STEEMZINE #4 - Marriage By Proxy – When Your Lover Can’t Be Physically Present
Imagine walking down the aisle and your husbands father stands there waiting for you, taking the place of his son. Well, this is exactly what happened to my grand parents.
My grandparents migrated to Australia from Italy, first my grandfather came across on his own. Like most migrants at the time he worked in a less that favourable job, but it was a job none the less. He was placed on working on the railroads in the desolate countryside of Western Australia. My grandmother remained back in Italy.
It was in these circumstances, oceans apart that my grand parents were married. Most people have never heard the idea or even know someone who has taken this path.
To introduce to you formally with the assistance of Wikipedia.
"Marriage by proxy is usually resorted to either when a couple wish to marry but one or both partners cannot attend for reasons such as military service, imprisonment, or travel restrictions; or when a couple lives in a jurisdiction in which they cannot legally marry.”
The Moment They Met
I have heard the story more times than I can count and rightfully so, it’s beautiful. They met on a Saturday night, when my grandfather was out with his brother and my grandmother with her sister. It was at a local dance in their small town. My grandfather describes locking eyes with my grandmother and being transfixed by her from that very moment onwards.
They began a short but passionate courtship. It resulted in a marriage proposal under a tree, during a simple picnic, perched above the beach. They were inseparable and have been ever since.
Unfortunately, the only time they were separated was when they had made the decision to migrated to Australia. My grand father was already booked to go and as a result my grandmother would be left in Italy until he could afford to pay for her travels.
To make matters worse, they also needed to get married but did not have enough time to organise this prior to my grandfather leaving.
On Arrival in Australia
My grandfather embarked on the long journey across many oceans from Italy to Australia.
Where he would be posted to a job in Western Australia. He found himself in some of the harshest conditions he had ever experienced, straight from the beautiful streets of Italy to the dry, baron desert of Australia’s outback. He was involved in the construction of the railroad in WA.
The Saddest Wedding
When I was younger I didn’t really put it together, but there above my grandparents fireplace was a photo of my grandmother dressed in her wedding gown, cutting a cake. She was by herself in this photo. It was only until later that I was informed that she had an entire ceremony and my grandfather was oceans away.
My great grandfather took the place of my grandfather in the ceremony and it was all legalised.
Shortly after they were married. My grandmother made the journey across from Italy to Australia.
Even under the strangest of circumstances and a wedding that could be classed as the saddest wedding of all time.
They have lived the happiest life together and are still living the good life, 60 years later. Love knows no boundaries
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What a strange, and amazing, story. Kind of incredible to think of how connected the world was back then and, at the same time, how there were so many unknown frontiers for people to move to.
It really is fascinating, to me it was kind of normal growing up. But, every time I tell the story people are blown away. I guess we are just so connected now that you simply jump on a plane! A completely different world! Thanks for visiting @sunjata
I've added this to the first edition of my long-form curation series, Scattered Ink.