Wedding Gowns from Jane Austen Films to Be Featured in New Exhibit

Brides-to-be in need of a little inspiration (and other lovers of the mingling of fantasy and fashion) might consider a visit to Asheville, North Carolina early next year. A new exhibition dedicated to the artistry and style of the wedding dress and attire as seen in feature films is scheduled to open at the Biltmore House, a 250-room French Renaissance style chateau built in the late 1800s.

“Fashionable Romance: Wedding Gowns in Film” will feature wedding fashion from 19 classic movies set in the years 1645 to 1935, including three films based on the popular Jane Austen novels: Sense and Sensibility, Emma and Pride and Prejudice.

The exhibition will be on view from February 12 through July 4, 2016.

Biltmore was the vision of George W. Vanderbilt and today exhibits the Vanderbilt family’s original collection of furnishings, art and antiques. The estate encompasses more than 8,000 acres, including renowned gardens designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Sr., who is perhaps best known for his work in New York’s Central Park.

“Biltmore has been a location for weddings and romantic getaways since George and Edith Vanderbilt married in 1898,” organizers of the show said in a statement. The exhibition will also celebrate Biltmore’s history and will showcase stories and mementos from weddings held there, including those of the Vanderbilt and Cecil families. Costumiers Cosprop, Ltd., London will recreate the wedding gown worn by Cornelia Vanderbilt in her marriage to John Cecil in 1924, which will be on display.

The Biltmore’s floral design team will create arrangements intended to complement the different film eras represented.