Could someone put me right on this. I have always assumed that the witnesses on the old 1800's marriage certificates were the Bridesmaid and groomsman but yesterday at my son's wedding my husband and the brides father signed the registry ...not their attendants. I then remembered this was the same at my daughter's wedding but until yesterday it had not occurred to me that maybe I had been getting this all wrong and of course the huge difference it would make in my research. Oh just the thoughts of searching her there and everywhere and missing the obvious.! Maureen