Evening Bridal Dress, October 1819

Bridal Dress October 1819La Belle Assemblée, October 1819.

“Parisian Evening Bridal Dress”

The watered silk of this dress is quite beautifully rendered in the print. This print, and the French original, shown below, represent one of the earliest mentions of orange blossoms in connection with wedding dresses.

The mention of ears of corn in her hair does not refer to American corn or maize. In Britain, the terms referred to various cereal crops, such a wheat or barley. As this type of grain sprig is seen in other prints of bridal dresses, it must have been a custom, perhaps as a symbol of fertility or fruitfulness.

It is also interesting that the description says this bridal dress was used for post-wedding visits. Was it also the dress worn at the actual wedding ceremony? That is unclear, but the suggestion is that it may have been.

The print is described in the magazine as follows:

“Round dress of white watered gros-de-Naples, flounced in a festoon of very broad lace of a rich pattern, surmounted by full blown blush roses and orange-flower blossoms. The hair arranged in full curls, and bound round with pearls and ears of ripe corn. Bouquet of orange flowers on the left side of the bust. Necklace or pearls, fastened before with a cameo à-la-Antique. Eear-rings à-l’Etoile. Short sleeves, white kid gloves, white satin shoes, and carved cedar fan.

French Bridal Dress July 1819“The above dress is the faithful representation of the bridal attire of a lady of rank, for returning her congratulatory visits on her late marriage.”

One has to wonder if the “lady of rank” was in fact a French lady, as this print was copied from the print published in the Parisian magazine Journal des Dames et des Modes, July 31, 1819. The description, in French, is very similar to the one given in La Belle Assemblée:

“Costume de Mariée. Robe de gros de Naples, garnie d’uneblonde, relevée en draperie des Bouquets de fleur d’oranges.”

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