Marriage la mode - Shelley Tobin|Sarah Pepper|Margaret Willes|David Garner

The accoutrements of the brides reflected the luxury trades of the 18th and 19th centuries, but it was not until the 1850s that the white wedding became established as a tradition. Even then, it was not available to everyone. Although formal, the wedding gown followed fashion and was often recycled as a suitable dress for first presentation at court as a married woman. Wedding veils, if not passed down through the family, might also be used again in another form, particularly as christening robes during the early 20th century. Bridesmaid's gowns became more fanciful as the fashionable set demanded more and more attendants from the 1880s onwards. Alongside gowns and accessories, the veil with flowers - real and artificial - were also important. These, together with wedding favours such as lucky heather, horseshoes and customs are explored in this text. The book traces wedding dresses back to the individuals who wore them and provides a fascinating social history of both personal taste and demands of fashion.