Georges Marlier (Pierre Brueghel le Jeune, Brussels, 1969, pp. 342-6) discusses seven variants of this composition. One of these formed part of a set of five pictures of stages in a village wedding, sold at Galerie Giroux, Brussels, 15 Dec. 1930, lots 30-34. Marlier convincingly attributes this set to Martin van Cleve (1527-1581), although of three of the compositions smaller versions signed by Peter Brueghel the Younger are known (see Marlier, ibid, figs. 211 and 212, and the picture sold in these Rooms, 29 Nov. 1974, lot 24), making the present composition the fourth. The sizes of the present picture and that of Wedding Presents being given to the Bride, sold in these Rooms (see above), are almost identical, which would suggest that they may have formed part of a set