A Different British Wedding for the Books
All discussion of matrimony might center on the royal nuptials taken by Prince William and Kate Middleton earlier today, but we at Mount Vernon, with colonial history ever on our mind, thought it the perfect chance to highlight a British wedding of a different sort: that of George and Martha Washington.
Less than 10 months after meeting and only 18 months after the death of Martha’s first husband, Daniel Parke Custis, the couple tied the knot on January 6, 1759.
In addition to being the wealthiest widow in Virginia, Martha was also charming and attractive. George, who was 6 feet 2 inches tall, already had a distinguished military career.
The couple’s wedding took place at Martha’s home in New Kent County. Martha had specified when she ordered her wedding dress from London that it should be “grave but not Extravagent nor to be mourning.”
In the end the dress was a deep-yellow brocade with lace at the neck and sleeves. Underneath Martha wore a petticoat of white silk, interwoven with silver, and her shoes were purple satin with silver trimmings.
Remnants of a yellow brocade, purportedly cut from Martha’s gown and pieces of 2-inch wide lace are in Mount Vernon’s collection today as are her purple wedding shoes, which survive intact.
