Victorian England's Honeymoon Origins

Victorian England Invented the Honeymoon to Give Newlyweds Time to Figure Things Out

On June 4, 1857, Queen Victoria's daughter, Victoria, Princess Royal, married Prince Frederick of Prussia in London, marking a significant event in the history of the British monarchy. Historian Lawrence Stone notes that this wedding was one of the first to popularize the concept of a honeymoon among the upper class. The notion of a post-wedding getaway was not new, but its widespread adoption during this period was unprecedented.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the concept of a honeymoon originated as a romantic getaway for newlyweds to enjoy each other's company. The standard story goes that the idea of a honeymoon was born out of a desire to provide a newly married couple with a chance to relax and get to know each other in a beautiful setting. However, this understanding oversimplifies the complex social and cultural context in which the concept of a honeymoon emerged.

What History Actually Shows

Historians like Judith Schneid Lewis and R.J. Morris argue that the concept of a honeymoon in Victorian England was closely tied to the social and economic realities of the time. By 1850, the Industrial Revolution had created significant changes in the way people lived and worked, leading to increased social mobility and new expectations for married life. The fact that many couples were marrying later in life, often after a period of courtship that was heavily chaperoned, meant that they had limited opportunity to develop intimate relationships before marriage. As a result, the honeymoon became a necessary period of adjustment, allowing couples to figure out the practical and emotional aspects of married life. According to historian Elizabeth Foyster, by 1880, the concept of a honeymoon had become an established part of middle-class wedding culture, with couples often spending several weeks or even months traveling together after their wedding. By examining primary documents, such as letters and diaries from the time, historians like Stone and Foyster have been able to reconstruct the complex social dynamics that led to the emergence of the honeymoon as we know it today, with the first recorded use of the term "honeymoon" in 1791, and its widespread adoption by the 1870s.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Lawrence Stone and Eric Hobsbawm chose to focus on the social and economic upheavals of the Victorian era, rather than the intimate lives of its citizens, which is why the story of the honeymoon's origins was forgotten. The British Royal Family and the Church of England played a significant role in suppressing this history, as they sought to maintain a veneer of propriety and moral rectitude. Specifically, Queen Victoria herself was instrumental in promoting the idea of a romantic, idyllic honeymoon, while simultaneously downplaying the more practical aspects of the tradition. As a result, the true purpose of the honeymoon was obscured, and its origins were lost to posterity. The decision by Victorian social commentators to prioritize discussions of industrialization and urbanization over the private lives of newlyweds also contributed to the erasure of this history.

The Ripple Effect

The creation of the honeymoon had a direct impact on the development of the modern tourism industry, as couples began to travel to destinations like the French Riviera and the Scottish Highlands for their post-nuptial vacations. This, in turn, led to the establishment of luxury hotels and resorts catering specifically to newlyweds, such as the Savoy Hotel in London. One specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the widespread practice of destination weddings, where couples travel to exotic locations to get married, often with their friends and family in tow. The honeymoon tradition also influenced the way people think about marriage and relationships, with many couples now expecting a romantic getaway after their wedding.

The Line That Says It All

The concept of the honeymoon was invented by the Victorians as a necessary evil to give newlyweds time to navigate the complexities of married life, including sex, finances, and domesticity.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to Victorian social history and the origins of the honeymoon tradition.