When the Acadians were expelled from Nova Scotia in 1755 there might well have been a betrothed couple separated on their wedding day. She probably went nuts and died. I love the story and this town. There's the grave site with Dolores behind one of the prettiest churches you ever saw. If you have to wander a continent looking for your groom, you want the marriage to last.
Critics say it's just a Catholic ploy in a Catholic state to thwart divorce.
I don't know. If someone wanted to marry me in Louisiana using the looser version of vows, I'd be skeptical. I bet the choice is making for a lot of fights between young couples of varying enthusiasm about upcoming nuptials. The Saturday after Thanksgiving in a famous Cajun dance hall called Mulate's, an attractive, retirement-age couple took to the dance floor before the band cranked up fiddle and accordion. The bridegroom, whom I'd call Gabriel, wore a Sunday suit and a cowboy hat.