1820's-Romantic Era began

More focus on the romantic love in literatureMarriage was supposed to be expression of romantic loveRomantic and marital themes in literature affected the thoughts of young women and their anxieties towards itMarriage was more idealized during this eraexpectation that it would provide enrichment, blissful happiness, and constant dotingDuring Romantic era in France, more people got married and they were marrying at younger agesbetween 1835-1885, average age at first marriage went from 25.5 years, to 24 and under

COURTSHIP- the art of courting

rituals of courtship really begin once the couple is engagedEngagement period: usually 3 weeks to a month longman had to ask permission from the girl's parentsonly after her parents approve are they officially engagedman usually send a white bouquet to his fiancée before his first formal visit to her homeif he is wealthy, he will send one everyday until the wedding (and maybe to his future-mother-in-law too)

supervised by a chaperone (most likely the girl’s mother)expression of affection was prohibitedlady supposed to exhibit reserve in presence of her fiancéCouple could never go out late at nightConsidered impolite for the man to stay at his girlfriend's homewhen the man said good night to the girl, he could never go past the parlor door, the servant would see him outgentleman could only see their significant other with her and her mother's permissionyoung women expected to symbolized innocence and virginity

supervised by a chaperone (most likely the girl’s mother)expression of affection was prohibitedlady supposed to exhibit reserve in presence of her fiancéCouple could never go out late at nightConsidered impolite for the man to stay at his girlfriend's homegentleman could only see their significant other with her and her mother's permissionyoung women expected to symbolized innocence and virginity

What’s in the Marriage

A "good" marriage was usually one that involved social advancementA man would marry a girl on the basis of how large of a dowry her parents could pay or her name, reputation, class, and/or beauty (sometimes a woman's beauty would even outweigh her wealth)From early childhood girls were taught marriage matters most in life and learned domestic chores, etiquette, culture, arts, music, hygiene, child rearing women were also very attracted to prospect of marriage because it usually brought freedom, a husband to love, a heightened social position, and more money

MARRIAGE CONTRACT- behind the vows

husband and wife owe each other fidelity, support and assistancea husband must protect his wife; a wife must be obedient to her husbandWIFE- bound to live and to follow her husband wherever he he deems proper to live. Husband- bound to take her in and supply her with a livelihood, accoding to his means and conditionsWoman was given no legal or economic rights

irony was that most women had perceived marriage to be "the image of a loving partnership and mutual trust" because of RomanticismMarriage technically was not a voluntary commitment; rather it was a negotiation between two families Consent of marriage was not given my the woman in acceptance of a man's proposalmarriage was ultimately decided on my the parents according to their criteriaChildren expected to directly follow marriage

French Wedding Dress–brides wore just about any color for their wedding including black if the intended bridegroom was a widower

–usually took their best dress and elaborated it with jewelry, embroidery, laces, and other ornamental objects

Bridal trousseau and wedding armoire–When French brides went to their new home with their new husband, they brought their clothes and other meager possessions with them in a small bundle.

–a wedding armoire, a.k.a. hope chest, used for bride's trousseau (bundle of clothing)

–as the bride to be grew up she filled the box made by her father with her own wardrobe that she took to her new home

Wedding Precession– the groom would call on his future wife on the morning of

their wedding day and escort her to the wedding chapel– the procession will be headed by musicians, followed

behind by the bride with her father, guests and the groom with his mother at the end of the line

– French village children would also block the bridal couple's way and have white ribbons which the bride must cut- a symbolic obstacle created for the wedding couple to overcome together and signify their common path in a new life

– As the newlywed couple departs from the wedding site, laurel leaves are scattered in their path for them to walk over

Wedding Ceremony– church filled with incense and flowers

– couple stand beneath a silk canopy while a square of silk fabric or "carre" held over the head of teh bride and groom as the couple received the priest's final blessing (used to protect the couple from descending malice)

– rice or wheat (symbol for prosperity and fertility) showered over the couple

– the couple walk through a flower arch or over laurel leaves scattered in their path

– the bridal bouquet w/ fragrant flowers was believed to ward off evil spirits and help freshen up the atmosphere

– the popular orange blossoms represent fertility and prosperity

Wedding Reception–wedding guests would bring small cakes and stacked them in a pile as high as possible on the corner of a table

–if bride and groom could kiss over them without knocking them over it symbolized a lifetime of prosperity

–the newlyweds would toast to each other from engraved, two-handled cups, usually a family heirloom passed from generation to generation

Garter (La jarretière)–the best man was in charge of stealing it off from the bride or the groom would take it off and sell it into small pieces to wedding guests

–pieces of brides garter would bring good luck to whoever caught it

Chiverie (Le Charivari)–a wedding night prank

–a crowd forms in the middle of the night clanging pots and pans to interrupt the wedding couple on their wedding night

–the couple is expected to appear in their wedding clothes and provide drinks and snacks for them

–at first it was merely practiced for widows or widowers getting remarried. the groom had to pay fines called la peloto and invite all the young men from teh bride's village for refreshments

–later it became known as the shivaree often used as a ritual humiliation of the bride and groom