Victorian Era Marriages,Ceremonies,Wedding Cakes

The marriage ceremony took place either at home or in church. In the 1850s, weddings were almost always held in church, and it was customary to use the bride's parish. The clergyman and parish clerk were in attendance. After the ceremony, the couple signed their name in the parish register in the vestry. The bride signed her maiden name. Flowers decorated the church, the arrangements growing more elaborate as the decades wore on--from potted palms to festoons of evergreens and blossoms.

In England, a country bride and her wedding party walked to church on a carpet of blossoms to assure a happy path through life. For the wealthier, a grey horse pulling the wedding carriage was considered good luck. Church bells pealed forth as the couple entered the church, not only to make the populace aware of the ceremony taking place, but also to scare away any evil forces lurking nearby.

The wedding ring was usually a plain gold band with the initials of the couple and the date of their wedding engraved inside. There were few double ring ceremonies in the Victorian era. It was considered good luck for the ring to drop during the ceremony, thus all evil spirits were shaken out.

Certain rules regarding marriage were strictly followed in the Victorian era-

It was illegal to marry your deceased wifes sister. You could marry first cousins, but attitudes changed towards the end of the 19th century, and this became frowned upon.

Victorians were encouraged to marry within the same class. They could marry up, but to marry down meant marrying beneath yourself.

A woman entering into the institute of marriage had to be equipped with a dowry. The husband-to-be had to prove that he could support his new bride in the lifestyle she was accustomed to.

An unmarried woman could inherit money and property after she reached the age of 21, but once married, all control would revert to her husband. A woman could not have a will for her own personal possessions; since the control was in her husbands power, he could distribute her property in any way he likes, even to his illegitimate children.

Victorian Wedding Cakes

There were generally three cakes one big cake and two smaller cakes,one each for the newly married husband and wife. The bigger cake was given to guests and was a dark, rich fruitcake which had scrolls, orange blossoms and other decorative things on it. The cake of the married couple on the other hand was simple, the bride's cake was plain white and the groom's cake was dark.

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This website offers free information on Life in England during Victorian Era. There were plenty of interesting facts to life during Victorian Period. We have information on Society during Victorian Times, Architecture, Art, Paintings, History, Costumes, Women, Furniture, Food and many such things. Victorian age is considered very important in England's and indeed world's history.

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