Figure 1.-- This is a picture of Elizabeth Hurley and son at asociety wedding (June 2008). We're not sure if her son was a ring boy or a page. His outfit vhas a Kate Greenwood look.

We do not yet have much information about specific English weddings over time. We have no information on the 18th century. We know that many modern wedding traditins date from the 19th century Victorian age when the moddern middle-class ethic developed and increasing affluence brought fashionable dress and ceremonies within the economic range of more ordinary people. We do have some information on the 20th century. As weddings were special events, the participants dressed up for the event. This photographs from these weddings are a good indicator of formal dress styles. Here social class was a factor. Workig-class families, except the bride and grom, simply wire their best clothes. The more well to do would have fancier ceremonies and the children might have special costumes. After World War II with greater influence, even middle-class families might have formal weddings. We note Derek North who was a page boy in a society wedding about 1930. And we see a formal Anglican wedding in the 1940s, probably after the War. We have some information on the 21st century. We see actress Hurley and her son who was a ring bearer or page in a 2008 society wedding.

The 18th Century

We do not yet have much information about specific English weddings over time. We have no information on the 18th century.

The 19th Century

We know that many modern wedding traditions date from the 19th century Victorian age when the moddern middle-class ethic developed and increasing affluence brought fashionable dress and ceremonies within the economic range of more ordinary people. The most notable wedding of the century was of course the marriage of the very young Queen Victoria and Prince Albert--basically setting the Victorian age in motion (1840). Another potentially important marriage was union of British Princess Royal Victoria with Prussian Crown Prince Frederick (1858). Her bothers and sisers attended, the boys outfitted in Highland outfits. Tragically the early death of Frederick drastically changed German and European history.

The 20th Century

We do have some information on the 20th century. As weddings were special events, the participants dressed up for the event. the best known of course are the various royal weddings. This photographs from weddings are a good indicator of formal dress styles. Here social class was a factor. Working-class families, except the bride and grom, simply wore their best clothes. The more well to do would have fancier ceremonies, especially society weddings. The children might have special costumes with different thems: Fauntleroy touches, Kate Greenwood, military, sailor suits, Scottish, and others. We note Derek North who was a page boy in a society wedding about 1930. And we see a formal Anglican wedding in the 1940s, probably after the War. Unfortunately the individuals are unidentified. After World War II with greater influence, even middle-class families might have formal weddings. We note a low-key society wedding in 1967. The boys are dressed in plain white shirts and ties, basic grey school boxer shorts, white knee socks, and school sandals. It was a marriage of a peer's daughter, Lady Chritina Gathorne-Hardy. The low key approach may be because her new husband was a black man from South Africa. The British people at the time were apparently surprised that the daughter of a peer would marry a black man--the caption made quite a point of it. The reaction was quite different than how the British people emberaced Meghan Markle when she married Prince Harry (2018).

The 21st Century

We have some information on the 21st century. We see actress Elizabeth Hurley and her son who was a ring bearer or page in a 2008 society wedding (figure 1). His outfit has a Kate Greenhwood look.

Created: 8:32 PM 9/6/2008
Last updated: 7:09 AM 1/17/2009