Shotgun Weddings: Meaning and History of an American Expression
In short
A shotgun wedding is a marriage that takes place because the bride is pregnant and the couple feels pressed to marry; Merriam-Webster dates this sense to 1929. The custom has faded as births outside marriage became common: in 2024, 39.5% of US births were to unmarried women, according to the CDC.
What the full article will cover
- What does shotgun wedding mean?
- When did the phrase first appear?
- Why did pregnancy lead to rushed marriages?
- How did the law treat shotgun marriages?
- Are shotgun weddings still common?
Frequently asked questions
- Is a shotgun wedding legally valid?
- What is a shotgun marriage in business?
- Why a shotgun?
Sources
- merriam-webster.com — https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shotgun%20wedding
- cdc.gov — https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/unmarried-childbearing.htm
- law.justia.com — https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-16/chapter-6/section-16-6-18/
General information, not legal or religious advice.