The Victorian Theme Wedding
When people think Victorian, they often think high tea or garden party, filled with doilies, cherub birdbaths, cast iron benches, finger foods, mismatched teacups and the "shabby chic" touch.
This is a perfectly fine way to do Victorian, but it's not the only way. Victorian had an evening style as well. Perhaps the easiest way to picture a formal Victorian wedding is to imagine the excesses of the upper-class ballrooms on the Titanic.
Think of crystals and fringe dripping from every possible source, from chandeliers and lamps to candlesticks. Think piano player in the background, tapping out a Mozart sonata at an inoffensive volume, or something more intimate by Liszt or Chopin. A string quartet would also be common. Think men in black tails and white gloves, peering over spectacles at their polished pocketwatches. And enormous Lady Ferns (a Victorian favorite) arching over square mahogany stands. The Victorians were obsessed with ferns, Lady or otherwise. You can't overdo them.
Many people hold a cocktail hour before the reception, to keep guests happy while they're waiting on the bridal party to take pictures.
If you're having one, a wonderful touch would be to scatter a few Victorian-era newspapers around where people can use them to pass the time and break the ice. Place them somewhere central where people aren't afraid to flip through them. Try ebay for some inexpensive, vintage newspapers, remembering that the Victorian age is from 1837-1914. Take the most picturesque papers and scan in the headlines, articles or ads for imagery to use on your own custom invitations, wedding programs or favor tags.
If your venue allows it, you could also place some nice cigars in the cocktail lounge. A vintage humidor would make for great presentation. Another fine detail would be to add a Victorian-style cigar cutter.
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Snap some Victorian-themed photos of the bride and groom at a costume-friendly photography studio, or use a photo editing program to superimpose your faces on old, sepia-toned photographs. Place the results in Victorian-style pewter frames and display at the reception.
It would add greatly to the look of your reception if you have a local prop shop that can rent you some period-style furniture, such as fringed lamps, grandfather clocks, large, faded carpets, overstuffed Windsor chairs, and large oriental vases.
Use silver (polished to perfection) and crystal wherever you can. Silver trays, candlesticks and cutlery. Crystal chandeliers, candelabras, and sparkling wine glasses.
Don't miss the repopularized Victorian cake-pull custom, where the bride (or in our case, the baker) ties ribbons to charms and tucks them between the layers of the cake. Before the cake-cutting, each bridesmaid pulls a charm from the layers, and learns her fortune.
An anchor charm meant Stability; a clover, Good Fortune; the flower, Blossoming Love; the cross, Peace; the heart, True Love. And the wedding ring? You can probably guess that one. Hint: it's a lot like the bouquet toss.
Queen Victoria, that wedding trendsetter, started the terribly romantic custom of saving a sprig of ivy from the bridal bouquet, planting it and gifting the cuttings to future generations (of which she had plenty).
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Early Victorian bridal bouquet fashion was the tussy mussy — a tightly arranged, hand-tied nosegay of blooms slipped into a decorative cone.
A later trend was for enormous cascade bouquets, which we still see today, although for us they look slightly vintage.
In either case, the bride-to-be would pore over the Language of Flowers before settling on her blooms.
High Victorian wasn't so much crumpets and scones as it was the food that even today we link with high society and indulgence. You know the drill: oysters, caviar, beef consommé, filet mignon, truffles, roast duck, foie gras, eclairs, brandy and fine wines. As the years crept forward toward the Edwardian Age, this food was typically served over an unthinkable number of courses, as in eight, ten or more.
Subtle Victorian touches for your wedding day attire could include a silk ribbon for your neck, a cameo necklace or brooch, a pearl choker, a sparkly beaded purse, or a pair of gloves.
Of course, those who aren't afraid to enter costume territory can buy beautiful reproduction Victorian wedding gowns complete with glorious bustles and white lace-up ankle boots. Add crocheted wrist-length gloves.
Victorian men dressed to the nines for formal occasions, wearing white shirts, white vests and white bowties. All this was topped off with a black tailcoat (sometimes referred to as an "ultraformal" traditional style tuxedo), a top hat and white gloves.
Think crisp white boxes tied up with brown satin ribbon, small beaded purses, decorative hand fans, tussie mussies, anything floral, anything ornate and pewter. The Victorians adored favors — the more complicated, the better — and used every excuse to hand them out, even at small parties.
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I am planning a semi-victorian wedding. I absolutely love the idea of having lace parasols and lace gloves all over for my reception. I am going to drape pearls over champagne bottles and over the lace gloves on the tables. I have also found some very pretty small jewelry boxes with roses. The boxes are all white and can hold a photo on top. These are going to be my favors! All the lace and pearls I can have everywhere. This is what I see when I think victorian!
So I’m having some trouble with a wedding style. We were originally just going to do a basic wedding, we’re simplistic yet stylish couple we like the modern idea of less is more. But recently, like today, my fiance decided he really really wants to wear a Victorian style pride & prejudice suit. How can I tie this into my wedding without having to wear lacy dresses and have to have everything gold or red. I don’t mind the red and white theme infact I think it looks beautiful but i want it to still look modern .. and victorian.. at the same time lol. So can you give me any ideas of what i can do to let him have his dream tux and still keep my bridesmaids and I from being laced to the ears?
mikky,
i was keeping in the red and white theme with this….
mikky,
i hope these help.
mikky,
forgot this….just think bustle or ruching. another idea is the “emma dress”, which is the empire waist wedding dress. otherwise check out jimhjelm.com and
*wedding attire
*wedding board
My wedding will be on May 2,2009. The color motiffs are rust ( not the orangey rust, but more on the brown side ) and matte gold. The theme is victorian. I’m a Filipino (asian) ,but i really love everything victorian. I’ve designed my own wedding gown and entourage gowns. The gowns are all victorian inspired ( laces, tiers,
petticoats,ribbons ) .For our wedding favors, we decided to give lil white teacups and saucers with English teas ( maybe 1 or 2 teabags )and a sachet of Maxwell coffee singles.Do you have any other suggestions? I would really appreciate your help.And also there will be a lot of classical music (mozart, chopin,bach etc.)I’ll wrap/cover the two guestbooks with dyed ( to match the color motiff ) lace . And maybe style the pen ( for signing) with an ostrich feather.
i am having one of the hardest times trying to find a theme to my wedding in 9 months its going to be thanksgiving weekend and im really not interested in the whole punkin patch wedding thing its just not me, ive looked at site after site or ideas and im not coming across any what are some suggestions anyone might have.
lauryn, i noticed you posted at this theme site. are you wanting a victorian wedding? if not, can you tell me the type of vision you see. what are some of your fave colors? your fh fave colors? and waht type of formality( casual, informal, semi formal, formal) and vibe you want guests to feel( fun, laid back, bold, elegant etc) i would love to give you some ideas!!
just let me know a little about you and your fh likes and dislikes.. maybe we can narrow down some ideas. also the venue will it be outdoors? what about the colors of the venue, that is important. you will want the colors to compliment it well. i do have one idea. black or brown with white and green. i think lush arrangements of lush and abundant greenery would be stunning, keeping only the flowers to the bride and bridal party. greenery arch or other greenery alter decor. have the bridal party both bm and gm in black attire( which is great cause this can be wear again friendly, with a knee length dress and guys simple black suit being most rewearable.). have sparkling crystals hanging from the greenery arch. incorporate shimmer with sparling crystals here and there. continue this for the centerpieces with cut glass patterned containers( looks like waterford crystal). for your bouquet carry your fave color, since anything could blend with this theme, let bm carry their fave flower in white. or let them carry greenery bouquets( beautiful and pops against black dresses) with you carrying the white bouquet or fave color. if you live where greenery can be clipped you can save a bundle of $$$ in decor. for your napkins just visit your local craft store and buy crystal garland or strands. wrap crystal stems around your napkins. keep you table linens white. this is a way to bring in the wonders of the season ( especially with the leaves and greenery) without the pumpkin theme. for your invites have a stem of greenery gracing the top. to me this decor style gives the awe that floral arrangements give, cause noone sees greenery as the main decor much in weddings and i dont know why its so beautiful!! to me this is a fresh, modernish, yet comfy wedding scheme. this color scheme will give off a vibe” it only looks expensive.
here is an example of the black dresses with green bouquet( so jaw dropping yet simple to put together):
*Mandy and Mark in Big Sky, MT
*ariella chezar florals
also for more pics google image black and green wedding then brown and green wedding ( this is just as gorgeous!!)
if you use your fave color for brides bouquet, have wedding cake in your and fh fave colors. dont worry if its bolder colors or not like the venue colors. this is where the greenery comes in it will blend the pops of color well. looking forward to your reply.
I have imagined myself getting wedded during the midfall which is around halloween to thankgiving.
actually, i have imagined pumpkin lights beside a creek very romantic for me. i saw this array of pumpkin lights in NY as a show and have been of dreaming of the same gazebo beside a small body of water with maybe paper boat lights to float while the sun sets in the background. i have an old screwy soul so i guess that works for me.
mitchie,
wow!! i love those ideas!! that is romantic!! please post pics after the wedding!!!!! and the paper boat lights,truly loving that!!
may, there is lots of info when you google search in victorian wedding theme. google image victorian wedding guest book, so many accessories!! and one of the bigger searches, how to plan a victorian wedding.
*How to Plan a Victorian Era Theme Party
*How to Plan a Victorian-Themed Wedding
* Board #275: Budget Friendly #7, Champagne Friday
*Victorian-Themed Wedding
thank you for the info. please post more info abt wedding details with the victorian style, all abt.even the tokens or wedding motif combination.i really love abt victorian era.
its nice to have a website like this, may i request more info abt wedding theme victorian style and more ideas in dresses/gowns, bouquet and colors combinations, foods ets.tnx.
May hello and welcome to this site!! i will post whatever i can. i love the chance at bringing new ideas especially era themes! so this is a treat!
i didnt know if you what exact style you wanted there are, more of the lace and roses then there is the old west and each can be different. i didnt know if you wanted authentic of a modern version. for dresses check out claire pettibone, jessica mcclintock, or thrift stores. dont forget the tussy mussy bouquet, victorian inspired guest book and certificate. the victorian trading comapny has anything you want from clothes-shoes-vintage wedding invites-pens-etc. they also have a free catalog. here is where inspiration begins. they can be pricey but maybe you can see what you like then find a cheaper item on ebay or diy.
*Real Wedding, III
*Real Wedding, II
*Real Wedding 11
*Victorian Trading Co. : Nouveau Victorian Gifts and Collectibles
*Nataya-Romantic Wedding Gowns-Vintage Style Dresses-Nataya Tea …
*Wedding Style: A Victorian Event
*Victorian Ice Cream Social: Setting up the Ice Cream Bar
*Victorian Wedding: A Garden Celebration
*Victorian Theme Wedding Ideas
*Victorian Wedding Theme (tables and flowers)
*Modern Victorian - An Inspiration Board
may, oops the victorian papers didnt take i will post that one again.
*Victorian Trading Co. : Nouveau Victorian Gifts and Collectibles
This website was excellent helping me with an event management assignment based on a wedding, i chose Victorian Style and this website helped me out loads, thanks a million!
Rachel