The Victorian era (no matter which country) had a rich culture of elegance and strict backbone of ritual that ran a rod straight through the aristocratic lifestyle in each daily facet. No event went uncombed, all the minute details finely inspected and scrutinized, so why should a wedding be any different?
The Big Day
Today picking a date for your wedding holds a different kind of significance, like the anniversary of your first date or a parent’s wedding anniversary. But to the Victorian girl a lot more was at stake than sentiment, the rest of her life was predetermined in the superstition that followed her choice of wedding day.
Here’s a rhyme I found that tells of each day’s significance:
“Monday is for health,
Tuesday for wealth,
Wednesday best of all.
Thursday brings crosses,
Friday brings losses;
but Saturday, no luck at all.”
Apparently, getting married on Sunday was out of the question completely.
Now not only the days of the week were under scrutiny, but the months were as well:
“Married when the year is new, he’ll be loving, kind and true.
When February birds do mate, you wed nor dread your fate.
If you wed when March winds blow, joy and sorrow both you’ll know.
Marry in April when you can, joy for Maiden and for Man.
Marry in the month of May, and you’ll surely rue the day.
Marry when June roses grow, over land and sea you will go.
Those who in July do wed, must labor for their daily bread.
Whoever wed in August be, many a change is sure to see.
Marry in September’s shrine, your living will be rich and fine.
If in October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry.
If you wed in bleak November, only joys will come, remember.
When December snows fall fast, marry and true love will last.”
June was the most popular month to wed in, since it was named after Juno, the Roman Goddess of marriage.
The Wedding Clothes
This is where things got interesting for me, especially the wedding colors:
White–chosen right
Blue–love will be true
Yellow–ashamed of her fellow
Red–wish herself dead
Black–wish herself back
Grey–travel far away
Pink–of you he’ll always think
Green-ashamed to be seen
So just by choosing a color, you’re telling the whole entire wedding audience the emotion of this moment; imagine being a groom and watching your bride walk down the aisle adorned in red, yellow, or even green. It wasn’t until 1840 that brides began to ultimately wear white, in response to a fashion worn by Queen Victoria on her wedding day.
Styles such as these rose to popularity over twenty years between 1870-1890.
“Full court trains were now part of the wedding ensemble, as were long veils, a bustle, elegant details and two bodices–a modest one for the wedding and a low one for special occasions.”
“The late Victorians saw the bustle disappear, a demi-train and large sleeves now in fashion. If the bride married in church, the dress must have a train, with a veil of the same length. The veil could be lace or silk tulle. From the mid-Victorian era to the 1890s, the veil covered the bride’s face and was not lifted until after church. The veil was not used as a shawl after the wedding any more, however. White kid gloves were long enough to tuck under the sleeves, and had a slit in one finger to slip the ring on without removing the glove. Slippers were of white kid, satin or brocade and the heels rose to one inch.”
The Ceremony and Reception
In a Victorian wedding, lots of superstition, gallantry, and flowers could be found all over the world. Country brides entered on a carpet of flowers, where brides who had their weddings in their homes pinned flowers to the lapels of each usher. Ceremonies generally took place in the early morning, with a clergyman or pastor present. Guests in mourning would scatter within the crowds after entering quietly, as to not emit an air of negativity amongst the wedding party. The Victorians were very aware of evil spirits, and church bells where rang to not only announce the ceremony but to ward off evil spirits as well. It was thought to be good luck to have the wedding rings drop, seeing how the spirits would be then shaken out. The wedding bands were plain gold and engraved with the couple’s initials, plus the wedding date. After proceeding from the wedding grains or rice were thrown as a symbol of fertility.
When at the reception (usually at home) the guests were served standing, while to bridal party was seated. No entertainment was provided unless it was an evening affair, due to the wedding being an honor itself for the guests to attend. The cake was generally cut and handed out while guests were leaving. It was made to be a rich fruitcake decorated splendidly. The bride and groom’s cakes were plain, his being dark and hers being white; favors were baked inside for good luck!
“The ring for marriage within a year;
The penny for wealth, my dear;
The thimble for an old maid or bachelor born;
The button for sweethearts all forlorn.”
Honestly, just by researching this I couldn’t help but think of how easy it is to plan a wedding today in comparison to the Victorian one, considering all the superstitions and stipulations involved. But as I always say, different strokes for different folks!
Your debonair blogger,
Stephanie Baldwin
Photos courtesy to www.literary-liaisons.com, www.boltonmuseums.org.uk, and www.search.windowsonwarwickshire.org.uk.
