Weddings have deep-rooted traditions, but have you ever wondered about their origins? In this new column, we explore the historical background of various wedding customs from all over the world.
On January 26, 2022, Kelly Frye and Nick Campbell had their intimate wedding ceremony at the Rothko Chapel in Houston. Before the ceremony, the groom’s brothers playfully tied eight empty Campbell’s Soup cans to the back of a 1949 black Hudson convertible, which had belonged to the bride’s late father.
These noisy adornments were not a surprise to the newlyweds, who reside in Austin, Texas. “The cans were my idea,” said Ms. Frye, a 38-year-old actress. “I wanted a visual representation of the joy in our relationship.”
She further explained, “The car was a way to honor my dad. The cans symbolized my marriage, Nick’s last name, Andy Warhol, and our shared passion for art.” Mr. Campbell, 36, is the founder of two art consultancy businesses, Narcissus Arts and Campbell Art Advisory.
The Evolution of Traditions
It is widely believed that clamorous send-offs, like the timeless tradition of tying tin cans to newlyweds’ getaway vehicles, originated from the French practice of charivari (meaning uproar). Centuries ago, charivari was employed to condemn certain marriages.
According to Xavier Marechaux, a history and education professor at SUNY College, during a charivari, single men would protest marriages they disagreed with by banging pots together and voicing their disapproval towards marriages between a widower and a young woman from the community or a man marrying someone outside the community.
Dr. Marechaux explained, “They felt that these women were being taken away from them. To show their disapproval, they would create a commotion in front of the couple’s house on their wedding night.”
Tok Thompson, an anthropology and communication professor at the University of Southern California, stated that pinpointing the exact origins of these traditions is nearly impossible. However, he suggests that French settlers brought charivari to Canada in the early 1600s, and from there, the tradition spread to the United States.
Dr. Thompson added, “Charivari was more of a rough initiation, often directed at women who were strangers to the community. They would be subjected to a group of people, predominantly men, demanding that she cook dinner on the newlyweds’ first night together. It was part of the initiation ritual.”
Modernizing the Send-Off
As couples embraced more casual wedding celebrations in the early 20th century, the tradition of charivari evolved into a more light-hearted act of celebration.
Dr. Thompson explained, “The function of marriage changed. Charivari became a way to transition from being single to being a married couple. Marriages and couples were now celebrated instead of contested or objected to.”
The noisy serenades transformed into joyful cheering, with pots being replaced by tin cans. The threatening men were replaced by a supportive alliance of friends, family, and locals.
According to Katherine Parkin, a history professor, cars became significant symbols starting in the early 1910s. By the 1960s, automobiles were one of the most popular places for engagements to take place.
Ms. Parkin stated, “The American adoption of this tradition in the 20th century signifies youthful celebration, allowing people to celebrate with their peers. There is also the idea of giving away the bride and the couple driving away together, symbolizing the separation from their parents and the assertion of their adult lives.”
Gary Ferguson, a French literature professor at the University of Virginia, said that attaching cans to the car was a way to publicly announce the wedding to the whole community and draw attention to the couple as they drove off.
While the essence of the tradition remains the same, modern couples are adding their own unique twists to wedding send-offs. Emily Campbell, the founder and executive producer of GoBella Design & Planning, mentioned various creative ideas such as fireworks, vintage cars, second line horns, and even gondolas filled with late-night snacks, custom playlists, and sheepskin rugs in mountainous areas.
Ms. Campbell stated, “The beauty of attaching old cans to a car is that it harkens back to a simpler time when décor was sourced from the pantry.”
For Kelly Frye and Nick Campbell, incorporating classic traditions into their wedding celebration, such as saving the top layer of their wedding cakes and attaching cans to their car, allowed them to add a personal touch that reflected their journey together.
According to Ms. Frye, “The cans felt celebratory and special, representing the intimate nature of our marriage. As people saw us driving by, they honked, waved, and congratulated us. It’s a cherished moment from that time in our lives, and it holds a special story that we can share with others.”
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