At the height of the Black Plague raging during the medieval age, the one cry heard most frequently was, Bring out Your Dead. Death was so omnipresent that some cities lost ninety percent of their citizens. By the time the plague played itself out, neither church, nor government, nor the medical profession, was inclined to go out and succour the needy. They knew that exposure meant almost certain death.

It is remarkable, therefore, that throughout these times, it was unknown for the husband to abandon his wife, or the wife to abandon her husband. They stayed with each other while healthy. They stayed with each other while the healthy spouse nursed the sick one. More often than not they died together. But always the healthy spouse stayed till death parted them.

While the plague decimated the countryside, it also revitalized marriage since so many people lost their spouses.

Lovers who found each other during these trying times, looked for ways and means to keep themselves fit and healthy till they reached the alter rails.

Some had a shot of elderlberry every day, believing this to be particularly beneficial. Others wore all sorts of charms and necklaces. Spells were very much in demand. And one couple of lovers, determined to survive no matter what, went so far as to bathe themselves in urine every morning.

However, the most prevalent belief was that the disease was carried on the air, and to prevent becoming infected, the bad smells had to be counteracted by such good smells as the burning of incense or filling a house with flowers. Out of doors, people resorted to holding flowers to their noses in order not to inhale the foul air around them.

In those early medieval weddings, the brides bouquet often included not only flowers but herbs such as rosemary, sage and even garlic. It was many centuries later that the wedding bouquet stopped being a deterrent to bad spirits and bad air, and simply became a decoration though often a symbolic one.

Vlady Peters

Vlady Peters is an Australian Civil Marriage Celebrant performing weddings, naming, renenewal of vows and commitment ceremonies both for Australian citizens and for overseas couples visiting friends and relatives in Australia.

She is the author of two traditionally published books, "The Complete Book of Australian Weddings" and "The Small Organisation Handbbook" and is in the process of releasing two ebooks dealing with weddings and honeymoons.

Her major interest is research into customs and traditions of weddings.

By going back to the roots of customs, she believes couples can more clearly differentiate between what is essential in a wedding ceremony, and what is merely a personal preference.

This allows them to choose a ceremony reflecting their own situation within the framework of legal requirements.

Vlady has a bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Government, and has studied the writing of novels and romances. She has written children picture books as well as novels.

She is a member of Queesland Civil Marriage Celebrants - the largest Civil Marriage Celebrants Association in Australia - as well as member of Celebrants' Training Association.

She is also a member of Australian Authors, as well as Romance Writers Association where for a number of years she was the Convenor of the prestigious Emma Darcy Award - Australia's leading Lady of Romance.