According to Wikipedia, references to “broomstick marriages” emerged in England in the mid-to-late 18th century, always to describe a wedding ceremony of doubtful validity. The earliest use of the phrase is in the 1764 English edition of a French work: the French text, describing an elopement, refers to the runaway couple hastily making un mariage sur la croix de l’épée (literally ‘marriage on the cross of the sword’), an expression the English translator freely renders as ‘performed the marriage ceremony by leaping over a broomstick.

In 1836, the Marriage Act, which introduced civil marriage, was contemptuously referred to as the ‘Broomstick Marriage Act’ by those who felt that a marriage outside the Anglican church did not deserve legal recognition. ’

Irish travellers were said to have a similar custom of marriage called “jumping the budget”, with the bride and groom jumping over a string or other symbolic obstacle.

In Wales, Romani couples would get married by eloping, when they would “jump the broom,” or jump over a branch of flowering common broom or a besom made of broom.

In some African-American communities, marrying couples will end their ceremony by jumping over a broomstick, either together or separately. This practice is well attested for as a marriage ceremony for slaves in the Southern United States in the 1840s and 1850s who were often not permitted to wed legally. Its revival in 20th century African American culture is due to the novel and miniseries Roots (1976, 1977)

Regardless or it’s origins, or validity with today’s marriage laws, we love this tradition and think its a cute and fun way to wrap up a wedding ceremony♥