Wedding
watchers are eager for the nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle this
spring. Many of the traditions the bride and groom may opt to incorporate into
their wedding were influenced by Prince Harry’s ancestor, Queen Victoria. When
Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in 1840, her wedding was an opulent affair
that continues to influence weddings today.
~ Wedding Gowns
~ Lace
In her own
words as recorded in her diary, Queen Victoria described her wedding dress as “…a
white satin dress, with a deep flounce of Honiton lace, an imitation of an old
design.” Creating the lace used in her gown employed more than two hundred
people for eight months, bolstering the struggling lace trade.
~ Here Comes the Bride
Countless
brides have walked down the aisle to the traditional “Bridal Chorus” from
Wagner’s opera, Lohengrin. This wedding march was played at the wedding of
Queen Victoria’s granddaughter, Princess Louise in 1889, and remains a popular
choice today.
~ Wedding Cake
Elaborately
decorated cakes enjoyed at weddings are a cherished tradition that dates back
to the Victorian era. Queen Victoria’s wedding cake weighed three hundred pounds,
while her daughter, Princess Victoria, had a wedding cake that was seven feet
high. Princess Louise, Queen Victoria’s granddaughter, had a wedding cake that was
so elaborately decorated it took months to create!
To learn more
about Victorian influences on wedding traditions, check out these sources:
Hughes, Kristine. The Writer's Guide to Everyday Life in Regency and Victorian England. Cincinnati, Ohio: Writer's Digest Books, 1998.
All photographs are in the public domain.
A note from Tara:
As always, I enjoy researching the fascinating era of Queen Victoria's reign and writing love stores set during that time. My latest release, Lady Evelyn’s Highland
Protector, is set during the late-Victorian era in the 1890s. A historical romance with an air of suspense, the story features an English bridesmaid who has traveled to the Highlands to attend her dearest
friend’s wedding, only to be swept into danger when she witnesses an attempt at murder. Here’s a
little about the story:
Can her Highland bodyguard
heal her wounded heart?
A Highlander’s vow...Scottish spy Gerard
MacMasters never expected to be playing bodyguard in his mission to catch a
killer. Stunning English beauty, Lady Evelyn Hunt, has witnessed a merciless
assassin’s escape—now, she’s in danger, and it’s up to him to keep her alive.
Yet, he is drawn to the tempting woman. Passion flares, but he knows better
than to fall for her. He’s already lost one woman he loved—never again will he
put his heart on the line.
She shields her heart...After a crushing
betrayal at the altar, Lady Evelyn wants nothing to do with love. Kissing a
gorgeous rogue is one thing, but surrendering her heart is another matter. When
she stumbles upon a mysterious crime, nothing prepares her for the dashing Scot
who charges into her life. The hot-blooded Highlander may be her hero—or her
undoing.
To read an
excerpt from Lady Evelyn’s Highland
Protector:
https://entangledpublishing.com/lady-evelyn-s-highland-protector.html
About the Author:
Award-winning author Tara Kingston writes historical romance laced
with romantic suspense and adventures of the heart. She lives her own
happily-ever-after in a cozy Victorian with her real-life hero and a pair of
deceptively innocent-looking cats. When she’s not writing, reading, or burning
dinner, Tara enjoys movie nights, cycling, hiking, DIY projects, and cheering
on her favorite football team.
You
can connect with Tara on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and at her
webpage, www.tarakingston.com. If you’d like updates on new releases, historical
romance, and contests, please sign-up for Tara’s newsletter.
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