Visit the Wedding exhibit at the Hampton-Preston Mansion

This wedding dress from 1881 belonged to Lelia Bernard Meredith who married Richard I. Manning III, a relative to the Hampton and Preston families. This dress is the centerpiece of the Married in Style exhibit. Manning went on to become governor of South Carolina in 1915. The Married in Style exhibit runs until March 3.This printed invitation comes from an African-American family. The fact that they were able to afford printed invitations, a church wedding  and a reception indicated that they could have been better off than most. During the time of slavery, African-Americans had obstacles to marriage, not the least of which was the possibility of being bought or sold. Prior to the Victorian era, wedding dresses came in many colors. Obviously, this dress from the 1860s, fits into that category. It was after Queen Victoria's wedding in 1840 that the white dress became fashionable. However, due to the Civil War, that did not happen in the U.S. until the 1870s and 1880s.View the list ยป
The Hampton-Preston Mansion is hosting "Married in Style," an exhibit of wedding items through March 3

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For Valentine's Day, The Historic Columbia Foundation's Hampton-Preston Mansion is hosting an exhibit on Wedding artifacts and customs. According to Fielding Freed, the Foundation's Director of Houses, the idea for the exhibit came from a curatorial assistant who found a wedding dress from the 1880s in the Museum collection. This dress, which belonged to Lelia Bernard Meredith, who married a relative of the Hamptons, along with several other items, comprises the wedding exhibit.

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According to Freed, the white wedding dress as we know it comes from the Victorian era. In England, they date from the 1860s. Because of the Civil War, which caused a slowdown in areas of fashion, they did not become fashionable until the 1870s and 1880s. Prior to then, wedding dresses came in many colors. A blue dress dating from the 1860s is one of the items on display,

Freed also explained that wedding cakes first became evident around the 1820s. The cake on exhibit would be found in the 1860s.

Hampton-Preston Mansion, Columbia, SC
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There is also a display of other wedding artifacts such as invitations, shoes and other items as well as a small display of African- American wedding items.

The exhibit is part of the regular tour of the Hampton-Preston Mansion and will be on exhibit until March 3.

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View the list
  • Prior to the Victorian era, wedding dresses came in many colors. Obviously, this dress from the 1860s, fits into that category. It was after Queen Victoria's wedding in 1840 that the white dress became fashionable. However, due to the Civil War, that did not happen in the U.S. until the 1870s and 1880s.
  • This printed invitation comes from an African-American family. The fact that they were able to afford printed invitations, a church wedding  and a reception indicated that they could have been better off than most. During the time of slavery, African-Americans had obstacles to marriage, not the least of which was the possibility of being bought or sold. 
  • This wedding dress from 1881 belonged to Lelia Bernard Meredith who married Richard I. Manning III, a relative to the Hampton and Preston families. This dress is the centerpiece of the Married in Style exhibit. Manning went on to become governor of South Carolina in 1915. The Married in Style exhibit runs until March 3.
  • A picture of Lelia Bernard Meredith, along with her shoes and a wedding invitation are some of the other wedding related artifacts available for viewing in the Married in Style exhibit. Notice how small the shoes are! This exhibit opened for Valentine's day and will close March 3. It is included in the regular price of a tour of the Hampton-Preston Mansion.
  • These items, a shawl, prayer book, a man's vest, a family Bible and some stereoscopic pictures are some of the other artifacts in the exhibit. It was quite common in the 19th century to record major events such as weddings, funerals, baptisms etc. in family Bibles. The prayer book was a gift from Mary Cantey Hampton, wife of Gen. Wade Hampton I, to her daughter, Susan Hampton Manning on the occasion of her marriage in the 1830s.
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Doug Steimle was born and raised in New York City. After graduating from ...

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