A Brief History of Marriage

Many believe that the concept of marrying for love was invented by the French. The knights in shining armor who fell in love with someone else’s wife became the subject of much literature, such as Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere.

About 250 years ago, the idea that marriage should be between two people who love each other gained much traction. Marriage was based on love and possibly desire. This changed marriage into something far from an economic transaction.

Marriage Equality

When love entered the picture, it was a huge step for marriage equality. Some historians claim it was this change that led to women having greater leverage in what was previously a mainly pragmatic contract. Wives did not solely exist to please their husbands; the smitten prince, in fact, wanted to serve his lady love.

The real landmark that changed the elevated status of the husband, however, was achieved when women won the right to vote. The marriage contract was now between two equal citizens of the state that had the same rights. It goes without saying that we have the suffragists to thank for marriage equality.

Gay Marriages

While a lot of Greek and Roman literature speaks of marriage between people of the same gender, gay marriage was strictly outlawed in many parts of the world for a long time. Once it was established that you can marry for love and not just for practical reasons, it followed logically that love can exist between people of the same gender as well. As of 2015, gay marriage is legal in all 50 states of the US.

Wedding Photography

Despite it being so difficult to have photographs taken at the conception of photography in the 19^th century, marrying couples wanted their blurred outlines in print. Since the equipment for photography up until the late 19^th century was bulky and heavy, cameras couldn’t be carried around; the couple had to visit a studio to get their picture taken.

In the early 1900s when camera technology improved, it became possible for people to take multiple photographs of themselves and their family members. This gave birth to the wedding album that contained every photograph taken at a wedding.

Up until this point, all photographs were monochrome. Colored photographs didn’t emerge until after World War II. It took several years for them to become the norm.

Today, digital technology enables each of us to have several hundred photographs of our wedding and choose the best ones to display in our homes and online.  Wedding photography, as it is today, is an art form and a means of expression. What a long way we have come!

Learning about the interesting, sometimes shocking, history of marriage may have changed how you will view yours. Regardless of its history, you are one of the lucky human beings who are able to be with the person they love; that has to account for something!

If you are located in the Greensboro area by happenstance, reach out to Doug Burke Photography at 336.486.9932 and we will make your union a sweet, happy memory for years to come, instilling it solidly in your personal history.