What is a Bridal Trousseau in 2024?

"Seriously? They've lived together for nearly a decade. They don't already have a KitchenAid Stand Mixer?!" a friend of mine recently vented after seeing a particularly long wedding registry. Ages before the practice became fashionable (and The Knot streamlined the process), it was the bridal trousseau that was de rigueur. Much as its name implies, the bridal trousseau ("small bundle" in French) was all about preparing a bride for her new life in the marital home. But with few brides entering into marriage straight from their parents' homes, does it all start to feel a bit passé? Patriarchal much? Let's explore this antiquated (or not) tradition.

In this article:

• What is a Bridal Trousseau?
• History of the Bridal Trousseau Tradition
• The Modern Bridal Trousseau List

What is a Bridal Trousseau?

A bridal trousseau was a bundle (or perhaps a large cedar trunk depending on one's means) of items deemed essential for new brides so that they could start their married lives off on the right foot. Just what was necessary was determined by social convention and of course, the mother of the bride, who historically oversaw the planning of her daughter's wedding. The idea was that everything could be easily corralled and packed onto horse and buggy, steamship, or whatever mode of transportation, ensuring that the bride would have everything she needed after being carried over the threshold.

History of the Bridal Trousseau Tradition

"It's kind of like living in the mountains in a cabin," says bridal historian Cornelia Powell of trousseaux, from her remote North Carolina residence. "It can seem very romantic from afar, but my water pipes burst the other day, so I've been without water." According to Powell, the bridal trousseau tradition really began to fall out of fashion in the '70s, and for good reason. As the women's liberation movement continued gathering steam well into the '80s, weddings (and associated practices such as the bridal trousseau) were one of many institutions to be toppled and deemed uncool.

In her 1973 book And the Bride Wore… The Story of the White Wedding, author Ann Monsarrat lists the trousseau of the decade: 12 pairs of tights, one bra, two packs of paper panties, one pair of suede lace-up knee boots with platform soles, two trouser suits, one pair of blue jeans. "A bride may very well have said her vows on a mountaintop wearing blue jeans and a kimono," says Powell of the period, which marked a dramatic shift from the trousseaux of centuries past. Who needs a dozen of the finest nightgowns from Paris when they can borrow one of their husband's shirts?

"Queen Victoria's 1840 wedding changed the landscape completely," says Powell of prior trousseau customs, explaining that the royal nuptials paved the way for weddings to become broader social events. Coupled with the Industrial Age and a burgeoning middle class, "pretty things" were no longer a luxury solely afforded the aristocracy. "But the heart of the matter for me is that the bridal trousseau stems from a time when women were viewed as property," says Powell. "Brides-to-be were living at home, weren't working, likely weren't educated and that is the sticky point for me." Indeed.

Traditional trousseau items:

• Family heirlooms such as jewelry, portraits or photographs
• Bed and table linens (often sewn or embroidered by hand by the bride and her family)
• Women's clothing
• Household items

The Modern Bridal Trousseau List

Though a bridal trousseau can be as humble or extravagant as the bride receiving one, it should not be confused with a dowry. Powell also points out that the tradition was a huge boon for at least one business: the Lane Furniture Company, which popularized cedar "hope" chests. "It was a commercial enterprise to contain these treasures," says Powell. "Say it's the 1850s and mother and daughter were embroidering lingerie or bedsheets together, you had to have a place to put them to store them if you were doing it in the hope that you would be wed in the future." Fortunately, it's 2024. Our picks for a bridal trousseau 2.0:

A Complete Set of Globe-Trotter Luggage

Photo: Globe-Trotter

Housebound you are not. With pieces perfect for travel and also safeguarding your most prized possessions, the British, Mount Everest-tested luggage brand has been around since 1897. NB: Queen Elizabeth received a set as a wedding gift in 1947 and used them throughout her well-traveled life.

Casa Lopez Mimosa Dinnerware

Photo: @casa__lopez / Instagram

Forget the delicate, dated china that you're unlikely to use and instead opt for something with a bit more heft like Casa Lopez's handpainted Mimosa stoneware. The yellow blooms have been a symbol of the women's movement since the 1940s.

Julia B. Monogrammed Linens

Photo: Julia B. Casa

No embroidery skills? No problem. And who says you need a hint of something blue? Enter Julia B. Casa, experts in custom embroidered and monogrammed linens of all styles and colors, whether or not you're changing your name.

Loretta Caponi Sabina Nightgown

Photo: Loretta Caponi

Forget what we said about that something blue. How fabulous is this silk nightgown? For a mere hint of things old school, it's handmade in Florence.