Lucy Hayes – Bespoke-Bride: Wedding Blog

The History of the Bridal Veil: A Guest Post by Lucy Hayes

(Veil by Lucy Hayes)

The night before Jane’s wedding to Mr Rochester in Charlotte Bronte’s ‘Jane Eyre’, Jane’s wedding veil iory s ‘rent in two parts’ and flung on the floor and trampled on by the insane Bertha. Jane states, “….there, on the carpet I saw the veil, torn from top to bottom in two halves”. The passage goes on to read: ‘I felt Mr Rochester start and shudder; he hastily flung his arms round me. “Thank God!” he exclaimed, “that if anything malignant did come near you last night, it was only the veil that was harmed”. Thus we are introduced to the concept of evil intent and the protective association of the wedding veil.

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The History of the Wedding Gown: A Guest Post by Lucy Hayes

Written by Bespoke Bride, Posted in Bridal Fashion

I restored this Victorian Gown so that it could be worn by the original owners great great granddaughter on her wedding day. She wore the strapless more comtemporary version to her evening celebrations. Note the intricate and rather beautiful Victorian shell –pleating which was a labor of love for me to copy.

(Image courtesy of Lucy Hayes)

Thomas Hardy’s ‘Tess of the Durbervilles’ introduces the concept of a white wedding dress as Tess ponders her wedding attire.

“She wondered whether he would like her to be married in her present best white frock, or if she ought to buy a new one. The question was set at rest by his forethought, disclosed by the arrival of some large packages addressed to her. In side them she found a whole stock of clothing, from bonnet to shoes, including a perfect morning costume, such as would well suit the simple wedding they planned.”

The white bridal gown is perceived as deep seated tradition of British culture; however it is not based in antiquity but rather a tradition established by Queen Victoria. Historically, bridal gowns actually assumed various different colours.

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