…to the Wedding of Maria Allaire! On Sunday, June 10th at 1:30pm join the Villagers in celebrating the marriage of James Allaire’s youngest daughter, Maria and her fiance, Thomas Andrews. The ceremony begins at the Allaire Chapel and is followed by a Village Frolic on the Charcoal Depot with wedding cake for all!
Before attending the ceremony, here’s a little information on James Allaire, 19th-century wedding traditions, and the happy couple!
1836 was a bittersweet year for James Peter Allaire and his family. Prior to that year, Allaire had moved his family out of the cholera epidemic sweeping through NYC and into his Howell Works Village. Despite these efforts, in March of 1836 Allaire suffered the loss of his wife, Frances Duncan Allaire, to whom he was deeply devoted. In addition, the flagship of his coastal fleet, The William Gibbons would founder in a storm off the Carolina Coast in the Autumn of that year. The Nation was on the verge of its first financial crisis, the Panic of 1837….Despite these problems, 1836 marked the peak production year for the Howell Works, and Allaire’s youngest surviving daughter, Maria Haggerty Allaire was married.
Maria Haggerty Allaire was born to James Peter and Frances Duncan Allaire on September 9th, 1813. On Sunday, June 5th she wed Thomas Andrews, manager of the Allaire Works in NYC. At the time of Maria’s wedding it was customary for working-class women to wear their “Sunday best” for the ceremony. Maria, however, was an affluent young woman of the era and would have worn a lavish dress especially made for the occasion.
The custom of a bride wearing white would not officially begin until February 10th, 1840, when Queen Victoria married Prince Albert. HM Victoria would shun the tradition of being married in silver brocade bedecked with precious jewels, and designed her own wedding gown of white satin, trimmed in Honiton lace and bedecked with sprays of orange blossoms.
source: royalcollection.org.uk
It was customary during the time of Maria’ wedding for the bride and her attendants to carry flowers. Maria, attended by her Matron of Honor (her sister, Frances) will walk up the aisle on the arm of her father, James, carrying a seasonal tussie mussie- a small bouquet of flowers favored by 19th-century brides. The groom is attended by the Howell Works Company Manager, James Parshall Smith.
After the ceremony, the happy couple will walk down the aisle of the church to greet their guests and well-wishers on the recieving line. During the early 19th-century, physical contact between a man and woman was not socially acceptable. Therefore, only the men shake hands. The ladies curtsey to the gentlemen while they, in turn, bow.
So join our villagers for this happy occasion and spot our homages to traditional wedding practices!
-Hannah
The Historic Village at Allaire 
