Nude wedding

Nude weddings are weddings that may include the couple, bridal party, and/or guests involved with the wedding being in the nude. Participants may choose this style of wedding because they are committed to their nudist lifestyle, or just an average couple that want a different and unusual kind of wedding. Though nude weddings have occurred throughout history, the first documented nude wedding was celebrated in Elysian Fields, California in 1942. Since this event, the number of nude weddings being performed has risen across the globe.

Hedonism III's world's largest nude wedding in Jamaica, February 14, 2003.

Nude weddings may be clothing optional, that means that the wedding couple is nude while the guests may come nude or dressed at their own discretion, or clothes-free with the wedding couple and all the guests naked. There are over 270 clubs in America that are clothes-free or clothes-optional, and some of these serve as locations for nude weddings.

Smock weddings

Smock weddings were a primitive, more androcentric version of the modern day nude wedding that were less about both partners' free will and free expression of openness and acceptance. This version of the nude wedding was a highly public event for the early settlers of New England. A woman was required to either get married in her underwear, a smock, or in the nude, and often included a widowed woman as the bride. Since women were not allowed to own property in those times, whatever possessions a woman had were transferred to her husband. Because of English law, whatever debts a woman's deceased husband had on his property, which included debts on a woman's clothing, became the responsibility of her next husband.^[1] A famous smock wedding was that of Hannah Ward, who married Major Moses Joy while she stood naked in a closet with nothing but her hand showing through a hole in the door.

Growth of the nude wedding

There has been an increase in the number of nude weddings coupled with the growth of nude recreational practices. According to the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR), which was founded in 1931, nude recreation grew 75 percent during the 1990s. Today, the AANR estimates it has grown to be a 440 million dollar industry, from $120 million in 1992.^[2]

Traditional elements

Nude weddings can include traditional elements such as flowers, veils and accessories, music, and food. An official still conducts the ceremony, and the legal requirements are the same as for any other wedding.

World's largest nude wedding

The largest nude wedding took place 2003 in Jamaica with 29 couples getting married at the same time.^[3] The wedding was held at Hedonism III in Runaway Bay, Jamaica on Valentine's Day. The couples involved people of various cultures, ethnicities, and backgrounds including a person from Russia, a Canadian, and an American Indian person from the Crow Tribe. The ceremony was conducted by Rev. Frank Cervasio of the Universal Life Church in Florida.^[4] Participants of the event were required to stay a minimum of 4 days, and arrive on February 12, two days before the marriage ceremony.^[5]

In popular culture

Nude weddings are the norm in the fictional Betazoid culture in Star Trek because of their ability to see thoughts and emotions of others. This gift evolved their society into an open one, which allowed nude weddings to occur without the taboo element.

There are several novels, and books that include issues based on nude weddings such as the book published in 2000 entitled I Never Performed a Nude Wedding by Naomi Cherny. Cherny, who is a Justice of the Peace in the State of Massachusetts, has performed many weddings herself. In the book, she writes not only about wedding tips, but mentions unusual weddings such as nude weddings.^[6]

See also

Nudity portal

• Body image
• Naked party

References

1. ^ Mikkelson, Barbara (2005-06-27). "Smock Weddings". Snopes.com. http://www.snopes.com/weddings/customs/smock.asp. Retrieved 17 February 2010. 
2. ^ Nude Weddings Exposed, Lana Gerseten, Columbia News Service, Feb. 20, 2008 12:00 AM
3. ^ Devon Evans: Mass nude wedding at Hedonism III, February 15, 2003
4. ^ Mass nude wedding at Hedonism III
5. ^ SuperClubs' Hedonism III Resort Hosts World's Largest Nude Wedding on Valentine's Day
6. ^ Cherny, Naomi, I Never Performed a Nude Wedding, 2000