Way back in medieval times, marriage was much more informal. Couples could make a promise to each other in front of a witness anywhere or time, and this was recognised as a binding contract. In fact, it was considered enough to call God as a witness; His power was deemed to be enough to override His lack of physical presence! This of course led to many a Knight making a declaration of marriage to a girl, having his wicked way then vanishing, leaving her to suffer the consequences.
As many marriages in Derbyshire, like the rest of the country, were arranged to bring money or power into the families hands, or to maintain status and position in the community, arranged weddings between members of the family were common. In the 11th century the Council of Westminster decreed that no man could arrange the marriage of any female in his family without church approval, and slowly the church began to have an influence, restricting inter-family relationships and bringing the ceremony into the Church itself.
To start with, weddings commonly took place in the church porch, which is why this space is often so large in many churches. By the 15th century, Trent Council decreed that weddings that took place without a priest was nullified, and the Church was now established as the only place to get married.
The standard form of the marriage vows, “To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, till death do us part” were incorporated into the Book of Common Prayer in 1552 and have played a central part in church weddings ever since.
The architecture of many churches in Derbyshire makes for very picturesque settings, and the grounds of the church have become the traditional place for many of the professional photographs to be taken. Both the signing of the register and the happy family group outside the church door are essential photographs at weddings, for both the professional photographer and many of your Derbyshire wedding guests.
The counties of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire have many beautiful and interesting churches such as St Michael with St Mary in Melbourne with its gallery making it a perfect spot for your second professional wedding photographer.
Neal and David are friendly and experienced photographers with passion and pride in the wedding photos they make. Why not use the date checker to check if they are available for your big day, alternatively phone Neal today on 07913826802 to check availability for your date and to discuss your professional photography needs for weddings in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
