Wonderland Winter Weddings

 Today in my hometown newspaper they printed the following snippet from 100 years ago, on December 24, 1909.


'Many marriage licenses have been issued at the courthouse to couples who have chosen the Christmas season to wed. Up to noon today, 61 licenses had been sold this month, as compared with 35 up to the same time in December 1908.'

In doing a bit of research, apparently Christmastime was a favored time of the year to wed in the 19th century into the early 20th. My great great grandparents were wed on Christmas Day in 1862 when they eloped. 

Imagine for a moment what it must have been like to have a Christmas wedding. Holly and evergreen. Snow. A horse-drawn carriage to carry the couple away on their honeymoon. A reception coupled with the celebration of the Holiday.

To the writers who visit this blog, consider having your hero and heroine wed during the Christmas Season. Think of all you could do with this, instead of a spring wedding.
What conflict could a winter wedding add to your story? Perhaps the carriage meets with snow drifts and they have to abandon it and walk to the nearest lodgings. Perhaps a snow storm delays the grooms arrival and the bride has grown nervous that he may have left her at the alter. 

There are lots of scenarios. I think I'd have a blizzard, their struggle to join each other at the church. Or the storm delays the city clerk from opening the courthouse to issue licenses. Or that they've eloped and hurry off on a sleigh to a cabin in the snowy mountains and get stuck there for days.





Share what you would do with a winter wedding in your story.

Each photograph was taken in 1909. If you move your cursor over the photo you can get a better look at the period clothing and jewelry. The last picture is remarkably clear, as if it were taken in 2009.