Silk Wedding Ensemble

This silk wedding ensemble from 1844 originated in Europe and is an example of a silk bridal costume in the 1840s style. Elizabeth Tyler, daughter of President John Tyler and First Lady Letitia Christian Tyler, married William Waller in an intimate White House ceremony on January 31, 1842. Though no exact details of Elizabeth’s wedding gown remain, it is known that her blonde lace veil was made of silk, similar to this gown, making it reasonable that her gown had silk fabrics or trimmings. American silk production had increased by the 1840s and one estimate of American silk production in 1843 valued it at $1.4 million. In December 1839, a national silk convention was held in Baltimore. The rising agricultural and political importance of American-made silk may have led to its incorporation in Elizabeth’s wedding gown.