A wedding has always been an important event in the life of every person. But how is a modern wedding different from a Victorian wedding? Victorian wedding customs in Manchester reflect the rich diversity of traditions, values and social norms prevailing in the 19th century. Modern weddings are simpler, omitting many details of earlier eras. Weddings in 19th century Manchester were a very significant event, celebrated with incredible scale and pomp. But it should also be noted that the weddings of that era were strictly regulated, observing all the rules of etiquette and society’s expectations. Learn more at manchesterka.com.
What was the dowry?
In the Victorian era, marriage was often a beneficial union between two families. And the wedding itself was a carefully thought-out celebration. Its main purpose was to demonstrate the status and wealth of the bride and groom. In Manchester, as in other parts of the country, weddings were usually held in churches or chapels and the ceremonies were performed by clergy.
One of the defining features of Manchester weddings in that era was the dowry. In particular, every father who gave his daughter in marriage was obliged to give her money for her dowry. That is, the father had to provide his daughter with new clothes and other things that she had to wear on the wedding day, on the honeymoon and on the day of the newlyweds. In those days, the residents of Manchester gave big sums, which could even reach 200,000 francs.
Bride’s image and her jewellery
One of the most striking features of Victorian weddings was the bride’s look. They wore elaborate dresses made of luxurious fabrics such as silk, satin and lace, often decorated with intricate thread embroidery and beadwork. In 19th-century Manchester, it wasn’t difficult to make or find a suitable dress, as the city was the centre of the textile industry. Manchester was full of ateliers and shops that offered customers a wide range of clothes. The traditional colours of the wedding dress changed over time. White colour became more popular by the end of the 19th century. It symbolised purity and innocence.
As for jewellery, there were no restrictions for the residents of Manchester. Brides could wear anything. Usually, it was some valuable family heirloom that was passed down from generation to generation.
At the same time, the groom was responsible for the wedding ring. He had to buy his beloved the most beautiful ring of the purest gold with the wedding date and the couple’s initials engraved inside. In Manchester, there was a fashion for thick wedding rings. People believed that they wouldn’t break, fit well and wouldn’t fly off the bride’s finger.
It should be noted that in the Victorian era, there were few ceremonies in Manchester with two rings, for a bride and a groom. Back then, the ring was mainly intended for a bride. There was also a superstition among the townspeople that if a wedding ring fell during the wedding ceremony, it drove away all the evil spirits.
What were the wedding presents?
Gifts were an integral part of a 19th-century wedding. In Manchester, wedding presents were given according to the rank and status of the bride.
As a rule, Manchester’s wealthy families and friends presented grooms with expensive bracelets, rings and countless china. Brides from middle and working-class families were mostly given teapots, cake baskets and other household items.
What were the wedding ceremonies?
The marriage ceremony was a very important and carefully prepared process. It should be noted that the people of Manchester, who belonged to the middle and working classes, mainly held this ceremony at home. At the same time, wealthier townspeople could afford a ceremony in the church.
But by the middle of the 19th century, everyone in Manchester began to hold weddings in churches. Bride entrances became also customary. A clergyman and a parish cleric were present at such a celebration. After the ceremony, the couple signed the parish book in the sacristy. The bride signed her maiden name.
The scale of weddings was different. Everything depended on the status of the bride. Another characteristic feature of Victorian weddings in Manchester was the decoration of the church. The wedding venue was mostly decorated with flowers. In addition, flower compositions became more complex with each year.
One more key feature of Victorian weddings in Manchester was that the newlyweds walked to the church on a flower carpet. It was a symbol of a happy path to family life. Wealthier residents of the industrial city could afford a horse-drawn carriage that took them to church.
When the wedding couple crossed the threshold of the church, the bells began to ring. It informed other townspeople about the ceremony as well as scared away evil forces and troubles from the young couple.
The bride’s parents were the first to leave the church after the wedding ceremony, while the best man was the last one. He had to pay the priest for his ceremonial services. At the same time, the bride and groom, leaving the church, weren’t supposed to look at anyone because it was considered a bad sign.
Another feature of Manchester weddings in the 19th century, which passed through the centuries, was the tradition of throwing nuts at the departing couple. This custom dates back to the Roman era. However, over time, it changed a little and, instead of nuts, rice, grain or bird feed were thrown after the newlyweds. It symbolised fertility.
Home wedding ceremonies were also popular in Manchester. At the same time, the organisation of such an event was no less carefully thought out. Most often, a home wedding ceremony was organised in the bride’s house. The entire building, doorways, balustrades, windows and fireplaces were decorated in white shades.
Victorian weddings in Manchester also had their superstitions. For example, it was considered bad luck for a bride to see her reflection in a mirror after wearing her wedding dress. The presence of some animals, such as spiders or black cats, brought bad luck to the future marriage too.
Honeymoon traditions
Honeymoons are another feature of Manchester’s Victorian wedding traditions. The honeymoon is a very old tradition, the historical roots of which go back to the times when marriages were made by captivity, not by choice. In particular, the husband took his bride to a secret place where neither her parents nor relatives could find her. While the moon went through all its phases (about 30 days), they hid from relatives and drank honey decoction.
The newlyweds traditionally went on their wedding trip right after the wedding breakfast. The bride could take along an assistant to help her on the way with outfits and hairstyles. Also, the newlywed residents of Manchester wore a special dress on their honeymoon. In the Victorian era, it was a brown or black coloured dress, which was complemented by a bonnet. But sometimes, the bride went on a trip in her wedding dress.
As the young couple left Manchester in a carriage drawn by white horses, guests threw satin shoes and rice in their wake. It was believed that if the shoes fell into the carriage, it promised luck to the couple. And if it was the left pair of shoes, it promised double luck.
One more wedding tradition in Manchester was that the groom had to carry the bride across the threshold to their new home after returning from their honeymoon.
Victorian wedding traditions in Manchester are a mixture of superstition and age-old customs. Many of them have been preserved even in the 21st century and some have long since been abandoned. Weddings of that era were undoubtedly a large-scale and exciting event.