Couple marrying in 2 villages

[WendyT]

Does anyone know reasons why a couple would marry one week in Arbroath and the next week in St Vigeans in 1854? I thought those places were only 2k apart. Could it mean the two families couldn't stand or entertain
each other or would it be something to do with convenience for the guests? He was a widower and she was a widow if that has anything to do with it. Were these multiple ceremonies a common thing?

[AndrewP]

Hi Wendy,

The pre-1855 marriages in the Old Parochial Registers (OPRs) were normally records of the "proclamation of the banns" rather than the marriage itself. It is not uncommon to find that the banns were called in more than one parish - normally in the bride's home parish, and in the groom's home parish; and occasionally in a third parish if the couple were marrying in a parish which was not the home parish for either of them. The calling of the banns in each relevant parish (normally three times in each) was to ensure that the parishioners did not know of any legal reason that the couple were not fit to be married (such as, was one of them already married to someone else and about to commit bigamy).

There is often no record of the marriage itself, therefore you may never find where the marriage ceremony itself took place. You are fortunate with an 1854 marriage, as there may well have been 1855 onwards birth records for children to this couple, where the birth certificate says where the parents were married.

All the best,

AndrewP

[WendyT]

Thank you for taking the time to clarify that for me.
Regards
Wendy