Category Archives: Inspiration

Wedding Gemstones – The Emerald

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In this blog’s ongoing series on gemstones, this post will be about the emerald, which is a silicate mineral classified as a beryl and generally a green color that can range from medium to dark.  The emerald was thought to have healing powers to sooth a soul and relieve stress.

In recorded history, the Ancient Egyptians had the earliest known emerald mines, it has been said that Cleopatra wore emeralds.  Much later emeralds were also found in countries such as Brazil and Zambia but the largest producer of emeralds is Colombia with mines located in the Andes mountain range.  In the United States emeralds can be found in states such as North Carolina and South Carolina and most recently emeralds were discovered in the Yukon area of Canada. 

Special Note: Traditionally the emerald is the birthstone of May and a great gift idea for a bride born in that month would be a ring, earrings or a pendant that she could wear on her wedding day.

In this post I will discuss six of the most famous emeralds, including a tiara once worn by a British Queen. So, let’s get started …

The Chalk Emerald

One of the most famous emeralds in the world is the Chalk Emerald; originally the Colombian emerald weighed 38.4 carats.  Due to the emerald’s exceptional clarity and the rich green color it is considered one of the finest emeralds ever discovered.  It has been said that the Chalk Emerald was once set into an emerald and diamond necklace that belonged to a Maharani in India. 

Eventually the Chalk emerald was recut (now measuring 37.8 carats) and set into a platinum and gold ring designed by Harry Winston with 60 pear shaped diamonds totaling 15 carats.  In 1872 the Chalk Emerald ring was donated to the Smithsonian by Mr. and Mrs. O. Roy Chalk (hence the name of the emerald!) and is currently on display in the Gem Gallery of the National Museum of Natural History located in Washington, D.C.     

Elizabeth Taylor’s Bulgari emerald and diamond pendant/brooch

Elizabeth Taylor was known for her amazing jewelry collection with many pieces given to her by Richard Burton.  In the early 1960s the two began a scandalous affair during the filming of the movie Cleopatra in Rome.  It was during this time that the Bulgari emerald and diamond pendant/brooch was bought by Burton for Taylor as an engagement present in 1962, when the couple married in March 1964 she wore it as a brooch on her wedding day. 

The Bulgari pendant /brooch features an 18 carat Columbian emerald surround by pear shaped diamonds and set in platinum.  The piece was versatile to be wore as either a brooch or a pendant, occasionally Taylor would wear it suspended as a pendant from an emerald and diamond  necklace that was another gift from Burton.  After Taylor’s death many of the pieces of her personal jewelry collection was auctioned off through Christie’s in New York City and on December 2011 the Bulgari emerald and diamond pendant/brooch sold for $6.6 million.       

Catherine the Great’s Emerald Necklace

Catherine the Great was known to have an impressive jewelry collection, she was the longest ruling Empress of Russia and reigned for 34 years from 1762 to 1796.  One of the gemstones she owned was a massive rectangular shaped emerald originally weighing 107 carats. It remained in the Russian Imperial collection for more than 100 years and had an amazing history as it passed through the Russian Royal family.

After her death in 1796 the emerald went to her eldest son who became Emperor Paul I of Russia.  After his assignation in 1801 the emerald went to his son Tsar Nicholas and then to his son Tsar Alexander II.  Tsar Alexander gifted the emerald as a wedding present to the Duchess Marie when she married his son the Grand Duke Vladimir in 1874. 

In 1917 during the Russian Revolution Duchess Marie fled Russia and over 200 pieces of her jewelry collection, including the emerald of Catherine the Great, were smuggled out by a personal friend.  Eventually the Duchess relocated to France where she died in 1920, the emerald was bequeathed to her son Grand Duke Boris.

Throughout the following years the emerald was sold to various collectors, including Pierre Cartier.  Catherine the Great Emerald was recut, now weighing 75 carats, and set into a lovely diamond necklace by the Whitney family.  In 1930, the emerald and diamond necklace was sold to John D. Rockefeller Jr.  Then in 1971 the necklace was sold to a private buyer and eventually offered in auction by Christie’s in 2019 when it sold for $4.3 million.

 The Rockefeller Emerald

The Rockefeller Emerald is an 18 carat octagonal step cut Columbian emerald which was purchased by John D. Rockefeller Jr in 1930 for his wife Abby Aldridge Rockefeller.  The emerald was set into a brooch with other small emeralds and was said to have been designed by Van Cleef & Arpels.  After her death the brooch was deconstructed and the individual gemstones were given to the Rockefeller children.

The center emerald (the Rockefeller Emerald) was given to their youngest son, David and he commissioned Raymond Yard to design a beautiful platinum ring with the large emerald flanked with diamonds.  In 2017, the ring was sold for over $5 million to the famed jeweler Harry Winston and thus became known as the Rockefeller-Winston Emerald    

The Taj Mahal Emerald

The Taj Mahal Emerald is a hexagonal shaped Columbian emerald weighing 141.13 carats; it is very different than the other emeralds mentioned in this post.  It was a carved gemstone that featured chrysanthemums, lotuses and poppies.  The Taj Mahal Emerald was later named because the carvings were reminiscent of the architectural features of the grand Taj Mahal in India.  The emerald was sold at auction at Christie’s in New York City in 2009 for almost $800,000. 

The Fife Emerald and Diamond Tiara

The Fife Emerald and Diamond Tiara was once owned by Queen Victoria and it has a very interesting history.  Prince Albert commissioned this beautiful emerald and diamond tiara in 1845 and it was made by the Royal jeweler Joseph Kitching.

The Fife Emerald and Diamond Tiara is set with cushion shaped diamonds and step cut emeralds and surmounted with 19 inverted pear shaped emeralds in graduating size with the large emerald in the center weighing 15 carats. 

Queen Victoria wore the tiara for various occasions during the earliest years of her reign, inclucding several Franz Xavier Winterhalter portraits and the 1855 State Visit to France.

Queen Victoria gave the tiara to her daughter, Princess Louise the Duchess of Argyll, in 1893.  Then the Princess left the tiara to her daughter, Princess Louise the Duchess of Fife.  The tiara eventually went to Caroline the 3rd Duchess of Fife who wore it in 1960 to the State Opening of Parliament. 

In 2018, on the occasion marking the 200th Anniversary of Queen Victoria’s birth, the Fife Emerald and Diamond Tiara was displayed at a special exhibition at Kensington Palace.       

For more information about other pieces in British Royal emerald collection, please click on the link to the Cambridge Emeralds.

An American Bride – Grace Kelly

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Grace Kelly is known as the quintessential elegant bride and when she married Prince Rainer in 1956 she wore not one but two dresses, a pale pink lace dress for the civil ceremony and a traditional white wedding dress for the religious ceremony that took place the next day.  Although her wedding took place over sixty years ago, her wedding dress design has become the standard and inspiration for many brides throughout the years.  (For more detailed information about the Wedding of Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly, please click on the link)

The Civil Ceremony Dress

The civil ceremony of Prince Rainer and Grace Kelly took place in the throne room of the Monaco Palace on April 18, 1956.  The Napoleonic Code of Monaco required a civil ceremony take place before the religious ceremony.  The service was performed by the Monaco Minister of Justice, with the vows exchanged in French, and there were only 80 guests in attendance.  Grace wore a dress created by Helen Rose, the MGM studio costume designer, who also made the bridal dress for the religious ceremony.  (For more information on the American Movie Costume Designer Helen Rose, please click on the link) 

The two-piece dress for the civil ceremony was made of pale pink taffeta with an overlay of cream colored Alencon lace.  The dress featured a fitted bodice, high round collar, three quarter sleeves and a flared skirt which she accessorized with pink pumps, white gloves and a pink hat trimmed with silk flowers.  Prince Rainer wore striped trousers, a white vest and a black morning coat.

The Wedding Dress

The religious ceremony took place on April 19, 1956 at the St. Nicholas Church and the service was performed by the bishop of Monaco with 600 guests in attendance including international heads of state and other diplomats as well as Hollywood celebrities.    

Grace’s wedding dress was a stunning creation designed by Helen Rose of MGM studios, it took six weeks using three dozen seamstresses and cost an estimated $7200.00.  The dress used twenty-five yards of silk taffeta, one hundred yards of silk netting, tulle, peau de soie and antique Brussels lace that was over 125 years old.  (peau de soie is a soft silk fabric of satin weave which has a dull finish)  The elegant dress was designed with a high collar, long sleeves, a fitted bodice, a full skirt and a train that measured three feet in length.  Additionally, the bodice had a structured under bodice for support and two petticoats were worn underneath to provide fullness to the skirt; a train insert and silk faille cummerbund completed the wedding dress.  To dress was impeccability finished with special care and to conceal the seams of the dress hundreds of seed pearls were sewn onto the fabric.  Prince Rainier wore a Napoleonic styled military uniform which he personally designed for his wedding day.        

Special Note: Grace was born on November 12, 1929 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and later went to New York and then Hollywood, California to pursue her acting career.  After the wedding, Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco, as she was now known as, gifted her wedding dress and accessories to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. 

Shown below are photos of Grace’s wedding dress
from the Philadelphia Museum of Art website

On her wedding day Grace wore a Juliet style headpiece that beautifully complimented her wedding dress.  The headpiece was worn to the back of her head and featured the same pearl embroidered lace which matched the bodice of her wedding dress.  To further embellish the headpiece were wax orange blossoms and small pearls wired to form leaves.

Shown below are photos of Grace’s wedding headpiece
from the Philadelphia Museum of Art website

Attached to the headpiece was a tulle veil which featured appliqued lace that included two small lovebirds.  Special care was taken to keep her beautiful face visible for the guests to see as well as the estimated 30 million viewers that would be watching on television.

Shown in the photo below are the details of the beautiful tulle veil

Grace wore custom made shoes by David Evins, a leading American shoe maker that Grace had previously worked with.  The wedding shoes were covered with lace to match the dress and had a 2 ½ inch heels.  Grace also requested that a copper penny be added to her right shoe, a traditional good luck charm for brides, and one was sewn into the arch of the shoe.

Finally, on her wedding day Grace carried a small bouquet made of lilies of the valley and a small Bible.  The bible was a gift from a family friend and a custom cover was made by the MGM wardrobe department of silk faille with a lace applique overlay embellished with seed pearls.

Grace’s wedding dress has remained one of the most famous and iconic wedding dress for decades … that is until 2011 when Kate Middleton married Prince William!  It has been said that Grace’s wedding dress was the inspiration and had a direct influence on the design of Kate’s dress, see the photo below for a side by side comparison.  (For more information on Prince William and Kate’s royal wedding, please see British Royal Wedding – Part 4)

A British Royal Wedding – Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles

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To continue the ongoing British Royal Wedding series, in this post I will feature the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles that took place on April 9, 2005.  In fact there were two ceremonies performed that day; one was a civil ceremony at the Windsor Guildhall and later a Church of England Service of Prayer and Dedication at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.  I will discuss the details of both wedding ceremonies and the reception that followed later.     

Prince Charles was born on November 14, 1948 at Buckingham Palace in London, England.  He is the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.  At present, Prince Charles is the oldest and longest serving British heir apparent, his grandfather King George VI died in 1952 and his mother became Queen when he was three years old.  He is also the longest serving Prince of Wales, his investiture was held in July 1969 at Caernarfon Castle in Wales when he was 21 years old. 

Camilla was born on July 17, 1947 in London; her parents were Major Bruce Shand and Rosalind Cubitt.  Like most upper class British children, her parent’s had two homes, one in South Kensington and an 18th century country house, the Laines, located in East Sussex.  It was there that Camille developed her skills as an equestrian but she also enjoyed painting, fishing and gardening.

In 1965 Camilla was a London debutante and she moved to a small flat in Kensington which she shared with a friend, later she moved into a larger flat in Belgravia.  Camilla worked as a secretary for several different businesses in the West End and later as a receptionist at Colefax and Fowler, a famous decorating business in Mayfair. 

In the late 1960s Camilla met Andrew Parker Bowles who was then a Guards officer and lieutenant in the Blues and Royals.  The couple had a sporadic relationship over the next few years, at one time Parker Bowles dated Princess Anne (Prince Charles sister).  Camilla briefly dated Prince Charles but when he went overseas while serving in the Royal Navy in 1973 their relationship ended.  Although Prince Charles and Camilla were genuinely fond of each other, at the time she was deemed an unsuitable prospective wife of a future King or England. 

Later that same year Camilla reconciled with Parker Bowles and they became engaged, on hearing the news Prince Charles was devastated thinking that he had lost someone that he truly loved.  In July 1973 Parker Bowles and Camilla had a large society wedding held at the Guards Chapel at the Wellington Barracks in London.   The couple made their home in Wiltshire and then later in Corsham and they had two children, Tom born in 1974 and Laura born in 1978.  In 1994, after 21 years of marriage, Parker Bowles and Camilla started divorce proceedings and it became final a year later in March 1995.      

Meanwhile, who was thought to be a perennial bachelor, was feeling the pressure to settle down and get married.  Eventually Prince Charles met Lady Diana Spencer and quickly announced an engagement.  Their wedding took place on July 29, 1981 at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, England.  (For more information about the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, please click on the link)

Prince Charles and Princess Diana would go on to have two children, Prince William born in 1982 and Prince Harry born in 1984.  Unfortunately, the future would not be kind to them and they would endure an unhappy marriage that included infidelities on the part of the Prince Charles and Princess Diana as well as malicious and very public gossip involving both of them.  The Royal couple would ultimately divorce in 1996 and sadly the Princess would die in a tragic car accident in Paris in 1997.  

Throughout the years, Prince Charles and Camilla continued their friendship and at one point they once again became romantically involved.  When the news came out, the public blamed Camilla for the divorce of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.  A few years after the death of Princess Diana, Prince Charles stayed firm in his rekindled relationship with Camilla and he hired a public relations team to rehabilitate Camilla’s public image.  In 1999, the couple made their first public appearance together and afterwards she accompanied the Prince on many of his official engagements.  After many years, eventually the public as well as the Queen and the Royal family accepted Camilla but most importantly to Charles his sons seemed to become quite fond of her because she made their father so happy. 

So, almost 35 years after the couple first meet, Prince Charles proposed to Camilla while they were on Christmas holiday at Birkhall on the Balmoral Estate in Scotland.  On February 10, 2005 the engagement of Prince Charles and Camilla was officially announced by Clarence House.  Special Note: Both Birkhall and Clarence House had a special connection to Prince Charles’ beloved grandmother, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who died in 2002.  He inherited Birkhall on the Balmoral Estate from his grandmother as well as Clarence House which has become his official residence in London.

The engagement ring Prince Charles gave to Camilla features a platinum Art Deco setting with a five carat emerald cut diamond in the center with three baguettes on either side.  The ring is believed to have been given to his grandmother when she gave birth to his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1926. 

As the heir apparent of the British throne and thereby the future titular head of the Church of England, the impending marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla was very controversial and the consent of the Queen, her government and the Church of England were required for them to wed.   

Special Note:  When Princess Anne married Timothy Laurence after having divorced Mark Phillips, she did so in the Church of Scotland.  For a member of the Royal family, the remarriage of a divorcee is less controversial because the sovereign has no constitutional role in the Church of Scotland.  The Prince of Wales and Camilla did not choose this course.  

The Wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla

The wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla took place on April 9, 2005 and, as previously mentioned, there were two ceremonies.  The civil ceremony took place at the Windsor Guildhall; the original date was delayed due to the funeral of Pope John Paul II to which the Prince of Wales attended as the representative of the Queen.    The civil ceremony was not opened to the public but was attended by the couple’s immediate families.  The couple’s two eldest sons from their previous marriages, Prince William and Tom Parker Bowles, were the formal witnesses.

The wedding ring Camilla were made from 22 carat Welsh gold from the Clogau St David’s mine in Bontddu, this British Royal tradition dates back to 1923.  Wartski, a London jeweler who has held the Prince of Wales Royal Warrant since 1979, designed the wedding rings.  Camilla wears the wedding ring with her engagement ring on the same finger of her left hand.    

A second ceremony was held at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle and the Church of England Service of Prayer and Dedication was attended by 800 invited guests, this service was televised by the BBC.  Although the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were not present at the civil ceremony they did attend the church blessing. 

During the service, which was led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Prince Charles and Camilla read the act of penitence from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.  This was interpreted by the press as an unprecedented confessional from the couple for any past indiscretions thereby satisfying the public who were initially unhappy with the marriage of this couple with a controversial relationship. 

Immediately after the service was finished, Prince Charles and Camilla (now known as the named Duchess of Cornwall) exited St. George’s Chapel and were greeted by the people lined up outside. 

Later in the day the Queen hosted a reception at Windsor Castle in St. George’s Hall and the Waterloo Chamber.  It was noted that the Queen warmly congratulated the couple and Prince Charles gave a heartfelt toast to his new bride.  The entertainment at the reception included the St George’s Chapel Choir, the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Russian soprano singer Ekaterina Semenchuk who performed a special song for the couple.

The wedding reception menu featured some of the finest British classic afternoon tea food which included sandwiches of smoked salmon, potted shrimp, and roast venison served with red currant and port jelly.  Sweet treats were also served including glazed fudge, strawberry tartlets and miniature scones with clotted cream and jam.  

The wedding cake was made by Etta Richardson; the square shaped two layer fruitcake measured 93 by 12 inches and weighed about 240 pounds.  The cake was soaked in brandy and then covered with white fondant and royal icing was used to create lattice work on the sides.  The Prince Charles Royal crest and the letter C to represent both Prince Charles and Camilla, sugar roses, leeks, daffodils and thistles were also used as decoration.  In comparison to other Royal wedding cakes, this one was considerably smaller in size but appropriate for a second wedding.

Following the wedding, Prince Charles and Camilla went to Birkhall in Scotland for their honeymoon.

For more information regarding the wedding dresses and bridal accessories of Camilla the Duchess of Cornwall, please check back later. 

Irish Wedding Traditions

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Since March 17 is Saint Patrick Day, in this month’s post I thought it would be a good time to discuss the wedding traditions of Ireland.  Maybe a destination wedding is planned to a magical castle in Ireland or maybe the bride or the groom have an Irish ancestors in the family tree and which to honor their heritage, here are a few ideas and suggestions for incorporating Irish wedding traditions.

Handfasting

Perhaps one of the oldest Celtic wedding traditions is handfasting which is when a bridal couple join hands and a rope or cord is tied around their wrists to represent that they are united in marriage.  Handfasting has recently become popular for modern weddings and the ritual can be performed at any time during the wedding ceremony.  Today, an easy search on Goggle will result in numerous websites explaining handfasting and also sources for purchasing customized ropes and cords. 

Claddagh ring

Another Irish tradition is the Claddagh ring and, although there are many myths and legends pertaining to the ring, it has been said that it was originally produced in the small village of Claddagh near Galway located on the west coast of Ireland since the 1700s (hence the name).  The ring has come to traditionally symbolizes love, loyalty and friendship; it features two hands holding a heart with a crown.

Although the Claddagh ring can be sometimes given to someone in friendship, it is most often given as an engagement or wedding ring.  Sometimes an Irish mother will pass on the ring when their daughter reaches a significant age, such as a 21st birthday.  If used for an engagement or wedding, in the case on an engagement the ring is worn with the heart facing away and after the wedding it usually changed to face towards the wearer indicating that their heart is taken in marriage.

The Claddagh design can also be incorporated into other items for a wedding and shown below is a photo of a unique wedding cake topper;
this idea would be a great way to honor an Irish heritage

Shamrock

The shamrock, besides bringing good luck to those that find one, has become a symbol of Ireland and in fact it is considered the national flower.  The shamrock (trifolium dubium) it is a type of clover with a very distinctive three leaves and it has been said that St. Patrick (the patron saint of Ireland) used a shamrock in his Christian teachings as a symbol to represent the Holy Trinity.

The photos below show shamrocks used for a bridal bouquet and a boutonniere

Shamrocks in a variety of forms could be used for a wedding and shown below is a shamrock necklace which would be perfect for a bridesmaids or flower girl gift but a shamrock charm could also be attached to a bridal bouquet or a bridal garter in a lucky shade of green.

The photo below shows a wedding cake decorated with shamrocks
(maybe the toasting glasses are from Waterford,
a glassware company long associated with Ireland)

Irish linen and lace

Speaking of table linens, Ireland is known for their fine linen and lace products.  The cloth for the table linens is made from flax which had been initially grown exclusively in Ireland but in recent years much of the flax has been sourced from Europe or Asia.  Regardless of where the yarn is produced, if the linen product is woven in Ireland from 100% flax fibres it warrants the Irish Linen Guild trademark to signify that is a genuine Irish Linen brand.    

Shown below is an Irish table linen that incorporates a shamrock motif
and it would be perfect for a cake table

Irish lace is another product associated with Ireland, although the industry started in Dublin, there are several different variations of lace patterns that are manufactured in various parts of the country.

A bridal veil made of Irish lace would be lovely to wear with a wedding dress,
it could be another sentimental heirloom to pass onto future generations.

An Irish linen handkerchief trimmed with Irish lace would be a lovely heirloom item to pass onto generations.  A very sentimental idea is for the parents of the bride to purchase an Irish linen handkerchief for her to carry on her wedding day, then saved for later use as a Christening or Baptismal bonnet (converted with a few folds and stiches).

The Irish linen and lace handkerchief shown below
is beautifully embroidered with the bride’s monogram and the Claddagh symbol

Another idea for an Irish linen and lace handkerchief would be as a gift to the mothers of the bride and groom (to wipe away those happy tears!) or for the father of the bride to carry in his suit pocket as her walks his daughter down the aisle.  An Irish linen and lace handkerchief would also make a great gift for the bridesmaids, maybe embroidered with their initials. 

Celtic symbols

The following Celtic symbols are replicated in many different forms that being most often jewelry items.  Any of these items would make a great gift for the bride and the groom or the bridesmaids and ushers. 

Celtic cross

The Celtic cross has its origins during the Middle Ages in Ireland as well as Great Britain and France.  Today, the Celtic cross is often decorated with an interlaced design and features a ringed center.

Shown below is an example of a Celtic cross necklace
that would make a great gift for a bride to wear on her wedding day.

Celtic trinity knot

The Celtic trinity knot is designed in such a way that there is seemingly no beginning or end symbolizes eternity.  The three sections of the knot have been known to represent the Holy Trinity, it is sometimes called the Triquetra. 

Shown below is a pair of Celtic knot cufflinks
that would make a great gift from a bride for her groom to wear on the wedding day.

Celtic heart

The Celtic heart, an example is shown below,
is a stylized version of the Celtic knot and would make a great gift for the bridesmaids.

Shown below is another version of the Celtic heart
is a lovely wedding cake topper

TV Weddings – Bridgerton

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Since the premiere on Netflix in 2020, the Bridgerton television series has been very popular and in this post I will focus on the wedding of the two of the main characters, Simon Basset and Daphne Bridgerton (hence the title of the episode in which they get married, “The Duke and I”).  But first I would like to briefly discuss the Bridgerton television series which is based on the historical romance books of Julia Quinn.    

The Bridgerton television series

The Bridgerton television series on Netflix premiered on December 25, 2020 and it was created by Chirs Van Dusen and produced by Shonda Rhimes.  It is a Regency period drama based on the books by American author Julia Quinn, a collection of eight books that featured the children of Viscount Edmund and Violet Bridgerton – Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory and Hyacinth.  The Bridgerton television series featured eight episodes in the first season which were based on Quinn’s first book in the Bridgerton series, “The Duke and I”, which was first published in 2015.

The eldest daughter, Daphne (played by Phoebe Dynevor), is making her debut into London society and at one of the balls she meets Simon Bassett, (played by Regé-Jean Page), the handsome friend of her brother.  Much like every debutante, the beautiful Daphne’s goal is to find a suitable husband and together the two devise a plan to attract more suitors for Daphne and deflect the unwanted attention the pushy debutante mothers away from Simon, who due to his unhappy childhood has no desire to marry.  They pretend an innocent courtship but things become complicated when they start to fall in love.  After a seemingly unfortunate scene in the garden at one of the balls, Daphne’s reputation is compromised and the two are forced into marriage. 

The wedding of Simon Bassett and Daphne Bridgerton

It is in the fifth episode of the television series that the wedding of Simon and Daphne. There are there are many details to accomplish with only a few short days to prepare for the wedding. So, Daphne and her mother visit the mantua (a French word used for a dressmaker in the late 17th century and 18th century) to make not only the wedding dress but also the bridal trousseau. 

Special Note: all the photos shown in this post are from the Bridgerton series on Netflix

With no time to wait the household staff of Bridgerton also set about preparing for the wedding.  Decisions pertaining to the wedding flowers and the reception menu are quickly decided and the massive wedding cake will take days to prepare.

Despite the haste of the wedding, the church is beautifully decorated with an abundance of white flowers and greenery with several large arrangements, floral displays covering the end of the pews and draping down from the upper level and white rose petals lining the aisle.  (Special Note: St Mary’s Church in Twickenham, England was used for the interior scene of the wedding ceremony)

Only Daphne’s family, Lady Danbury and Simon’s friends are in attendance for the small wedding ceremony.  Since her father had died several years earlier Daphne is escorted down the aisle by her eldest brother as Simon, the reluctant groom, waits at the front of the church. 

For her wedding day Daphne is wearing a beautiful flowing silk white dress featuring embroidered flowers and swirls. The dress has an empire waistline, puffed sleeves and a train, she is wearing a veil attached with a glittering tiara and long white gloves.  (Special Note: The material for the dress was sourced in Madrid, Spain by the Bridgerton costume designer, Ellen Mirojnick and she knew instantly that the lovely silk would be used for Daphne’s wedding)

Simon is wearing a black waistcoat, black pants, his customary boots, a white vest, white cravat and his mother’s unique green enamel diamond and emerald brooch which Simon wears throughout the series.  (Special Note: Wearing a sentimental piece of jewelry from a departed relative, be it a mother or father or grandparent, would be a wonderful way to honor them on a wedding day)   

The actual wedding ceremony shown on screen is very short in duration with a brief glimpse as the couple exchanges vows and the ring is placed on Daphne’s hand. 

Special Note: In the Georgian era, the betrothal ring signified the couple’s engagement indicating that the couple was committed to each other in the time leading up to the actual wedding, as referenced in the Julia Quinn book “The Duke and I”.  For the television series this was changed and the ring was given during the ceremony to add a modern or contemporary element.      

The gold wedding ring is very simple in design and features four pearls with a small diamond in the center and flanked by several red gemstones, perhaps rubies or garnets.  Shown below is a photo from episode seven which gives a good look at the ring as Daphne plays the piano.    

After the brief ceremony a small reception is held at the Bridgerton family home, seen in the opening scene of the series the house is beautifully draped with pale purple wisteria making it the perfect setting for a wedding.  (Special Note: The location used for the exterior of the Bridgerton house is the Ranger’s House located in Greenwich, previously known as Chesterfield House it dates back to 1720)

The wedding reception is shown taking place in the Bridgerton House Grand Hall, not a formal sit down dinner but food was laid out on tables covered with white linens and drinks were served by staff on silver trays.  The room is decorated with white floral arrangements and there is an impressive chandelier suspended from the high ceiling.  (Special Note: The interior scenes of the wedding were filmed on the Royal Air Force Station near Aylesbury in Buckinhamshire.  Halton House is a late 19th century county home that once belong to a member of the Rothschild family)   

The multi-tiered wedding cake for Daphne and Simon was the centerpiece of the reception and was displayed on a round table covered with white linen.  It was 4.5 feet tall with white icing and embellished with white chocolate figurines, floral accents and both the Bridgerton and Hasting crests to honor the bride and the groom.    

We catch a glimpse of the Bridgerton House Grand Staircase as Daphne exits the reception to change into her going away outfit.  While in her bedroom  her mother comes to have a brief and awkward talk regarding what to expect on the wedding night.      

At the end of the reception the Hasting carriage arrives to take Simon and Daphne to their honeymoon. 

The Bridgerton family has gathered in front of the house to say goodbye to Daphne and Simon.  (Notice that the third daughter, Eloise, is not there … she has mysteriously left London unbeknown to her family, but we will need to wait for another season of the series to find out what has happened to her or we can read the book, “To Sir Phillip, With Love” by Julia Quinn)

* Photos used in this post are credited to NetFlix.

Helen Rose – An American Movie Costume Designer

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To continue this blog’s ongoing series on fashion and costume designers, in this post I will discuss the career of Helen Rose who was an American costume designer at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio during the 1940s to the 1960s.  She created costumes for some of the most glamorous film stars, such as Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor.  In fact they love her designs so much that on their wedding days both ladies wore bridal gowns made by Helen Rose.   (Special Note: In keeping with the theme of An Elegant Bride blog, the classic Helen Rose movie costume designs detailed in this post would be a great inspiration for a classic wedding style for either a bride and/or bridesmaid dresses)

A brief history of the life and career of Helen Rose

Helen (Bromberg) Rose was born on February 2, 1904 in Chicago, Illinois; her parents were William Bromberg and Ray Bobbs.  Perhaps because her father was part owner of an art reproduction company and her mother was a seamstress, at a young age Helen showed an artistic talent for drawing and fashion design and she convinced her parents to enroll her in the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts.  She would be hired by the Lester Costume Company to create costumes for vaudeville shows and when her family moved in 1929 she went with them to Los Angeles, California.

Eventually Helen went to work for Fanchon and Marco which was a company that designed costumes for theatrical shows.  After that work experience she was quickly hired to design costumes for the Ice Follies, a touring ice show founded in 1936 which featured elaborate production numbers.      

In the early 1940s Helen worked briefly for 20th Century Fox designing movie costumes mainly for the studio’s musical productions.  Then, in 1943 she was hired by MGM where she would eventually be promoted to the chief designer, she worked at the studio for over forty years. She created costumes for over 200 films for some the most famous movie stars at MGM, including Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor, Deborah Kerr, Lana Turner, and Esther Williams.  Helen was nominated ten times for an Academy Award for Best Costume Design, she won twice for “The Bad and the Beautiful” in 1952 and “I’ll Cry Tomorrow” in 1955.

Helen Rose receiving her Oscar for “The Bad and the Beautiful”

Helen’s influence on the bridal industry was noted when she designed the movie wedding dress for Elizabeth Taylor in “Father of the Bride” (as well her real life 1950 wedding)  Helen also received international attention when she designed the bridal dress for Grace Kelly’s wedding in 1956. 

In 1958 Helen opened her own ready-to-wear line of clothing and she sold her designs to upscale department stores such as Bonwit Teller, Marchall Fields and Joseph Magnin. She also licensed her designs to be sold through Spadea and Advance patterns during the 1950s. 

Helen left the MGM in 1966, by that time studios were using store-bought clothing for their movies and long term contracts were no longer given to studio designers

On a personal note, Helen married Harry Rose on December 28, 1929 and had a daughter named Judy.  She died at the age of 81 in Palm Springs, California on November 9, 1985.

Movie costume designs of Helen Rose

During her forty years working for the studio Helen was especially known for creating lovely costumes made with chiffon which was known to be a very difficult fabric to work with but she liked it because it moved beautifully and would photograph well as it picked up the lights on the studio sets.

So, starting in chronological order I will focused on two very different actresses that Helen designed costumes for, the elegant Grace Kelly and the sexy Elizabeth Taylor. 

Helen created perhaps one of the most iconic wedding dresses of the 1950s for Elizabeth Taylor in the “Father of the Bride” film (1950).  The dress featured elaborate layers of satin fabric creating a full skirt which was tapered to a tiny waistline and a high neck finished with a rounded collar and bodice of beautiful lace. (Special Note: This original wedding dress style was made available to the public through the Alfred Angelo bridal store during the 1950s)  

By 1956 Helen had worked with Grace Kelly on many of the actress’ films for MGM, the 1956 film “High Society” would be one on Grace’s last films for the studio.  She had recently become engage to Prince Rainer and she would be leaving her acting career behing in the United States to start a new life as a Princess in Monaco.  As a funny coincidence, “High Society” was a film in which Grace played a spolied rich girl who was about to be married. Shown in the photo below is one of the dresses designed by Helen and it was a light gray and pink evening chiffon evening gown beautifully embellished with floral embroidery and beading cascading from the shoulder to the hem.      

The second dress worn by Grace that Helen designed for the film was for the wedding scene, the dress was made of silk organza worn over a white underdress.  It featured a full skirt with bellowing sheer sleeves and a pink ribbon tied at the waist and accented with fabric florals that matched the embroidered flowers on the bodice and skirt.  To complete the look, Grace wore a wide brimmed white hat covered with layers of fabric and tulle and a pair of white wrist length gloves. 

Just like Grace, throughout Helen’s years at MGM she worked with Elizabeth Taylor on numerous movies.  In the beginning she created modest dresses for the young ingénue who was at the start of her longer film career but later when Elizabeth began taking on more mature roles in her films her style changed dramatically. 

The movie costume created by Helen for Elizabeth Taylor for “Cat on a Hot Tin” (1958) was a sexy white chiffon dress with a plunging neckline shown in the photo below.  (Special Note: This dress would become a best seller for the Helen Rose clothing line which she started in 1958.  I’m sure many husbands were happy that their wives could dress just like the sultry Elizabeth Taylor!)

Famous wedding dresses designed by Helen Rose

Helen Rose set the bridal trends for generations to come with her movie costume designs for Elizabeth Taylor and Grace Kelly as well as the bridal gown designs for their real life weddings in the 1950s. 

Elizabeth Taylor had finished filming the “Father of the Bride” but just before the movie was officially released she married Conrad “Nicky” Hilton on May 6, 1950 in Beverly Hills, California.  As a wedding gift to the bride MGM had Helen Rose make the bridal gown, it took fifteen seamstresses and embroiders three months to complete at the cost of $1,5000.

The bridal gown used 25 yards of ivory silk satin and featured a full skirt with an illusion bodice embellished with beads and pearls.  The veil was made of 10 yards of silk net and was attached to a Juliet cap covered in pearls.  (Special Note: The dress sold for $188,000 at a Christie’s auction in 2013)

Unfortunately the couple divorce after a year and it would be the first of Elizabeth’s 8 weddings over the next 40 years, she had 7 different husbands but she married Richard Burton twice. 

After her short marriage to Hilton, Elizabeth married Michael Wilding on February 21, 1952 in London, England.  (Special Note: Elizabeth actually held dual citizenship because she was born in London and moved with her parents to California in 1939, both her parents were originally from Kansas and had lived in England for 10 years)

Helen Rose also designed Elizabeth’s wedding dress for her second wedding, it was a jacket with a white collar and cuffs and three-quarter sleeves worn with a matching flared skirt. 

Helen Rose designed the movie costumes worn by Grace Kelly for the four MGM films she starred in and they had developed a great friendship.  When Grace became engaged to Prince Rainer of Monaco she entrusted Helen to create not one but two wedding dresses!  She designed one for the civil ceremony that took place on April 18, 1956 in the Throne Room at the Prince’s Palace and one for the religious ceremony which took place the next day at the Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Monaco.  (Special Note: Both wedding dresses were a special gift to the bride from the MGM Studio)

Grace’s civil ceremony wedding dress was made with a pale pink taffeta with a ivory French Alencon lace overlay which was further embellished with pink embroidery and featured a round collar jacket and a full skirt, to complete her ensemble Grace wore a Juliet cap and gloves.       

For the religious ceremony, which took place on April 19, 1956, Helen Rose created a beautiful wedding dress made with 25 yards of vintage Brussels rose point lace and silk faille taffeta that featured a fitted bodice, high neckline, long sleeves and a full skirt.  The chapel length veil was made of tulle and attached to a Juliet cap embellished with pearls and fabric orange blossoms.  (Special Note:  The iconic wedding dress and accessories were donated by Grace Kelly to the Philadelphia Museum of Art) 

For more information on the wedding of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainer of Monaco, please click on the link.

First Ladies Inauguration Ball Gowns

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One of the most popular exhibits in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History located in Washington D.C. is the First Ladies Inauguration Ball Gown exhibit.  (Now my husband would argue this point by saying that any of the exhibits at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum are much more exciting!)  In this post I will discuss several of the First Ladies Inauguration Ball Gowns concentrating on the last 60 years with twelve First Ladies and starting in 1961 with Mrs. Jaqueline Kennedy to the most recent in 2021 with Mrs. Jill Biden.  Fashion Note: Any of these First Ladies Inauguration Ball gowns would be a great inspiration for a mother of the bride/groom dress for a formal evening wedding. 

But first, here is some information of how and when the collection of the First Ladies Inauguration Ball Gowns was started.  The collection started in 1912 when the Smithsonian began to accumulate dresses donated from past the First Ladies.   As the collection grew throughout the years, it has been determined that every administration since President Washington is represented, although some of the dresses were not specifically worn for an Inauguration.

Today it has become customary for a former First Lady to donate her Inauguration Ball Gown, occasionally with accessories such as shoes or a purse, to the Smithsonian after the end of a President’s term in office.   In case you were wondering, if a President serves multiple terms, the First Lady will customarily donate the Inauguration Ball gown from the first term and a dress worn for a subsequent term usually goes to her husband’s Presidential library.   

The young and fashionable Jacqueline Kennedy, wife of President John Kennedy (1961 to 1963, wore a custom designed gown by Ethel Frankau of Bergdorf for her husband’s 1961 Inauguration Ball.  The strapless gown was made of peau d’ange fabric embellished with crystals and embroidered with silver thread with a bodice overlay made of silk chiffon.

1961 Inauguration Ball gown worn by Jacqueline Kennedy

For the 1965 Inauguration Ball of President Lyndon Johnson (1963 to 1969) his wife, Lady Bird Johnson, wore a simple yellow silk satin gown designed by John Moore.  The dress had cap sleeve and the matching long coat had sable trimmed sleeves.

1965 Inauguration Ball gown and matching coat worn by Lady Bird Johnson

Pat Nixon, wife of President Richard Nixon (1969 to 1974), wore a gown designed by Karen Berin for her husband’s 1969 Inauguration Ball. The gown was made of yellow mimosa silk satin with gold and silver embroidery and embellished with Austrian crystal.

1969 Inauguration Ball gown worn by Pat Nixon

The next gown in the First Ladies collection was worn for a White House State Dinner by Betty Ford, her husband was President Gerald Ford (1974-1977).  Ford became President after the resignation of Nixon and served out the term but did not win the election in 1976. Special Note: This is an example of a First Ladies dress that was not worn for an Inauguration Ball.  

The pale green sequined chiffon gown embroidered in a chrysanthemum pattern was designed by Frankie Welch.  Mrs. Ford wore the dress twice for a State Dinner, once in 1975 State Dinner for the Shah of Iran and again in 1976 for the State Dinner for King Juan Carlos of Spain.     

1969 Inauguration Ball gown worn by Pat Nixon

For the 1977 Inauguration Ball for President Jimmy Carter (1977-1981) his wife, Rosalynn Carter, wore a gown designed by Mary Matise which she had previously worn for the 1971 Gubernatorial Ball when her husband was elected as the Governor of Georgia.  The blue chiffon gown was trimmed with gold embroidery and worn with a matching sleeveless coat.   

1977 Inauguration Ball gown worn by Rosalynn Carter

Four years later, for the1981 Inauguration Ball of President Ronald Reagan (1981-1989) his wife Nancy Reagan wore a gown designed by James Galanos.  The glamourous First Lady wore a white one shouldered gown of silk satin heavily beaded gown.  Mrs. Reagan had worked with Galanos previously and had worn a different one shouldered gown for the Gubernatorial Ball in 1967 when husband was elected Governor of California.  Fashion Note: I believe this would be the first time that a First Lady had worn a one shouldered gown for an Inaugural Ball.         

1981 Inauguration Ball gown worn by Nancy Reagan

For the 1989 Inauguration Ball of President George H.W. Bush (1989 to 1993) his wife, Barbara Bush, wore a gown designed by Arnold Scaasi.  The long sleeve gown was made of royal blue velvet and silk satin and featured an asymmetrical skirt; of course she wore the gown with her iconic pearl necklace.   

1989 Inauguration Ball gown worn by Barbara Bush

For the 1993 Inauguration Ball of President Bill Clinton (1993 to 2001) his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, wore a gown designed by Sarah Phillips and made by Barbara Matera Ltd. who was a New York theatrical costume maker.  The gown was made of a lovely violet beaded lace gown with an iridescent blue velvet silk mousseline overskirt. 

1993 Inauguration Ball gown worn by Hillary Rodham Clinton

Eight years later, for the 2001 Inauguration Ball of President George W. Bush (2001-2009) his wife Laura Bush wore a gown designed by Michael Faircloth.  The gown was made in a red crystal embroidered Chantilly lace over silk georgette. 

2001 Inauguration Ball gown worn by Laura Bush

For the 2009 Inauguration Ball of President Barack Obama (2009 to 2017) his wife, Michelle Obama, wore a gown designed by Jason Wu.  The elegant one shouldered white silk chiffon gown is embellished with organza flowers with Swarovski crystal centers.   

2009 Inauguration Ball gown worn by Michelle Obama

For the 2017 Inauguration Ball of President Donald Trump (2017 to 2021) his wife, Melania Trump, wore a gown designed by Herve Pierre. The off the shoulder ivory   crepe gown features a slit skirt, a ruffled trim from the neckline to the hem and a thin red ribbon at the waist. 

2017 Inauguration Ball gown worn by Melania Trump

The next dress may look like an unusual choice, but due to Covid-19 restrictions the Inauguration of President Joe Biden (2021 to present) was very different than any previous administrations.  The swearing-in ceremony had limited capacity and there was no Inauguration Ball but a virtual concert was broadcast in the evening. 

For these reasons First Lady Jill Biden did not wear a formal gown but instead worn a coat and dress ensemble by designer Gabriela Hearst. The knee length dress was made of silk wool with an organza neckline and sleeves which featured floral embroidery that incorporated the flowers from every state and territory of the United States (what a great idea!)  Mrs Biden thoughtfully had the state flower of Delaware embroidered on the bodice positioned on the left side over her heart. 

The matching coat was made of a white cashmere that also had floral embroidery at the hem.  In another sentimental gesture inside the coat Mrs. Biden has a Benjamin Franklin quote embroidered into the lining to honor her career as a college professor which says, “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn”.

2021 dress and matching coat worn by Jill Biden
on the evening of her husband’s Inauguration

So, as previously mentioned, any of the gowns worn by the First Ladies shown above would be a wonderful inspiration for a dress for a mother of the bride/groom. 

A Yellow and Gray Wedding – Ideas and Suggestions

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In the ongoing series about the annual Pantone color of the year, this post will be about the colors selected for 2021.  Every year the Pantone Color Institute selects a color that will set the trend for home decorations, fashion and also weddings for that year.  For this year Pantone has selected two colors, Illuminating 13-0647 which is a sunny and bright yellow and Ultimate Gray 17-5104 which complements as well as contrasts.     

The Pantone colors of Illuminating and Ultimate gray can work together to create a wedding palette that would be lovely used for a Spring wedding.  Think about yellow roses for a bridal bouquet, yellow bridesmaids/flower girl dresses and gray suits for the groomsmen.  Using these colors as inspiration, in this post I will include ideas and suggestions for creating yellow and gray wedding decorations for the ceremony and reception as well as bridal accessories and other items that could be incorporated into the wedding design.     

Ceremony decorations

The yellow and gray color combination could be used for either an indoor or outdoor wedding ceremony and reception.  My suggestion would be to use the yellow as the dominate color and the gray as an accent color. 

The first idea, shown in the photo below, is a beautiful floral arch with yellow roses, white roses and eucalyptus leaves on a white wood fame that would be the perfect backdrop for an outdoor wedding ceremony.  This arch could also be used for an indoor ceremony but the height of the ceiling and any other venue restrictions need to be taken into consideration.    

Gray chairs, such as the chiavari shown in the photo below, could be used for seating at the ceremony.

Yellow roses and ivy could be used as chair decorations, as shown in the photo below, which would coordinate beautifully with the floral arch and look great on the end chairs of each row for a beautiful aisle decoration.

Reception decorations

Yellow and gray decorations would look beautiful for a wedding reception in an outdoor garden but would also look great indoors for a grand ballroom reception.  Shown below are two different styles of floral centerpieces for the guest tables.  The first shows a simple low arrangement of yellow roses, white flowers and greenery in a glass bowl. 

The second style is a tall floral centerpiece using an arrangement of yellow roses and orchids placed atop a glass vase.

White table linens and gray chiavari chairs could be used for the guest tables.  Silverware, crystal stemware and silver plate chargers could also be used to create a simple and elegant style incorporating the yellow and gray theme.

The next yellow and gray wedding ideas pertain to food items.  The first wedding cake shown below features a classic white cake with yellow roses cascading down the multiple tiers.  A beautiful silver cake stand is used for a lovely finishing touch. 

The second example shown below is of a gray and white frosted wedding cake accented with yellow roses. 

Another idea shown below features yellow and gray macarons stacked on a simple white plate for an additional desert that could be served at the wedding reception.

Bridal accessories and other wedding items

The next few items are wedding accessories and other wedding items for the bride, groom, bridesmaids, flower girl and groomsmen that feature the colors of yellow and gray.

Shown below is an example of a bridal bouquet that beautifully combines yellow roses and a gray satin wrap with rhinestones used for the handle. 

The next idea is an example yellow pump to add a surprising pop of color for the bride to wear under her wedding dress. (maybe a yellow sating ribbon could be added at the waist of the wedding dress)                                            

For a very comfortable choice for shoes, the bride and her attendants can change into a pair of yellow Converse.  Another idea to add some fun would be for the groomsmen to wear yellow high top Converse. (let’s be honest, formal wedding shoes can hurt after wearing them for several hours so why not change into some more comfortable for the wedding reception)

In keeping with the topic of footwear, another more subtle way to add a pop of yellow and gray tartan socks for the groom and his attendants.

Shown below is an example of a pretty yellow dress for the bridesmaids and perfect for a Spring wedding.

Shown below is an example of flowergirl dress (I love a flower girl in a white dress and the yellow sash and fabric flower at the waist is the perfect way to add yellow!)

A great way to incorporate yellow and gray for a groom and his attendants is a gray suit and a yellow tie which would coordinate beautifully with bridesmaids wearing yellow dresses.

The next few items are jewlery for the bride, groom and their attendants.  The first is yellow diamond earrings for a bride.

Not to be left out, shown below are a pair of yellow diamond cuff links for the groom to wear on his special day. 

A great gift idea would be a yellow stone necklace for the bridesmaids, the one shown below is from the Kendra Scott collection.

Of course other accessories items could include a yellow bridal garter, a yellow clutch to carry those essential items on a wedding day or a yellow scarf to wear for a chilly evening wedding.

The last item is just a fun idea and it would be a yellow nail polish, the example shown below is from OPI. (if you are not daring enough to use it for your fingernails you can you it for your toenails but be sure to take a group photo of the bride and attendants showing off the polish!)

So, as you can see from the numerous examples given in this post there are is a large variety of items that can be used to create a beautiful yellow and gray wedding. 

English Christmas Traditions for a December Wedding

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English Christmas Traditions for a December Wedding

Many of the Christmas traditions that we celebrate here in the United States started centuries ago in England.  In this post I will discuss some of those traditions and ways to incorporate them into a December wedding during the holiday season. 

Christmas Cards

The tradition of Christmas cards started in England when children would often write letters to Father Christmas with their wishes for toys or other items.  Traditionally, these letters would be “delivered” to Father Christmas by putting them in the fireplace so that the ashes from the burnt letters would fly up the chimney because (as everyone knows, right?) Father Christmas can read the messages in the smoke!!  Since the Victorian times, sending Christmas cards in England has become a very important tradition and a wonderful way to send “Happy Christmas” wishes to family and friends.  English families would make their own Christmas cards to send and the ones that were received were often used as decorations within the home during the holiday season and displayed on fireplace mantles or shelves located near the Christmas tree.

Today, children in the United States have been known to sometimes mail their Christmas requests to Santa Claus in the North Pole.  Of course, there are other ways to get a message to Santa, sometimes children wait to give Santa their gift wish lists when they go to have their picture taken with him at the mall or sometimes they will write a special letter to him on Christmas Eve with their list and set it out with a plate a cookies and glass of milk for him and a couple of carrots for the reindeer.  (Magically, I have been able to save these letters to Santa that my children have written over the years!)

December wedding idea –

In regards to incorporating the idea of Christmas Cards into a December wedding would be to send invitations with a beautiful winter scene, as shown in the photo below. 

This second example shown below has a very clever wording

For the bride and groom’s first Christmas, they could send out a special Christmas card maybe enclosing their engagement or wedding photo.  I would suggest that they could keep one card for every year that they send out their Christmas cards.  Gathers the cards into a special box or another idea for a home decoration would be to display them as a framed collage which could be used every year for the holiday season.

Christmas dinner

In England, on Christmas day a special meal is served usually in the afternoon.  Traditionally, the meal consists of a roasted goose, duck or pheasant.  Side dishes could possibly include cranberry sauce or currant jelly, potatoes, brussel sprouts or parsnips and for dessert a Christmas pudding or English trifle.  This meal is very similar to one served to the British Royal Family when they gather together at Sandringham in Norfolk to celebrate during the holiday season.  (For more information regarding the traditions associated with the annual British Royal Family Christmas at Sandringham, please clink on the link)

A traditional English Christmas dinner table is usually set with the home’s finest dishes, flatware, glasses and table linens.  Also placed at each of the place settings is a very special item known as a Christmas cracker.  A Christmas cracker is a paper tube filled with three items usually small treats such as a spinning top or simple puzzle, a special joke or humorous limerick and finally a paper crown.  The filled paper tube is then covered with foil that is twisted at both ends to seal.  Traditionally, the crackers are usually opened at the Christmas dinner; each cracker is held between two people and pulled.  As the Christmas cracker is opened there is a small device inside which makes a loud pop sound.  The custom of the English Christmas Cracker is a wonderful idea to add fun and excitement to a Christmas dinner.

December wedding idea –

Any of the dinner entrees and side dishes mentioned above would be delicious to serve at a December wedding reception, turkey or roast beef would be a great alternative if something different than poultry is desired.  Maybe the menu could be served “family style” and all the mea

The guest tables could be decorated beautiful china, silver or gold flatware, crystal stemware and lovely table linens in white, burgundy red or forest green.  (The reason I suggested those colors is that they are less Christmassy than a bright red or green)

The next example shown below is a Christmas cracker

Christmas Tree

The tradition of the Christmas tree became very popular in England when Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria, brought the custom from his native Germany.  Christmas trees during that time where decorated very differently from the ones seen in the United States today.  In Victorian England, Christmas tree were cut from the nearby woods and brought indoors to be decorated with natural items such as nuts, berries, apples or possibly oranges and illuminated with candles clipped to the branches of the tree.

Things have changed considerably over the years, lite candles on Christmas trees have been proven to be a fire hazard and it was determined that cutting down trees was not good for the environment.  Today, artificial Christmas trees have become popular and there are a variety of light styles and colors to string on the trees (our Christmas tree was bought pre-lite so my husband doesn’t have to spend hours un-tangling the lights to put on the tree!)  The decorations for the Christmas tree have also changed throughout the years, during the 1940s-1960s my mother used glass ornaments and shiny silver tinsel and I have been purchasing Hallmark ornaments for over forty years now for our Christmas tree.

December wedding idea –

Simple white light Christmas trees would look lovely flanking a ceremony site or set in a group in the corners of a reception venue, shown below are two examples of Christmas trees used for a wedding reception.  

(For additional inspiration for more decorations for a December wedding winter theme, click on the link to “A Rehearsal Dinner Theme – Harry Potter Yule Ball”)

In keeping with the Christmas tree idea, another item for the bridal couple to purchase is a special First Christmas ornament to hang on their Christmas tree, this would make a great tradition to start and an ornament could be added every year throughout their married life.   

Christmas stockings –

In England, the custom of hanging stockings above the fireplace started centuries ago mainly out of necessity because this was generally the way for the children to dry them overnight.  Of course, Father Christmas used this as an opportunity to leave small presents of fruit, nuts, candy or other small gifts for the good little boys and girls.  Traditionally, on Christmas Eve the children would leave a snack of cookies or small meat pies for Father Christmas near the fireplace.

In the United States, the custom of hanging Christmas stockings is a wonderful tradition to celebrate during the holiday season.  Christmas stockings can be bought in a variety of retail stores and are available in styles ranging from inexpensive simple ones to expensive and elaborate ones.  For those that wish to make their own Christmas stockings they are several sewing patterns available in different styles that could be used to create special ones in fabrics ranging from inexpensive felt and denim material to expensive silk or satin material.  There are also embroidery and needlepoint kits that can be purchased at craft stores that can be used to create custom Christmas stockings.  The gift of a custom Christmas stocking makes a wonderful gift for a child’s first Christmas, my son received one these and I am planning on having it framed.

December wedding idea –

A custom Christmas stocking would make a wonderful gift for a couple’s first Christmas; of course it can be personalized with their names.

Shown below is an example of a stocking hanger

Father Christmas/Santa Claus –

Across the world Santa Claus is known by many different names and in England he goes by the name of Father Christmas, in Ireland it is Daidi na Nollag, in Italy it is Babbo Natale, in Spain it is Papa Noel and in France it is Pere Noel.

In 16th century England, the feast day of Saint Nicholas was no longer celebrated due to King Henry VIII’s break with the Catholic Church centered in Rome.  Centuries later, the Father Christmas character, normally associated with the feast of Saint Nicholas, was revived during the reign of Queen Victoria and generally pictured as a large man wearing a crimson robe lined with fur.

Today in America, the character known by Kris Kringle or more commonly by the name Santa Claus became famous in the 1823 poem, “A Visit From St. Nicholas” and later by an 1897 editorial in the New York Sun newspaper that answered the important question of his existence with the response, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus”.  The popular character which has become a major part of Christmas in the United is usually depicted as a large man with a white beard wearing a red coat trimmed with a white collar and cuffs matching red trousers also trimmed in white and a black leather belt and black leather boots.  The story of Santa Claus was written in the famous 1934 song, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” is said to have a list of children throughout the world, the naughty ones get a piece of coal in their stockings and the nice ones receive wonderful gifts of toys and candy on Christmas Eve.  Santa lives far away in the North Pole and the elves help to make the toys and the presents are loaded onto Santa’s sleigh which is pulled by eight reindeer that fly.

Christmas wedding idea – A wonderful way to end a wedding reception (for old and young guests!) would be the appearance of jolly Santa Claus.  He could give out a candy canes and of course be available for photos. 

Repurposed Wedding Dress

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One of the most important personal decisions that a bride will make when planning her special day will be the selection of her wedding dress.  After the wedding some brides will want to have their dress preserved in a special acid-free box lined with tissue to prevent it from discoloration, shown below is an example.    

Other brides will want to display their wedding dress in a shadowbox as a decorative piece for the couple’s home, the example in the photo below shows a wedding dress encased in a large frame and displayed with the bridal bouquet.

Sometimes, a more practical and sentimental bride might want to repurpose their wedding dress and below are some ideas and suggestions.

Wedding dress repurposed into heirloom clothing or jewlery

The most obvious choice would be to preserve a bride’s wedding dress and pass it onto their future daughter as a cherished heirloom, in a similar way some brides have chosen to wear their mother or grandmother’s wedding dress.  This is the most practical way of repurposing because the dress is usually preserved as a whole garment with only a few alterations needed to fit the new bride. 

Special Note:  For a bride, husband or other family member – before repurposing a bride’s wedding dress, especially for a gift item in which the dress would be cut-up into material, ALWAYS check with the bride BEFORE!!  

Since there are usually yards of beautiful fabric, trim and lace used to create a wedding dress and veil, one idea is to repurpose the material into a baptismal or christening gown for the couple’s future children, as shown in the photo below.  In this manner the garment is not gender specific and can continue to be used for any additional children and becomes a sentimental family heirloom.

Another idea would be to repurpose the wedding dress into a first communion dress
for the couple’s future daughter, an example is shown in the photo below. 

The next two ideas would be to repurpose the wedding dress into items of personal clothing that can be worn by the bride in the future, perhaps for special events such as an anniversary dinner, a baptism or christening ceremony or a family wedding. 

the first item is purse or clutch made from the wedding dress material

the second item is a scarf made from a bridal veil

The next idea is not an item of clothing but a sentimental item of jewelry that can be worn after the wedding as a reminder of a bride’s special day.  A pendant necklace or locket can hold a small piece of material from a wedding dress as shown in the photo below.  

Home decorations or other items

Here are two ideas for home decorative items that would have a direct connection to the wedding day.  The first item would be a great idea for the repurpose of a wedding dress isfor a wedding photo using the material for a frame mat, as shown below.

The second idea would be use the material from a wedding dress
to cover a wedding photo album, as shown below. 

Another great idea for repurposing a wedding dress would be for a home decoration and the material could be used to cover a lamp shade, as shown in the photo below. This could be used in the couple’s bedroom or perhaps a baby nursery.

The next idea would be a very sentimental item for a first baby and the wedding dress material could be to used as a covering for a baby bassinet, as shown in the photo below.

Toys or Doll items

Any of the items listed in this section would make a wonderful gift idea for a child.  The first would be to use the material from a wedding dress to create a teddy bear; it would make an especially sentimental gift for a child’s first birthday.

The next two ideas would be to create clothing to dress a doll from a wedding dress material, shown below are examples for a Barbie doll and an American Girl doll.

Holiday decorations

The next ideas for repurposing a wedding dress would be to create holiday decorations, any of the items shown below would be great for a couple’s first Christmas. 

an angel tree topper made from a repurposed wedding dress

a Christmas tree skirt made from a repurposed wedding dress

a Christmas stocking made from material from a repurposed wedding dress

shown below is an example of Christmas ornament
using material from a repurposed wedding dress