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A proxy wedding or proxy marriage is a wedding in which one or both of the individuals being united are not physically present, usually being represented instead by other persons (proxies). If both partners are absent, this is known as a double proxy wedding.
Marriage by proxy is usually resorted to in one of two situations: either a couple wish to marry but one or both partners cannot attend (for reasons such as military service, imprisonment, or travel restrictions); or a couple lives in a jurisdiction in which they cannot legally marry.
In most , the law requires that both parties to a marriage be physically present: proxy weddings are not recognized as legally binding. Under the English common law, however, if a proxy marriage is valid under the law of the place where the marriage was celebrated (the lex loci celebrationis) then it will be recognised as valid in England and Wales. Apt v Apt 1948 P 83; CB (Validity of marriage: proxy marriage) 2008 UKAIT 80Christopher Clarkson and Jonathan Hill (2025). 9780199574711, Oxford University Press. . ISBN 9780199574711
Some other examples are:
In 1282, Alfonso III of Aragon married Eleanor of England (daughter of Edward I of England) by proxy; she was represented at the wedding by the English Ambassador Sir John de Vesci. The couple were legally married, but never met, as Alfonso's parents Peter III of Aragon and Constance II of Sicily were under papal interdict because of their claims to the throne of Sicily. Edward refused to send his daughter from England as long as the interdict remained in place. Alfonso died in 1291 before the issue was resolved.O'Callaghan, Joseph F. (1975). A history of medieval Spain. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. .
In 1490, Maximilian of Habsburg (the future Holy Roman Emperor, Maximilian I) married Anne of Brittany by proxy; he was represented at the wedding by Wolfgang von Polheim. As part of the symbolism of the proxy wedding, on the wedding night Polheim went to bed with Anne but wore a full suit of armour, covering all but his right leg and hand. A sword was placed between them in the bed.
A famous 17th-century painting by Peter Paul Rubens depicts the proxy marriage of Marie de' Medici in 1600.
There are also examples of proxy marriages amongst South Asian royalty, such as Mirza Muhammad Sultan to Padishah Bibi, on 13 April 1656. In 1530, Maharana Ratan Singh II of Mewar Kingdom married a daughter of Raja Prithviraj Singh I of Amber. Singh's sword had been married as a proxy representing him, but the wedding was kept a secret. Hada prince Surajmal of Bundi was unaware and obtained her as his wife, causing unintended offence.
In 19th century Italy, marriage by proxy was prohibited except with respect to the King and members of the Italian royal family.
During the First and Second World Wars, there were many proxy marriages between soldiers serving at the front and women back at home; they often participated in the wedding ceremony via telephone. During World War I, proxy marriage was permitted by law in Belgium (from 30 May 1916), Czechoslovakia, France (from 4 April 1915), Germany, Italy (from 24 June 1915) and Norway. During the World War 2, proxy marriages were common in the United States, United Kingdom, Soviet Union and Nazi Germany where obtaining leave to return home and marry was difficult or impossible. During this period, Kansas City, Kansas, in particular was known for its permissive proxy-marriage laws; one lawyer in the city helped to arrange 39 proxy weddings.
In the United Kingdom, proxy marriage was argued for in the House of Commons by Jennie Adamson in 1943.
In Italy, between 1945 and 1976, 12,000 women were married by proxy to Italian Australian men; they would then travel to Australia to meet their new husbands. This was encouraged by the Australian church and government to address an imbalance between the sexes.
, various Internet sites were offering to arrange proxy and double-proxy marriages for a fee, although the service can generally be set up by any lawyer in a jurisdiction that permits proxy marriage. Video conferencing allows couples to experience the ceremony together.
Citizens Advice Scotland warns that "it may be extremely difficult to prove that a marriage by proxy is a valid marriage, both legally and for claiming Welfare spending."
In 1924, a federal court recognized the proxy marriage of a resident of Portugal, where proxy marriages were recognized at the time, and a resident of Pennsylvania, where common-law marriages could be contracted at the time. The Portuguese woman was allowed to immigrate to the United States on account of the marriage, whereas she would have been inadmissible otherwise due to being illiterate. Internet marriages have increased among some U.S. immigrant communities in recent years.
During the early 1900s, United States proxy marriages increased significantly when many Japanese arrived at Angel Island, California. Since the early 20th century, it has been most commonly used in the United States for marriages where one partner is a member of the military on active duty. In California, proxy marriage is only available to deployed military personnel. In Montana, a double-proxy marriage is available if at least one partner is either on active military duty or is a Montana resident. In the United States, if a proxy marriage has been performed in a state that legally allows it, many states will recognize it fully or will recognize it as a common law marriage. An exception to this is the state of Iowa, where it is completely unrecognized.
הָאִישׁ מְקַדֵּשׁ בּוֹ וּבִשְׁלוּחוֹ הָאִשָּׁה מִתְקַדֶּשֶׁת בָּהּ וּבִשְׁלוּחָהּ הָאִישׁ מְקַדֵּשׁ אֶת בִּתּוֹ כְּשֶׁהִיא נַעֲרָה בּוֹ וּבִשְׁלוּחוֹ
Translation: A man can betroth a woman by himself or by means of his agent. Similarly, a woman can become betrothed by herself or by means of her agent. A man can betroth his daughter to a man when she is a young woman, either by himself or by means of his agent.
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