Today, Belle Mont Mansion is often a beautiful setting for weddings and bridal portraiture, but what would a wedding be like in the late 1800s? To discover, we turn to The North Alabamian newspaper (editor A.H. Keller), publised in Tuscumbia, on Nov. 24, 1882. Col. and Mrs. Gus A. Henry (Ella Winston), according to the account, invited their guests to their home, Belle Mont, for the wedding of their niece, Kate W. Burt, to George M. Garth, of Courtland.
“On Wednesday, November 15, a glorious day of sunshine, a day which from its perfectness would make one designate it a ches d’doeuvre of autumn, when all the woods and fields were glowing bright after the kiss of Indi-an summer, the hospitable doors of the old, ancestral ‘Belle Monte’ were thrown open wide to welcome the guests, invited by Col and Mrs. Gus A Henry to witness the marriage of their niece, Katie W. Burt, to George M. Garth of Courtland — thus giving one of our fairest flowers to be transplanted among the ‘banks and braes of Bonnie Doon.’ At 11 o’clock A.M. the guests had all assembled, and the lovely bride entered the parlors on the arm of the groom, accompanied by the following attendants: Miss Lizzie Bankhead and Mr. Eddie Burt, Miss Minnie B Lindsay and Mr. Jacque Shackleford, Miss May Shackleford and Mr. Philip Gilchrist, jr., Miss Ellen Gilchrist and Mr. McGhee, Miss Mattie Bunch and Mr. Chalmers Hood, Miss Susie Moore and Mr. Frank Sherrod, Miss Mattie Carter and Mr. George Black, Miss Annie L. Moore and Dr. Gillington Chisholm, Miss Dora Armistead and Mr. Robt. Tweedy, Miss Mamie Lindsay and Mr. Edgar Swope.”
What the bride wore …
“The bride was most becomingly attired in a travelling costume of myrtle green, ‘suiting and velvet Gainsboro hat.’ Her throat and ears shone exquisite emeralds.”
“The Bride’s maids all wore travelling costumes, turban hats, (and) mousquetaire gloves.”
The ceremony …
“The ceremony was performed in a beautiful and impressive manner by Rev. R.M. DuBose, after the happy couple received the congratulations of their numerous friends.”
The wedding feast …
“The guests were then invite to partake of a most elegant luncheon — The tables were artistically decorated with the rarest flowers and were sumptuously loaded with the daintiest of viands. Among the decorations we noticed the figure of a youth and maiden standing under a vine-covered arch just about to launch their little bark upon the matrimonial sea, while Cupid hovered above them. May the real youth and maiden steer clear of all tempest and billiws (billows). But love is a sure hand at the rudder and will ever guide them with safety.”
Family …
“Mrs. C. B. Winston (Catherine Baker Winston), the aged grandmother of the bride, was present to give her blessing to the happy pair.”
“Col. And Mrs. G. A. Henry were, as they ever are, the ideal host and hostess. Mrs. Henry was regal in velvet and diamonds.”
“Mrs. Bowling and Mrs. Fountaine (Fontaine) Armistead were untiring in their graceful attention to the guests.”
Guests …
“Among those present from a distance were Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Bankhead, parents of the groom, Dr. and Mrs. DuBose, Dr. and Miss McMahan from Courtland, Mrs. Wm. Bowling, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Angel of Kentucky, Capt. R. B. Pegram, Mr. Wm. Garth and Miss Garth Lizzie (Lizzie Garth) of Kentucky. Among the guests at ‘Bonnie Doon’ were Mr. and Mrs. John Gilchrist, Mrs. Philip Gilchrist, Mr. Joe Gilchrist and Miss Crenshaw of Kentucky, also our handsome young townsman, Mr. W.L. Smith.”
The after-party …
“The merry bridal party left for Courtland on the 2 o’clock train and escorted the newly married couple to their future home, “Bonnie Doon,” the beautiful country place of the Groom. There they were most royally enter-tained by Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Bankhead — assisted by Mrs. DuBose and Mrs. Gilchrist.”
“At 10 o’clock a magnificent collation was served — the tables were most exquisitely arranged with fruits and flowers, and loaded with all things palatable.”
“Right joyously did the moments speed away, and each and every participant in this happy wedding will always keep a rose-hued memory of this time, when love’s sunshine held in abeyance all shadows of care, and shone like a halo around the to young people: who have the best wishes and hopes of their many friends and companions for their future happiness.”
Gifts …
“The bride was the recipient of the following presents:
“An elegant dinner set of hand-painted china from Mrs. R. M. DuBose.
The antique set of silver which has been in the Garth family for seventy-five years, was donated to the Bride by Mrs. Wm. Bankhead, Silver Tea Set from Mr. Eddie Burt, Silver Flower stand, Mr. G. Lueddemann, Elegant work box, cardinal plush, Dr. G. Chisholm, Toilet set, mounted in silver, Messrs. Christian, Nail and Warren, , Crimson satin tidy, Mrs. J. Sampson, Pickle stand, Miss Susie Moore, Silver napkin ring, Miss Annie Lee Moore, Lace Handkerchief, Miss Nellie Julian, Plush and satin tidy, Miss Minnie Lindsay, Silver violet stand, Mr. James Norman and Miss Kate Norman, Silver napkin ring, Miss Gazelle DeLoney, Silver Butter dish, Mrs. Ferguson, Silver Card receiver, Mr. George B lack, Bracket, hand-painted, Mrs. Wm. Sherrod, Elegant floral design, Mrs. John Henry of Louisville — also an elegant buggy from Col. G.A. Henry, A bridle and saddle from Mrs. C. B. Winston and Mrs. G. A. Henry. A fine riding horse from the Groom, and many other presents of which we could not take note.”
Redesigned and reprinted by
Belle Mont Mansion
1569 Cook Lane, Tuscumbia, AL 35674
256-381-5052
Info@bellemontmansion.org
www.ahc.alabama.gov/properties/bellemont/bellemont.aspx
