Gilded Age Parisian Wedding Etiquette

Before uttering the “oui” which takes the place of “I will,” both bridegroom and the bride turn toward their relatives as if to ask their consent.

Parisian etiquette makes the marriage ceremonial differ in many details from that practiced in America. There, the bridegroom calls for the bride and her friends, and takes them to church, just as he does on the occasion if the civil ceremony at the Maire. The bride takes the place of honor in the first carriage, her mother on the left. Her father and chief witness sits opposite them. The bridegroom's mother takes the right hand place in the second carriage, the bridegroom sitting on her left. His father and the chief witness for his side of the contract sit opposite. 

The bride’s father leads her to the altar, the bridegroom following with his mother on his arm. Then comes the bride's mother leaning on the arm of the bridegroom’s father, followed by four couples, consisting of the bridegroom’s two witnesses, each with a lady of the bride’s family, and the bride’s two witnesses, with two ladies of the bridegroom’s family. When they arrive at the altar, a fresh grouping takes place, the bride’s family and witnesses seating themselves on her left and those of the bridegroom on her right. Before uttering the “oui” which takes the place of “I will,” both bridegroom and the bride turn toward their relatives as if to ask their consent. — Daily Morning Times, 1882

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