18th May 2023

'Dearly Beloved, a history of wedding dresses' was an interesting and informative presentation from Jill (of Belladonna Roses) who is an embroiderer and corsetier .

Historically wedding dresses became the 'best' dress which was worn on Sunday and other special occasions not as we now have when the wedding dress is worn once for the wedding ceremony.

Originally wedding dresses were not white but varied colours (plain or patterned) eg green (for fertility). Green dresses were expensive as they had to be 'double dyed' first in blue and then in yellow. In Scandanavia black was worn as a wedding dress.

 

Wedding dresses were opulent but made in the style of the day so they could be reused.Corsets were worn under the dresses The actual wedding service only had a small number of people attending and was early in the day eg 8.00 or 9.00 am and was followed by the 'breakfast feast'.

This pink dress has a 'looped up' skirt which can be let down and features quilting to combat the cold, it is a functional dress.

 

 

Mary Queen of Scots/France wore a white wedding gown in 1565, the first to do so . Following this Royalty wore white, whilst those with aspirations wore ivory/cream, this best dress being saved until they were presented at court.

Veils started as an evening accessory and then as fashions changed began to be used at weddings although they did not initially cover the face. 

The white Georgian dress in muslin with its low neck and short sleeves would not have been suitable for church, so would have been worn with a polece /spenser jacket to provide a high neck and long sleves for modesty in church.Quite often over sleeves and pelerine (large collar), or under sleeves below puff sleeves were worn. The dresses in 1860's were made within a week and the fresh flowers were sewn on overnight.

 

 

 

 Detachable trains( attached at waist/shoulder/neck) were used to make the dresses more practical. Lace was only used after Empress Eugene of France wore so much at her wedding.In 1867 jacket, bodice and skirt were used as wedding ensembles.

 

 In France in 1880 beading and embroidery started to be used on wedding dresses.

This dress (far right) has a boned bodice, an overskirt and train, all made from 2 layers of tulle with vintage lace.

 

 

The 1950's saw the arrival of 'off the peg' wedding dresses (cream dress) as well as patterns for people to make their own dress as evidenced in the white shorter dress

Crochet wedding dress from the 1980's