Residence at Time Of Marriage

[Davholsea]

During my research, I have come across several marriage certificates which give the same address for the bride and groom prior to marriage. On at least 2 occaisions I know this to be untrue - they did not share the same address.

Can anyone suggest why the same address might be recorded for both of them? Also is there any significance to those certificates that show a road name, but no actual address?

Many thanks in advance

Bob

[Hackstaple]

The engaged couple were "proving" residence in the relevant parish. Often one of them, usually the groom, had no real address there so he left a suitcase at a suitable address and so established "residence". Those are called suitcase weddings.

[GreySquirrel]

I agree with Hackstaple. I did not know the phrase before but I love "suitcase weddings"!

As you will see from the C19th census returns, many addresses comprised street without house number -- indeed, this was the rule rather than the exception in rural areas, and to a lesser extent also pertained in towns.

[Kimi]

I have some certificates like that.  They seem to be very common in my family.  I also have addresses on certificates where neither the Bride nor Groom lived there. 

Kim

[Ladkyis]

The reason that one of the couple was "proving residence" by leaving a suitcase at the address was, of course, money. Most people were married in church and had banns called. if they lived in different parishes then the banns had to be called in both of them - and paid for in both of them. That's why the couples would give the same address.
Ann