The V&A collections include wedding dresses, wedding accessories and jewellery, wedding suits and bespoke wedding gifts from the Renaissance period to the present day.
Room 125b: Birth, Marriage & Death
Objects relating to birth, marriage and death in Victorian Britain are on display in this room. Rigid social conventions governed the public and private life for all but th…
Read article
Behind the scenes: Conservation of a Victorian wedding dress
When the display of the dress was reviewed for the British Galleries the curator questioned the profile previously attributed to it.
Read article
Caring for wedding dresses & veils
A guide to caring for your wedding dresses and veils.
Read article
Conservation of the 'May Primrose' wedding dress
The wedding dress of May Primrose became part of the Textile and Dress Collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1990. It was made in 1885 for her marriage to Henry L…
Read article
Renaissance wedding gifts
Young brides were often given pairs of marriage chests, known as cassoni, to hold the linens and clothes they brought with them to the husband's house. Mirrors, expensive a…
Read article
Ethics in Action - Conservation of King James II's Wedding Suit
In 1995 the Victoria and Albert Museum acquired a suit made for King James II of England to wear at his wedding to Mary of Modena.
Read articleMatching images from Search the Collections
Become a V&A Member
V&A Members enjoy a wealth of benefits, including free entry to exhibitions, previews, exciting events and the V&A Members’ Room. In addition, you will be supporting the vital work of the V&A.
Buy or Renew Membership OnlineShop online
The Wedding Dress: 300 Years of Bridal Fashions

This sumptuous book draws on wedding garments in the V&As collection, photographs, letters, memoirs, newspaper accounts and genealogical research …
Buy now








