Hosting an 1880 Victorian Theme Wedding

Regal and classic best describe an 1880 Victorian wedding theme. To host an 1880 Victorian theme wedding of a royal caliber is the closest you'll get to a true fairy tale wedding. Truly fit for a queen, be prepared to spend quite a bit to replicate a Victorian wedding circa 1880.

The something borrowed, something blue tradition originated in England during Victorian times and it's a great place for you to begin your wedding and reception planning. Further research into the Victorian nuptial traditions shows that it was considered good luck to break the cake over the brides head as it was believed to promote fertility. Where this may not end up at the top of your list, it's always fun to take a look at other traditions that may invoke a truly Victorian themed wedding circa 1880.

A large garden or a manor house is the ideal place for an 1880 Victorian theme wedding. It works well because many Victorian homes were lavishly built and are still standing. Look for houses in your area that were built in the Victorian era and enquire about availability. Even if there are currently people living there, you never know the circumstances. Perhaps the owner only lives there for half of the year or on weekends or is in the process of selling. The worst they can say is no and the best case scenario may find you holding your 1880 Victorian themed wedding and reception in a gorgeous Victorian mansion.

The bride who chooses an 1880 Victorian wedding theme should choose an elaborately designed white or cream wedding dress, complete with high necklines, elbow length sleeves, gloves, boots and a choice of a hat or veil (or a combination of both). Your dress should be tastefully adorned with lace, a material that was reserved only for the wealthiest brides due to its high cost.

Dresses were created with high necks and long sleeves for a generous amount of cover up in order to show respect for the religious aspect of the ceremony. And the color choice of white, made popular by Queen Victoria, symbolizes purity and virginity and was believed to repel evil spirits.

Not to be outdone, bridesmaids were dressed similarly in white with veil and gloves to match the bride. This uniformity between bride and bridesmaids was done to eliminate jealousy. The groom and his male counterparts were also nattily clad in top hat, ruffled shirt, tuxedo, ascot and vest.

Decorating for an 1880 Victorian wedding theme can be simple, consisting of roses, candles and doilies or extravagant candelabras, chandeliers and intricate flower arrangements. Flowers were the secret messengers of lovers; each flower held its own meaning. Choose white roses, pansies, orange blossoms, jasmines and lilies to create eye catching table centerpieces.

The English are big fans of tea, and you should have lots of it to serve your guests. In addition, teacakes, scones, quiche and other pastries are great choices for a mid afternoon or mid morning reception.

When choosing gifts and favors for the guests of your 1880 Victorian theme wedding, choose simple gifts evocative of the time period. Lace fans, pocket watches, miniature parasols, even a black and white photo of you and your mate, will more than enthrall your guests.

To top off this elegant affair, add the delightful sounds of classical music from the time period. Whether you hire a live band or use a CD compilation, choose music from Brahms and Chopin and other classical composers who emerged from the Victorian era.

Finally, it's worth saying that according to Victorian superstition, June is a lucky month to get married. But no matter when you plan to hold your 1880 Victorian theme wedding extravaganza, it's sure to be a beautiful event that no one will soon forget.

About the Author

Valeria Vegas has a Masters degree in Writing and regularly writes for a local newspaper. She also teaches writing workshops in San Francisco and has taught high school English. As a freelance job, she corrects essays for the SAT and ACT through Pearson scoring as well as write copy for websites. She is the Associate Editor of a literary magazine, edit manuscripts for Behler publications, and works for authors independently. One of her stories was named Notable Story of 2004 by Million Writers.