This was someone's fetish and it somehow became a tradition.
It was a way to establish paternity before paternity tests existed. Of course, it wouldn't help if the bride was pregnant before the ceremony or if she didn't conceive that particular time, so you're probably right.
exactly what i was thinking, someone important was like 'wouldn't it be hot if someone watched' and then worked backwards to justify it
I think it was Louis XIV who really enjoyed this particular ceremony (maybe it was XIII? IDK too many Louises). He'd have mistresses roleplay as a "wife" and they'd have these mock-bedding ceremonies so he could entertain his nobles. Had a lot of stamina and would go full pornstar in front of a crowd packed into his apartment in Versailles.
So when Louis XVI was put on the throne, he didn't live up to his predecessor's reputation and it took several years for him to consumate his marriage to Marie Antoinette. One of the reasons the French Revolution had support was because of this. Louis XVI was seen as weak and infertile.
