is honorable in all (Heb 13)

Let not the husband put away his wife (1 Cor)

Let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth..God hateth putting away (Mat 2)

It is a wicked act that a man should gain the heart of a woman, and then forsake his wife.

Requirements of the Wife

A wifes desire shall be to her husband (Gen 3) (i.e. she shall be subject unto him)

Wives submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord (Eph 6)

Let not the wife depart from her husband (1 Cor)

Marriage is honorable in all (Heb 13)

Let the wife tender unto her husband due benevolence (1 Cor)

The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband (1 Cor)

Let every woman have her own husband (1 Cor)

She that is married careth (or should care) how she may please her husband (1 Cor)

I will that women marry, bear children guide the house (1 Tim)

A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband (Prov 42).

The woman which hath an husband, is bound by the law to her husband, so long as he liveth (Rom 7)

Aged women should behave as becometh holiness & that they may teach the young women, to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands (Dut 2)

"Whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder"