Bridal Fashions – Spring 1847

Two women stand in a church. The woman on the left wears a white ruched bonnet with yellow and purple flowers adorning the side. Her dress has a white lace collar with scalloped edges and black lace embellishments around the upper part of the sleeves and down the front of the dress. The dress is eggplant purple, with the skirt gathered up on one side, revealing her white petticoat. Her sleeves have white ruched cuffs, and she holds a handkerchief in her gloved hand. The woman on the right wears her bridal dress.

She is adorned with a garland of roses and a long, sheer veil which cascades down her back almost to the floor. The bodice of her dress has a small “V” shaped neckline and it comes to a point at the waist. A corsage of four roses decorates the center of the bodice, and small white bows adorn the length of the sleeves. The dress has lace panels on the bodice and the skirt. She wears white gloves. On the left side of the frame is a marble font with an angel standing above the bowl. Details of the carvings on the ceiling and the church architecture are lightly sketched in background.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges