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Queen Victoria
White did not become a
popular option for wedding dresses until 1840, after the marriage of Queen Victoria to Prince Albert of
Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Victoria wore a white
gown for the event so that she could incorporate lace of sentimental value into
the design of the dress. Victoria’s
wedding picture was widely published in America and many American brides opted
to wear a similar dress. Today’s “white wedding” continues
the tradition, though prior to Victorian times,
a young bride was married in any color except black (the
color of mourning) or red (which was connected with prostitutes).
Why did Queen Victoria select
white? Many theories have been put
forward including: (1) color symbolism,(2) to represent purity of heart and the
innocence of childhood, (3) an effort by the Queen to promote lace sales, and
(4) to encourage conspicuous consumption by status-conscious families. Later,
it was believed that the color white symbolized virginity and should be only be
worn by virgin brides.
There was a great deal of cake at
Buckingham Palace in February 1840.
Queen Victoria's wedding cake weighed three hundred pounds and measured
nine feet across and fourteen inches high and was adorned with roses. An ice
sculpture of Britannia surrounded by cupids capped the cake. Traditional white
wedding cake or bride's cake did not appear in the United States until the
1860's. Prior to this, cakes served at wedding receptions were a dark and spicy
concoction. A more refined cake was created with the introduction of finely
ground white flour and the manufacture of baking powder and baking soda. The
heavier "fruitcake" was relegated to being the "groom's cake."
The Civil War Wedding, an entertaining look at the
customs and superstitions of weddings during the Civil War era.
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