Touring exhibition: Wedding Dress

Two Hundred Years of Wedding Fashion

Exhibition available to hire

This exhibition presents the most romantic, glamorous and extravagant wedding dresses from the V&A's superb collection. Tracing the development of the fashionable white wedding dress from the beginning of the 19th century to the present day, the exhibition illustrates its treatment by key fashion designers such as Charles Frederick Worth, Norman Hartnell, Charles James, John Galliano, Christian Lacroix, Vivienne Westwood and Vera Wang. It considers the effect of the increasing media focus on wedding fashions, the excitement generated by society and celebrity weddings and the influence of screen brides.

Size: Approx 600–800 m²
Available from 2012

For further information about this exhibition please contact touringexhibitions@vam.ac.uk

Wedding dress and veil

Wedding dress and veil, maker unknown, 1865, silk-satin, trimmed with Honiton appliqué lace, machine net and bobbin lace, hand-sewn (wedding dress), lace (wedding veil), Bequeathed by Miss H. G. Bright. Museum no. T.43&A-1947

Detail of Wedding Veil

Detail of wedding veil, Brussels needle lace (point de gaze), French, c. 1893, T.366-1970, © V&A Images/Victoria and Albert Museum

Single Garter

Single garter, green satin and orange blossom, British, 1922, T314D-1985, © V&A Images/Victoria and Albert Museum

Wedding boots

Wedding boots, maker unknown, Britain, 1865, kid upper, with elasticated inner side gusset and silk rosette, bequeathed by Miss H. G. Bright. Museum no. T.43 B&C-1947

Wedding dress, C. F. Worth

Wedding dress, C. F. Worth, Paris, 1880, silk satin, lace and net, imitation pearls embroidery, velvet, given by Mrs G.T. Morton. Museum no. T.62,A&B-1976

Detail of wedding dress, Charles James

Detail of wedding dress, Charles James, England, 1934, silk satin, trimmed with wax orange-blossom, cut on the bias, given by Mrs Alec Hambro. Museum no. T.271-1974

Detail of cream rayon crepe de chine dress

Detail of cream rayon crepe de chine dress, John Galliano, London, 1987, silk, trimmed with satin, flowers made of chiffon, organza, silk and satin, given by Francesca Oddi. Museum no. T.41 to C-1988

Wedding bonnet, maker unknown

Wedding bonnet, maker unknown, England, 1845, silk tulle, crêpe and imitation orange blossom, given by Miss H. Blanche Buckley. Museum no. T.69-1929