Fort Bend Lifestyles and Homes Magazine Jul 2009: History in Fort Bend

ummer has come again, and wedding bells are ringing. Just as now, some brides from previous generations wore fancy, lacy white dresses and veils as they walked down the aisle.

Often, however, that aisle was in the home rather than at a church. Home weddings were popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In addition, in the early days of Fort Bend County there were few churches, so it was necessary to hold weddings in a home. Even if a wedding was held in the home, it rarely lacked the trappings expected of such a formal occasion.

The altar, usually a table or fireplace mantel, would be draped in flowers such as chrysanthemums, lilies, smilax and roses, with candles, ferns, ribbon and other decorative touches. These motifs would then extend to other tables, railings, and chandeliers in the house.

Wedding dresses were not always fancy, often depending on the wealth of the bride ’s family. Certainly, fancy lace and tulle-covered satin or silk gowns were popular, but many brides couldn ’t afford them and instead wore simpler lingerie dresses or whatever their best dress might have been.

After exchanging vows, the couple would move to the dining room for the reception. Decoration in the dining room would usually continue the themes found in the parlor. Menus included ice creams, small cakes, a salad course, celery, cheese wafers, olives and coffee or hot chocolate.

The wedding cake contained hidden charms such as a ring, heart, thimble, button and dime which were found by guests when cutting or eating their pieces. Charms like these were often gifts to bridesmaids or other attendees and sometimes carried extra meanings. For example, the person who got the ring was said to be the next to marry, the person who got the thimble would never marry, and the attendee who came away with the dime would become wealthy.

After the reception, the happy couple would change into traveling clothes and be sent off to catch the train for their honeymoon.