forlovere

FamilySearch calls them bondsmen, two men who knew the couple were eligible to marry, and notes that in later records they were often the fathers of the bride and groom. SNL defines a forlover as someone who declares that the conditions for marriage are met, for example that neither party is already married or too closely related to the other.

In older times the forlover was often a close relative, so the names are worth noting. Today a forlover also helps the bride or groom with the wedding.