Notes: While many of the customs herein refer to “couple” - they also apply to polyamorous weddings with multiple spouses. Adjust as necessary.
Invitations:
Invitations are typically sent out several months in advance to alert family and friends of pending nuptials. For the middle and upper class, it is also common to publish a note in the paper to announce the engagement and wedding date (or to announce the engagement with a follow up posting if the wedding is significantly later).
The night before the wedding:
One portion of the couple (or party) will be “forcibly absconded with” and taken about the city in merriment to dine or drink by friends and family. This is, of course, consensual. The other part of the party is responsible for finding them and joining the revelry on their last evening as “single” people. The party ends in the smashing of crockery and ceramic to chase away bad luck and evil spirits.
Dress:
Thanks to Queen Victoria’s influence in Avalon, white dresses - or one member of the couple in white is popular - though lower classes often wear a nice dress or outfit that can be used again rather than succumbing to this fad. The other party/parties is usually either in white or in gray or another pastel color. Veils are popular but not required. Gloves are currently not in fashion during the ceremony, but again this is a fad rather than a rule.
For the bridal party, light colors are preferred, a holdover from earlier 1800’s when even brides- and grooms-persons wore white themselves. Pink, lavender, and pale green are the most common choices.
The later into the evening the wedding is held, the more lavish the dress and jewelry is considered appropriate.
The wedding party:
For upper class weddings it is typical to have a small bridal party - at least one on each side - for the couple(s). For the middle and lower classes this is often seen as optional. Much as in modern weddings, they might carry small bouquets of flowers. Children were often used as ring bearers or flower bearers. For the nobility, paying for the outfits of their wedding party is seen as the appropriate thing to do.
Ceremony locations:
For the middle and lower classes, at home weddings are popular and usually held in the morning or early afternoon. This is particularly true of the poor who may find a home or public location to have their ceremony in to avoid additional costs. For the upper middle class and nobility, all of the temples in Novandria will host a wedding service. While Peitho and Fodla are the obvious choices for this, many choose to wed under the eyes of a god they are particularly fond of worshiping. A cleric of Peitho or Fodla is also -always- present in these cases.
The wedding ceremony:
Almost always involves an exchange of rings and some sort of oath or vow. Unlike modern American weddings, the couple(s) walk down the aisle together to the front. Each of the Novandrian temples has special ceremonies and twists on marriage ceremonies. Work with the ST staff if you want to determine this for your PCs.
After the ceremony, the couple(s) sign the registers of the city for inclusion in Kelesta’s records.
Sephira sponsored ceremonies:
Are always done under an open night sky and lit by candles. Music is a must as well, with instrumentalists playing the introduction down the aisle and something soft during the ceremony itself. The couple(s) oath exchange, in addition to rings, also involves a cord winding around a walking stick of wood to symbolize their further journey’s together.
Guild involvement:
For those who belong to Novandrian guilds, the guilds will often arrange some decoration or delivery to the couple(s) ceremony or reception. Typically this is a flower arrangement or, in the case of performing style guilds, some form of entertainment or something appropriate (the barristers may send a particularly lovely wedding scroll, etc) The lavishness of this gift depends on the rank of the couple(s).
Flowers:
are an integral part in any ceremony and reception. Orange blossoms and roses are popular as are other seasonal flowers. This portion does not vary much from modern weddings.
Reception:
The reception is typically held at the home of the couple after the ceremony, though sometimes also held at the home of a friend or family member if the couple does not have enough space. Food appropriate to the time of day will be served. For morning and afternoon weddings, the reception consists of a light meal and socializing. For evening weddings, it could include a full dinner and dancing. The home is decorated with flowers much as the ceremony was. Gifts are almost never brought to the reception but are sent to the home of the couple after the wedding to avoid any “unseemly competition” amongst guests.
Cake:
There will be typically three cakes at a full reception (or more if the wedding is polyamorous) - one for each person being married and a large guest cake that is served to the guests. The couple(s) cakes are eaten by the wedding party with a slice preserved for eating at a later anniversary (though as anyone that has been married knows, this doesn’t tend to work so well in practice).
The honeymoon:
Typically reserved for the middle and upper class couples, is usually a trip somewhere, the more exotic the better. Traveling the continent is popular in Europa while a couple of less means may travel to a local getaway at the seaside - or not at all in the cases of the lower class.
