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Prepared
England, Near Barnsley in South Yorkshire
January 4th, 1815
"Dearly beloved…" the minister intoned.
I had not explained to Hermione why the banns were not to be read in either parish. I refused to allow any whisperings of my marriage to reach either master before it could not be avoided. I preferred groveling before the Archbishop of Canterbury for a Special License, and after all, what was four more pounds compared to what I had paid out for my happiness and peace of mind so far? Mrs. Granger could not understand why I would not allow the news to be submitted to the papers, but I stood firm on this point. Any doubts Hermione had about my requests she kept to herself and submitted wholly to my wishes.
Here she stood in her new dress of silver silk, gazing up at me through her lashes, with a diaphanous veil flowing around her shoulders.
It hardly seemed real, but the droning of the priest assured me that this was actually happening.
Turning, we clasped our right hands as the woven gold and silver handfasting cord was tied around our wrists.
"I, Severus Tobias Snape, take thee, Hermione Jean Granger, to be my wedded wife, till death us depart, and thereto I plight thee my troth." My voice sounded gravely to my own ears.
"I, Hermione Jean Granger, take thee, Severus Tobias Snape, to be my wedded husband, till death us depart, and thereto I plight thee my troth."
"Forasmuch as Severus and Hermione have consented together in holy Wedlock, and have witnessed the same before this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a Ring, and by joining of hands, I pronounce that they be Man and Wife together. Amen."
And it was done.
Her hold tightened on mine as we descended from the altar.
The audience was small: Mr. and Mrs. Granger, Minerva, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Miss Vane, and a Miss Brown. Miss Weasley stood opposite Draco; they had not ceased making eyes at each other throughout the whole of the ceremony.
I leaned towards my godson. "Draco, cease making doe eyes at Miss Weasley this instant," I hissed. I was sure as soon as he opened his mouth she would be disabused of any notion of admiration she might have for him.
I accepted the congratulations of our tiny congregation and drew Hermione through the arched doorway into the snowy churchyard where the townsfolk awaited us. I could see Mr. Ronald Weasley slouched against the fence, but not even his heated glare could disrupt my happiness.
Easing Hermione into the carriage, I turned to the audience to toss a few handfuls of coins. Sixpences would have sufficed, but I chose gold coins instead. I could afford to share my good fortune with others. For a moment I saw a pine Yulelog in my mind's eye; if only they knew what kind of price a fortune made in war came at.
Banns were to be read for three Sundays prior in both parishes (if the bride and groom hailed from differing places); there are two kinds of licenses to marry to avoid banns being read (Common and Special) with differing costs. I will admit that the Special License is overused in Regency romance; however, with Snape's fears about Hermione's safety, I thought my use was defensible. Also, although the cost of a Special License was raised in 1815 from £4 to £5, I assume that Severus bought it in December of 1814, even though they are being married in January of 1815, because he seems to be that sort of planner, and Special Licenses did not have a time or place limitation like the Common License.
Also, brides wearing white did not truly become a thing until the Victorian era.
And finally, I couldn't really find any information on what wizarding weddings look like (although, gentle reader, if you have information I will gladly read it), so I took the liberty of assuming a handfasting, which has historical use from the 12th to the 17th century in England. The 1753 Marriage Act (referenced above) with its stringent laws ended the handfasting custom.
Edited for grammar, capitalization & spelling on March 21th, 2013 [courtesy of renaid, who knows the true cost of a fortune].
And thanks to orlandoswitch [who wonders if Draco will get a chance to speak with Hermione].
Edited for nitpicks on March 28th, 2013.
Edited for formatting and author's notes March 3rd, 2015.