Godey's White Weddings, Hope Through War

[JPK Huson 1863]

Godey's 1862, In the midst of war, a dream sequence wedding scene


In honor of June, an era Wedding thread. We've done them previously and will do them again- none are the same. Because this features Godey's and other fashion periodicals there is more of dreamlike quality being indulged, all-things hopeful and forever a bright, June day. It's the real purpose behind weddings, I think- perhaps why we're drawn to them. An archetype for Hope- and how the sun manages to come up tomorrow anyway. Despite.

Godey's never recovered financially from their stance on the war. They had none, treating it as if it simply did not exist, barring the stray soldier escorting an occasional illustration. Baffling. Still, as escapism from the whole mess you sure could not beat it. A double escape, into weddings and hope- and the future. It may not have been deliberate. Sarah Hale, Godey's genius behind the bindings, was at the end of a long, long career and a sparkling one. The task of combining a bloody, country-splitting war with fashion slash child rearing slash housekeeping slash moral lessons may have been too much of a stretch. Still- there's this. She gave the war a miss. Shocking? Oh yes. A refuge from constant reminders? Maybe.

1850's

Not all will be the war years, almost the point. Godey's escapism, and the ultimate escape- into wedding dresses was consistent. It did seem to ramp up slightly during those awful years. Perhaps that is as close to commentary as Godey's would make.

!850's

1864


It's funny, Godey's especially featured white, Victoria and Albert wedding day dresses and hit the theme hard. We know from era photographs there were ' white ' weddings and white lace bedecked brides. Heck- found a simply gorgeous, 1830's white wedding dress or ' Bridal ', coincidence or pre-Royal trend? Still, with all the pressures in the world to follow Victoria's blindingly white trip to the altar, we see a huge number of brides did not. A lot of photographs featuring couples who seem to have been able to afford the schmaltz still chose not to walk in Victoria's silk slippers- the white ones. This plethora of white froth- dream catchers in bindings, delivered once a month, not a bad thing.

1832! I'm sorry but this beats anything out there is 2016

1853

1849, isn't it sweet?

1860, allowed some neck and shoulder!

1857

1862, we're inside the war- and with more be-decking than ever.

Her be-decking down the front of her gown look familiar? Also inside the war.

Just post war, less be-decking, interestingly, more fabric!

1856

1867, ok, they are surely fairy-tale ' white '.

Smack in the middle of the war









.

 

[donna]

These are beautiful dresses.

 

[nitrofd]

What would those dresses cost today?

 

[nitrofd]

What would those dresses cost today?

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

What would those dresses cost today?

Let's see- one of the designer shops? Judging by the shows, $1.000 to 50.000
One of the chain shops,$ 300.00 - 3000.00
Gabes $100.00
Goodwill $ 30.00
Ebay $10.00

 

[Anna Elizabeth Henry]

What would those dresses cost today?

A lot of money of money. My friend married recently and went overboard with her dress. Very beautiful and elaborate but very expensive. It was a princess style gown with hand sewn Austrian crystals and seed pearls on the bodice with satin and lace and it was a whooping $11,000

Like I said it was so beautiful, but I couldn't picture spending that kind of money for a dress you wear for maybe 10 hours that may never be worn again.

 

[MaryDee]

My daughter bought a very simple white formal, not a wedding dress, for less than half the amount a similar wedding dress would have cost. Evidently labeling a dress as "wedding" is an excuse to double the price?

"Back in the day," women of modest means simply wore their best dress in which to be married. Only the very wealthy would have a special wedding dress. Source: Juanita Leisch, Who Wore What? Women's Wear 1861-1865. Gettysburg, PA: Thomas Publications, 1995. p.65.

 

[nitrofd]

Thanks ladies,very interesting.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Yes, it took awhile to figure out an awful lot of ' couple ' photographs were wedding photos- my 2016 head just was not programmed to recognize them.

Some here were pretty obvious, too, so no idea why it took so long for the coin to drop.

Best clothing on the groom, an intimate pose and a handful of posies? Non-white wedding and by a couple who seem to be young and a little prosperous.

Oh my, wedding dresses today! It does indeed pay to look outside the box. HOLY cow, Anna Elizabeth- I can genuinely see where someone could get caught up in the day. These prices- it's eerily like funerals where one is so emotion driven common sense goes out the window- you'll consider anything. WHAT is worth 11K? That's a car. But you can't blame brides really, kind of sold these dresses before they ever thought of being engaged. Competitive weddings- the problem there is they're all so amazing one does seem like the next.

SO many options- Ebay, where all wedding dresses go to die. A good seamstress can alter anything. So, so much fabric, heck, re-make the whole dress! Also, white prom dresses! Every bit as frou frou, much less hard on the wallet, admittedly not as elegant across the board. Still. One day.

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/its-a-nice-day-for-a-blue-wedding-or-several.123756/

Their wedding rings are front and center- plus the Mr. and Mrs. pose, the crown of flowers- just married!

 

[Anna Elizabeth Henry]

Oh my, wedding dresses today! It does indeed pay to look outside the box. HOLY cow, Anna Elizabeth- I can genuinely see where someone could get caught up in the day. These prices- it's eerily like funerals where one is so emotion driven common sense goes out the window- you'll consider anything. WHAT is worth 11K? That's a car. But you can't blame brides really, kind of sold these dresses before they ever thought of being engaged. Competitive weddings- the problem there is they're all so amazing one does seem like the next.

I see you found some lovely additions minus the white layers of satin and lace Is it me or does the young man above with the blond hair look incredibly young? Both bride and groom look so youthful.

I agree, women are typically sold on what type of wedding dress and wedding in general they are interested in long before they find the right man. My friend is an only child and her parents always spoiled her, so it was their last chance to do it, so they went overboard and indulged her. I did love her gown, but like you said its a car! Or could go towards a down payment for a house even! I'd rather use it for something more long term, but to each their own.

 

[Anna Elizabeth Henry]

Here's a portrait of Princess Victoria (Queen Victoria's daughter) marrying Prince Frederick in 1858. Notice all the bride's maids are in very similar white dresses. Lovely floral crowns all around. You don't see that much anymore and its shame as it's charming. I wonder if those are real flower adorning the dress or just embroidery.

Found an actual photograph of the above gown with some digging - the real dress looks far puffier than the painting!
Expired Image Removed

This is from Harper's Bazaar which was geared at middle class women and started in 1867, so it's a little bit after the war, but you'll notice as the magazine wasn't geared at the wealthy, the dresses seem a bit less extravagant. It could be the moving away from the hoop skirt too that plays a role in the style of these two dresses, also.

 

[LoriAnn]

Like I said it was so beautiful, but I couldn't picture spending that kind of money for a dress you wear for maybe 10 hours that may never be worn again.

I always thought we should be able to wear 2 to 3 dresses on that day. I mean, ideally it's the ONE time you get to be a bride. How can a girl pick only one dress?

Believe it or not, I wanted to run off and get married. Vegas. Barefoot on the beach. Whatever. My husband was the one who insisted on a formal wedding (along with both of our families).

Since I couldn't have my little elopement, I was like, "Okay. You wanna bride? You're getting a bride!"

I think there were 50,000 sparkly sequins in my dress. I was a walking disco ball.

 

[18thVirginia]

JPK wasn't the only one who took awhile to get it that photos of young couples were wedding pictures. Even though I wore short, pink dresses both times I got married, who doesn't love looking at bridal gowns, of this period or any other?

Thanks for the illustrations, JPK.

 

[Anna Elizabeth Henry]

I always thought we should be able to wear 2 to 3 dresses on that day. I mean, ideally it's the ONE time you get to be a bride. How can a girl pick only one dress?

Believe it or not, I wanted to run off and get married. Vegas. Barefoot on the beach. Whatever. My husband was the one who insisted on a formal wedding (along with both of our families).

Since I couldn't have my little elopement, I was like, "Okay. You wanna bride? You're getting a bride!"

I think there were 50,000 sparkly sequins in my dress. I was a walking disco ball.

LOL! Not a bad idea, Kate Middleton had two dresses for her wedding day, the one she wore to church and then one for the reception. I would think its tough picking just one dress. I'm good with decision making, but I think something as important as your wedding dress which is photographed and your children, grandchildren and possibly even your great-grandkids may look at some day, so you want to make sure its just the right dress!

I'm with you, give me a flower tiara, something romantic and flowing (no painful shoes!) and the perfect man, that's all I need! You know I'm now trying to picture 50,000 sequins! Was it the 80's?

Me, I'm happy with this lovely little number, flower crown and all - http://s3.weddbook.com/t4/2/1/9/219...red-cap-sleeves-flowy-tulle-wedding-dress.jpg

 

[Northern Light]

LOL! Not a bad idea, Kate Middleton had two dresses for her wedding day, the one she wore to church and then one for the reception. I would think its tough picking just one dress. I'm good with decision making, but I think something as important as your wedding dress which is photographed and your children, grandchildren and possibly even your great-grandkids may look at some day, so you want to make sure its just the right dress!

I'm with you, give me a flower tiara, something romantic and flowing (no painful shoes!) and the perfect man, that's all I need! You know I'm now trying to picture 50,000 sequins! Was it the 80's?

Me, I'm happy with this lovely little number, flower crown and all - http://s3.weddbook.com/t4/2/1/9/219...red-cap-sleeves-flowy-tulle-wedding-dress.jpg

That is just sweet! Love it!

 

[LoriAnn]

You know I'm now trying to picture 50,000 sequins! Was it the 80's?

Close! 1993.

Me, I'm happy with this lovely little number, flower crown and all

Agree.

Though we had a fun wedding, I did pretty much what everyone else wanted. A very agreeable bride. Others picked the church, the hall, the menu, the flowers, blah blah.

And yes, some felt they should have had a say in my choice of dress. ?!?! Can you imagine? My mom protested the sparkly nature of the fabric. I replied with, "How many more sequins can you put on this thing?" I had sequin bows dangling from my shoulders.

 

[Anna Elizabeth Henry]

Close! 1993.

Ah, the early 90's just an extension of the sparkly 80's

Though we had a fun wedding, I did pretty much what everyone else wanted. A very agreeable bride. Others picked the church, the hall, the menu, the flowers, blah blah.

You aren't the only one to take a backseat to the bridal festivities, my one boss, she married a few years ago and her husband was the one pushing the fancy wedding and all the trimmings, and ended up in charge She wanted to get married on a beach in Hawaii, alas she had the circus wedding, but she did enjoy it in the end.

And yes, some felt they should have had a say in my choice of dress. ?!?! Can you imagine? My mom protested the sparkly nature of the fabric. I replied with, "How many more sequins can you put on this thing?" I had sequin bows dangling from my shoulders.

LMAO! How very Princess Diana of you! Love it!