The Strange Case of Penny-Weddings

Oct 13, 2024

In 17th-century Scotland, social gatherings were not merely occasions for celebration but also critical events for maintaining community ties and cultural traditions. Among these events, the "penny-wedding" stood out as a particularly popular and cherished institution. A penny-wedding was a communal event where guests contributed a small amount of money toward the cost of the wedding festivities, making it affordable for even the poorest couples to host a celebration. However, by the late 1600s, Scottish authorities began to view these weddings as extravagant, wasteful, and even disruptive to society. This blog explores the cultural significance of penny-weddings, why they were condemned by the Scottish authorities, and what this reveals about the social and economic dynamics of the time.

What Were Penny-Weddings?

Penny-weddings were simple yet large-scale celebrations held by Scottish couples who wanted to marry but lacked the financial means to host an elaborate event. Unlike modern weddings, where the burden of expenses often falls on the couple or their families, penny-weddings were collective affairs. Each guest contributed a small sum—typically a penny or a small amount of food or drink—which helped cover the costs of the event. This system allowed poor and working-class couples to celebrate their union with their community without falling into debt.

These events were marked by merriment, dancing, and feasting. Often held in barns or other communal spaces, penny-weddings could attract large crowds, sometimes numbering in the hundreds. For many in Scotland’s rural and small-town communities, these gatherings were not just weddings but also important social occasions that provided opportunities for courtship, entertainment, and the strengthening of community bonds.

The penny-wedding was deeply embedded in Scottish culture and became a symbol of the resilience and ingenuity of the working class. The celebration allowed even the poorest to mark important life events in a dignified way, with the support of friends, family, and neighbors. It was a communal expression of solidarity, offering a form of social safety net where financial burdens were shared across the community.

The Authorities Crack Down on Extravagance

Despite their popularity, penny-weddings increasingly became a source of concern for Scottish authorities, particularly during the reign of Charles II. By the 1680s, the government viewed these gatherings with suspicion, citing concerns over their size, cost, and perceived extravagance. In 1684, a sumptuary law was passed that specifically denounced penny-weddings, along with other forms of ostentatious social displays, such as expensive mourning clothes and silk-covered coffins.

The authorities’ objection to penny-weddings stemmed primarily from the belief that these events encouraged unnecessary spending and extravagance. Although the name suggests that each guest contributed only a penny, the collective sum raised often led to lavish feasts and celebrations that, in the eyes of the authorities, were far too extravagant for the lower classes. The government argued that such gatherings promoted a culture of excessive consumption, with guests indulging in food, drink, and entertainment at levels that were deemed inappropriate for people of modest means.

In addition to concerns over extravagance, authorities worried about the disruptive potential of large gatherings. Penny-weddings often attracted attendees from far and wide, leading to fears of public disorder and unruliness. Such events were seen as occasions where drinking and dancing could spiral into excess, giving rise to drunkenness, fights, and other behaviors that the government sought to curtail. Moreover, the sheer size of these weddings made them difficult to regulate, which likely contributed to the authorities' desire to limit or even ban them altogether.

Economic and Social Implications

The crackdown on penny-weddings reflected deeper anxieties within Scottish society at the time. The 17th century was a period of economic and social upheaval in Scotland, marked by political instability, religious conflicts, and widening gaps between the wealthy elite and the lower classes. Authorities were increasingly concerned with controlling public behavior and enforcing moral discipline, particularly among the poor, whom they saw as vulnerable to vice and disorder.

By condemning penny-weddings as an extravagant burden, the authorities were attempting to impose a more rigid social hierarchy. Weddings that allowed the poor to temporarily experience a taste of wealth and abundance were viewed as subversive to the established social order. The penny-wedding, by its very nature, blurred the lines between rich and poor, as even the humblest families could host large and impressive celebrations with the support of their community. The government’s intervention sought to reassert control over this dynamic, ensuring that only the wealthy could afford grand celebrations while discouraging the lower classes from aspiring to the same.

The criticism of penny-weddings also reflected a broader discomfort with communal forms of support and celebration. In a society increasingly oriented toward individualism and personal responsibility, the idea of a community pooling resources for a shared event ran counter to the growing emphasis on self-reliance. The authorities' crackdown on penny-weddings can thus be seen as part of a larger effort to reshape the social fabric, discouraging collective support systems in favor of a more hierarchical and stratified society.

The Cultural Resilience of Penny-Weddings

Despite the authorities' efforts to clamp down on penny-weddings, the tradition remained deeply rooted in Scottish culture. For many communities, these weddings represented a form of resistance to the imposition of elite values and the regulation of social life. By continuing to hold penny-weddings, couples and their guests were asserting their right to celebrate their unions in a way that reflected their values and traditions, rather than the dictates of the ruling class.

The enduring popularity of penny-weddings can be attributed to their communal nature. These events were not just about the bride and groom; they were about bringing together entire communities to celebrate and support one another. In a time when poverty was widespread and social mobility was limited, the penny-wedding provided a rare opportunity for people to enjoy a moment of collective joy and abundance, if only for a day.

Furthermore, penny-weddings served an important practical purpose. For couples without the means to fund a traditional wedding, these events offered a way to begin married life without incurring significant financial burdens. The contributions of friends, family, and neighbors allowed newlyweds to start their lives together with some financial security, free from the debts that might otherwise accompany a more expensive wedding. In this sense, penny-weddings were an essential form of economic solidarity, helping to alleviate the financial pressures faced by many working-class families.

Conclusion

Penny-weddings were more than just festive gatherings; they were a reflection of Scottish community life, resilience, and the power of collective support. These weddings allowed even the poorest members of society to celebrate important life events with dignity and joy. However, their very success and popularity ultimately drew the ire of Scottish authorities, who viewed them as a threat to social order and moral discipline.

The crackdown on penny-weddings reveals much about the social dynamics of 17th-century Scotland. In a time of economic inequality and growing social control, the government’s attempt to regulate these communal gatherings reflects a broader effort to enforce hierarchical divisions and limit the agency of the lower classes. Yet, the persistence of the penny-wedding tradition, even in the face of legal opposition, is a testament to the enduring importance of community, mutual support, and cultural tradition in Scottish life.