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Elizabethans
at every level of society--indeed, the peasants and middle-class perhaps even
more than royalty--loved a good time. This was particularly true of weddings.
Elizabethan weddings were the first to feature
many of the customs we use today, including the exchanging of vows and rings,
the creation and eating of wedding cakes, and the passing of the garter. The
notion of a bridal party procession developed during Elizabethan times, as did
the brides wearing wreaths of blossoms and carrying bouquets trimmed with love
knots.
Wedding dresses tended to fall into two
categories: heavy brocades ornamented with threads and lace in gilted, metallic
colors; or white, billowy dresses with long sleeves, antique lace and bows, and
a number of tiny buttons. No matter what the style, the dress usually had a
plunging neckline that revealed ample cleavage. Otherwise, the bride’s body
was fully covered with a number of petticoats and corsets, resulting in a vast,
ball-gown style skirt.
Wedding dresses tended to fall into two
categories: heavy brocades ornamented with threads and lace in gilted, metallic
colors; or white, billowy dresses with long sleeves, antique lace and bows, and
a number of tiny buttons. No matter what the style, the dress usually had a
plunging neckline that revealed ample cleavage. Otherwise, the bride’s body
was fully covered with a number of petticoats and corsets, resulting in a vast,
ball-gown style skirt.
Remember, this was the era of the "faire
maiden." Thus, women’s hair was worn long--often to the waist--and loose.
Women would create soft, flowing curls for special occasions like a wedding, and
no proper bride would be seen without a crescent-shaped cap of herbs adorning
her head.
The most distinct element of the Elizabethan
wedding is undoubtedly the prominence of herbs. Just as the Victorians developed
an obsession with flowers, bestowing upon them secret meanings and mythical
qualities, so did the Elizabethans with herbs. Infatuated with both the
fragrance and historical significance of these plants, Elizabethans of all
social classes infused them into every possible part of a wedding, from the
bride’s headdress to the embellishment of candelabrums at the dining tables.
The most commonly used herbs were thyme,
lavender, rosemary, parsley, "Blue Ribbon" echinops, sage, chive,
marjoram, and the daisy-like feverfew. Not only did such herbs line walkways and
encompass entire gardens; they would also be grouped into bundles, based on such
factors as fragrance and color.
For
weddings, bridesmaids carried small bunches of herbs called "tussie-mussies."
These were essentially little tied posies of sweet-smelling herbs. Often, each
tussie-mussie was different from the others, giving each girl her own unique
bouquet. Even when unlike, however, these posies complemented each other in
fragrance and color. Typical colors schemes for Elizabethan weddings included
soft golds, dusty pinks, yellowy creams, and sage greens--much as one would
picture in a tapestry from the era.
The bride’s bouquet took the form of a
"pomander," or flower-ball. Usually about twice the size of the
bridesmaids’ tussie-mussies, the essential function of the pomander was to
perfume the air around the bride. Herbs used in the pomander included marjoram,
various shades of sage, thistle, and occasionally small flower blossoms in muted
yellow or purple. Typically, a wide piece of colorful ribbon or gauze was used
as a handle. After the wedding ceremony, they were used to decorate a house or
reception room, often hanging from iron railings and knobs by the aforementioned
piece of ribbon.
When re-creating an Elizabethan wedding, it’s
important to focus on the big picture: elements such as full dresses in brocade,
gilt, or even white, with a revealing decolletage; long hair parted in the
middle, preferably worm with loose curls; the plentiful use of herbs in rounded
bouquets, as well as in headpieces, and centerpieces; and a muted color scheme.
Stick to these concepts, and you’re sure to
have a wedding that is not only Elizabethan in design, but uniquely stunning as
well.
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