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Victorian Theme Wedding Ideas

Invitations: Formal, engraved on white or ivory stock. Include some dried rose petals in the envelopes.

Color Schemes: White, ivory, ecru, pale pink, rose, pale blue, gold

Venues: Mansion; Garden, especially an English or rose garden. Some of our suggestions:

• Broadway Manor, a Victorian mansion in White Plains
• Colonial Terrace in Cortlandt Manor, a fabulous garden wedding site on 10 acres, with a grand ballroom inside
• Estherwood, a Hudson River mansion in Dobbs Ferry built in the 1800’s
• Scarsdale Women’s Club, a 19th century Victorian mansion
• C.V Rich Mansion in White Plains, built in the early 20th century
• Antun’s of Westchester, a Victorian mansion in Elmsford with lily ponds, Victorian gazebo and Oriental bridge
• Rudy’s Beau Rivage, a Victorian mansion in Dobbs Ferry
• Monteverde Restaurant, an 18th century mansion in Cortlandt Manor overlooking the Hudson River

  "Something Old" - Click photos above for details of this genuine antique 1880's silk ecru wedding dress, purchased on e-bay for $500.

Bridal Attire: A high necked wedding dress with Battenburg lace; white gloves; high button up or lace up white wedding boots; large hat with veil or an orange blossom wreath (worn by Queen Victoria at her wedding); diamond or pearl tiara. You could also go for the "real thing." The dress pictured in our sidebar is a genuine 1880's Victorian wedding dress, sold on e-bay. Of course, you'd need some expert tailoring to customize it for your special day - but don't rule out "treasure hunting" if you want the real thing!

Bridesmaid's Attire: white gloves, high necked dresses in pale pink, rose, pale blue; hats

Prefer "something new?" Consider this lacey confection by Mary's.

Groom's Attire: cutaway tuxedo; top hat; ascot; ruffled shirt

Groomsmen's Attire: ascots, vests, top hats

Ring Bearer: carry an authentic, heart-shaped antique Victorian pillow (or replica); check out e-bay and local antique shops

Flowers and Bridal Bouquet: old fashioned roses in white, pale pink; pansies; violets; orange blossoms; babies breath; jasmine; lilies; magnolia blossoms

Bridesmaid Bouquets: tussy mussys with small flower bouquets in them; lace fans; parasols

Wedding Cake Ideas: How about a glorious swags and bows cake, like this one by Sylvia Weinstock Cakes?

Food and Beverage Ideas: Tea (of course!), quiche, scones, finger sandwiches, English tea cakes, jams and clotted cream

Music: Classical music. Harpist for ceremony, string quartet during dinner (and ceremony); violins, piano. Laura Thompson of the Zephyr Trio told us, "the Victorian wedding is very good for classical musicians, because the music they’ve been studying for most of their lives is music of this era, the 19th century. There is no problem finding string quartets, piano trios, flute and strings or even a wind quintet to play originals and transcriptions of Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Brahms and all the composers from this time."

Decor: lots of lace, bows on chair backs, lots of flowers and candles, rose petals on tables; potted ferns and palms, doilies, candelabras, chandeliers

Victorian Style wedding boots from Uniquely Yours, in Victorian Cape May, NJ

Favors: Jordan almonds with blue ribbons, cameo chocolates, lace fans, silver frames, teacups filled with candies or Jordan almonds

Bridal Party Gifts: pocket watches, cameos, lace fans, tea sets or accessories; ornate silver picture frames

Photos: be sure to include b&w or sepia toned photos

Traditions:

• "Something old, Something new, Something borrowed, Something blue, And a sixpence (or new dime) in the shoe." Something old should belong to a happily married woman, and is meant to transfer her happiness to the bride. Something new is any apparel of the bride. Something borrowed should be made of gold, to auger wealth and good fortune in the bride’s future. Something blue is usually the bride’s garter. The coin must be worn in the hell of the left shoe to insure prosperity.

• 'Sixpence on a shoe' from English Elegance in Amawalk.

  Lucky Sixpence: According to Maureen Nathan of English Elegance in northern Westchester, the sixpence is an English coin dating back to 1551. It became associated with weddings during the reign of Elizabeth 1 when the Lord of the Manor where the bride lived would present a sixpence as a gift. During Victorian times, it was given as a lucky charm, traditionally placed in the left shoe for good luck.