The act of moving up a wedding date due to extenuating circumstances. This is not unheard of in
Real Life.
For some reason the wedding needs to occur sooner rather then later. Common versions include Elopement, when the
parents oppose the marriage, and the
Star Crossed Lovers need to make it official before the parents stop them. The exact opposite justification is the
Shotgun Wedding, when the parents
insist on the lovers marrying, usually because
"My daughter is not a slut" or even more serious, a baby is on the way. Might be considered a
Dead Horse Trope in these versions nowadays.
It can also be a very
moving and realistic event in a war movie. This version is still a
Truth In Television trope, but due to
Values Dissonance between Hollywood and the Heartland, it isn't seen much anymore.
For some cases where a wedding was rushed because the couple wanted to, see
My Own Private I Do.
If the actual ceremony is sped up see Skip To The End.
Examples
Manga & Anime
- In Umineko No Naku Koro Ni, after Eva noticed that Kinzo was upset that Natsuhi and Krauss were having trouble having a child, Eva decided to convince Hideyoshi to marry her quickly so that they could have a child who could be usurp the place that Jessica would eventually have in the succession.
Film
Literature
- In the Little House series, Laura and Almanzo have to get married quickly because his sister wants to come out and help plan a big wedding neither of them can afford. (Counts as a Real Life example too.)
- Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens features the somber and rushed marriage of Eugene and Lizzie. The ceremony takes place sooner rather than later because the groom is believed to be dying from injuries inflicted by the bride's Stalker With A Crush.
- Teresa Edgerton's second Celydonn series features this.
- The Castle of the Silver Wheel: Tryffin hadn't planned on courting, let alone marrying, his cousin Gwenlliant for years, since she was only twelve years old. When her father planned an Arranged Marriage for her with a man known to have killed three wives and several mistresses with bad treatment, however, Tryffin stepped in at the last minute, claiming a Childhood Marriage Promise with Gwenlliant's help.
- The Moon and the Thorn: Mahaffy's Arranged Marriage was moved up due to war - in case Mahaffy died in battle, the girl's father, Lord Macsen, wanted to ensure that his daughter would have the legal rights of a widow. Since Lord Macsen's troops were vital, Mahaffy had no choice but to agree.
- George MacDonald Fraser's first Flashman book - Flashman seduces the daughter of his Scottish host, who finds out and insists they get married. When Flashman initially refuses, the host's son threatens to duel him; Flashman and Elspeth are duly wed.
- In the first book of Robin Hobb's Soldier Son trilogy, Gord and his betrothed do this in face of the encroaching plague, as well as Epiny and Spink, after she ran away from home and spend the night with him, ruining her reputation.
- Used in the Inheritance Cycle.
- Used rather tragically in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Charlotte Lucas marries Mr. Collins shortly after meeting him because she knows she is infected with the zombie plague and wants her last months of actual life to be happy.
- Bella and Edward have a very quick wedding in Breaking Dawn so that Bella can be turned into a vampire before she is too much older than Edward is.
- In Academs Fury Bernard and Amara are trapped in a cave the Zer...er, the Vord, and don't expect to survive battle the next day, so they have a quiet conversation about Bernard's earlier offer of marriage.
Bernard: But if this is to be my last night as a man, I would have it be as your man.
Amara: I never thought anyone would want me, Bernard. Much less someone like you. I would be proud to be your wife.
Doroga (Having been standing there unnoticed): Well, good enough for me. I now pronounce you man and wife.
Amara: What?
Live Action TV
Newspaper Comics
- Liz and Anthony's wedding in For Better Or For Worse was put on the fast track in order to allow her ailing grandfather to witness the event before passing on. Gramps ended up getting rushed to the hospital the day of the wedding, and still managed to hang on until after Liz's first kid was born. The Hatedom, as you can imagine, had a field day with the whole affair.
- Despite that being an extremely common Truth In Television. Tropers, please raise your hands if you moved your wedding date up a few months in order for an elderly relative to be able to attend, who is still alive and well years later. I know you're out there.
