When i say historically accurate Im not undermining other Regency fics cause I'm also a HUGE sucker for these tropes and devour them ENDLESSLY, but if we're going to talk in historical context, here's a few little known facts about courtship and marriage in the Regency Era https://twitter.com/angelsnuffbox/status/1330031725209120769

1. ARRANGED MARRIAGES - for the upper classes (landed gentry + aristocracy) marriage were mostly made for alliances. To marry for love is actually considered a lower class trait. It's actually more common to encounter alliance marriages than ones out of love if you move in these

social circles. Some people do find love eventually in the partner they married, most form a good friendship, but it isn't the primary concern. The usual combo is Someone With Rank marries Someone With a Shit Ton of Money. (Ex: Younger son of a noble who has no estate of his own

will likely look for a wife with a considerable dowry. That way their union will be a balance of rank, status, and wealth.)

2. PRE-MARITAL SEX - It's common in fics for couples to be virgins on their wedding night, but during this era an engaged couple is actually as good as married! A census of babies born during this time have shown a majority of them were conceived before the parents were married.

This is why secret engagements and elopement were huge scandals during this time. And a man's proposal is so serious that a lady can actually sue him in the court of law if he backs out from his word. This is also why the engagement period lasts only 2 weeks to 2 months.

3. KISSING IN WEDDINGS - I'm so sorry folks, but of all the weird vulgar shit people got up to during the Regency Era, public kissing was not one of them. Couples go up to the altar and exchange rings, after which they retreat to the lady's house for a joyful wedding breakfast

with the groom and bride's families. It is after this that the couple either travels straight to the groom's home estate or on a little honeymoon to somewhere else.

4. CONSUMMATION - The idea that an unconsummated marriage is one that can be legally annulled is a myth, I'm so sorry. I actually don't know where this came from, but at least during the Regency Era, this isn't true. It's possible it may have been true before that though.

5. NAMES - It's actually common even for married couples to still call each other Mr. Surname or Mrs. Surname. Some couples do call one another by their first names or a nickname, but that's usually a sign of a very settled and casual, easy affection between the couple.

I just realized this focused more on marriage than courtship, but that's bc Regency courtship is a WHOLE other discussion lol But if you wanna read more, these are 2 of my favorite books about the topic! The 1st is more concise while the 2nd focuses more on legalities

And if you have any more questions regarding Regency era courtship or culture/etiquette in general, whether to write fics or something else, hit me up so I can unload you with great references on the topic! Hehe I hope you learned something from this sksjdf