Elizabethan Weddings

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In Shakespeare’s day (Elizabethan England) weddings were always a religious and solemn ceremony, conducted by a minister in the parish or local churches. The bride moved from the family's house to the church. This was a particularly festive event and the procession was accompanied by musicians. It was noisy, laughter and bawdy jokes. If the groom was not part of the procession, he met the bride either at the side door of the church or at the altar. They all enter the church at once and stand through the ritual.
The guests invited to the wedding were family, friends and people who lived in the near communities. Invitations weren't necessary, since people lived in those communities knew what was happening in common life. The church was always …show more content…

At the betrothal, the two people joined hands. The groom gave the bride a ring to be worn on the right hand. It changed to the left at the wedding. They sealed the contract with a kiss, and signatures. This marriage contract included provision both for the bride's dowry (Money, goods, and property that the bride brought to the marriage) and for a jointure (An agreement by the groom's family to guarantee specific money, property and goods to the bride if her husband dies before she does, aside from or in addition to what is in his will), or settlement, in cash and property by the husband's family, which guaranteed her welfare should her husband die …show more content…

Her dress could be any color she wanted. The bride often covered most of her body with clothing, ribbons and flowers. She wore her best jewelry, too. Single ladies were allowed to wear their hair down, however married ladies had to cover it. The bride carried her garland till after the ceremony, and then wore it on her head. The groom could wear his clothes with a doublet, breeches, a hose, a neck ruff and a cod piece. Also, he could wear a cloak and a pair of boots.
There were many types of entertainment in Elizabethan weddings. There was a court entertainment, a nightly occurrence combined with feasts, jousts and banquets, which were accompanied by music and dancing. There were many fairs and festivals, which were all common occurrences and were celebrated during specific times of the year most of which were dictated by the Church and religious festivals. Plays (including mystery plays) were also a common entertainment in Elizabethan

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