Bridal Fashions – Spring 1847

Victorian Civil Marriage Scenes in Les Modes Parisiennes

This authentic hand-colored fashion plate from the renowned French journal Les Modes Parisiennes beautifully captures a historic 19th-century civil marriage ceremony. The antique print depicts a bride and her companion inside a municipal or church office with officials in the background, illustrating the strict societal customs of the early Victorian period. Characterized by pointed bodices, low sloped shoulders, and expansive pleated crinoline skirts, these Parisian engravings established global luxury standards for high-society weddings.

Antique Lace Wedding Dress and Striped Silk Promenade Couture

The detailed French typography credits elite historical Paris designers, featuring exquisite lace from Violard and hats by Madame Romain. On the left, the Victorian bride models a pristine white bridal gown heavily ornamented with vertical rows of delicate silk bows, accompanied by an elaborate floor-length embroidered lace wedding veil. On the right, her witness wears a sophisticated emerald-green striped silk dress decorated with dark horizontal velvet trim, accessorized with a contrasting pink satin bonnet tied under the chin.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges