The Regency Era Marriage Season | 18th Century Debutantes, Georgian London and Partying at Vauxhall

[@EllieDashwood]

Hey guys!!! Thank you *so much* for watching and being here and being generally the awesomest community on KZbin. 💕💕💕

[@laumessirenfijes]

I watch all of your videos, big virtual hug from Argentina 🇦🇷

[@marig9236]

side note I love your top

[@GhislaineBeauce]

Just a note, I think your subtitles don't quite match up with what you're saying, a lot of the time.

[@danip3270]

Thank you for such engaging videos for those of us who love all forms of history, as well as the occasional touch of Austen romance 💛. New Coloradoan subscriber here, who just moved back to Florida, but secretly plans to get my future retirement cottage in the rolling hills of the UK or Ireland someday (been to Ireland but not UK yet). As much as I love history, I was shocked I wasn’t already a subscriber. Quick question for you about the change in the time of year these seasons occurred…..do you know why the season for this changed so drastically? If the weather didn’t change, what would have prompted them to have the season throughout the colder and wetter winter? Thank you again for such great videos, and FYI, I’ve never seen Bridgerton either.

[@Bulhbluhbuy]

Where did you get the top from? Its so cute im obsessed

[@kirstenpaff8946]

The Regency marriage season sounds like an introvert's nightmare. Also, I feel sorry for the poor opera singers. Like, you have years of training under your belt, giving the performance of a lifetime, and absolutely nobody is paying attention to you, because Lady so and so is sitting next to Lord such and such and everyone must loudly share their opinion on the suitability of their marriage.

[@EllieDashwood]

😂😂😂 This 💯 true

[@tessat338]

They wouldn't exactly have been sharing their opinions loudly. Excluding others from their confidences was the whole point. However, they wouldn't be paying full attention to the performance and the contestant buzz of conversation would have been distracting for a performer. They would also wonder in and out at random points throughout the performance. I do agree that it would be an introvert's nightmare. You can see why Mr. Bennet hates the whole concept.

[@gasparinha]

Opera singer here: opera as background music was pretty common until mid-century, and even later. You can talk through Mozart and Rossini but not Verdi and Wagner!

[@limecilla7612]

Also, even with all this chit-chat going on, some opera songs became very popular hits on their time. It's amazing that composers at the time were able to create real earworm songs, that even distracted people found catchy.

[@kirstenpaff8946]

@@gasparinhaNow I am just imaging Wagner composing Ride of the Valkyries to spite the chatty opera goers. Try talking through THIS, muahahaha!

[@tsipaswan]

As a former professional opera singer, I truly believe the reason opera is failing is that we stopped letting people talk and flirt and eat and drink through the performances. They’re much less interesting when it’s all you’re allowed to do for three hours! 😂🙈

[@danielholden5847]

Or much longer if it's Wagner lol

[@deseuryderia]

that and my carmen tickets were 150 CAD each for balcony. loved it tho. 😭😭

[@widowrumstrypze9705]

My friends and I made certain that our current season would be a Sunday matinee, on Family Day. That way, we get to see KIDS actually enjoying themselves, not being "shushed". It's actually against the RULES to shush anyone on Family Day! (And, thank you for your service to our almost 600 year old tradition! )

[@annlidslot8212]

Hi, Unless it's Wagner of course. It's very difficult to chat during the Ring Cycle. To some extent Verdi too. His choruses can be loud, but you could probably sing along in them. What I can't remember is if the whole listening at the opera started with the belcanto, or if that was all down to Wagner, and where the whole noisy situation of the opera world goes together with the public outcry in Paris, after the premier of Carmen. Yours, Ann

[@Roseliptillgirl]

I'm starting to understand why women of the time fainted so much. Facing the prospect of attending Social Event no. 327? *swoon* "Nah, I'm good!" Obnoxious suitor keeps being pressed on you? Me (already pitching sideways) "Byeeeee!"

[@OcarinaSapphr-]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@DipityS]

Heh! I kept thinking of having to be pleasant and welcoming (but not too welcoming!) to a Robert Ferrars or the fellow from Northanger Abbey who's all 'my horses are the best' and 'I do it better than anyone else'. Eck!

[@nobody8328]

Right?! I'll need some sherry for my poor, delicate nerves, too. 😁

[@nette9836]

Did they or is that just what you see in movies? I don't read many primary sources suggesting fainting was a common phenomenon among women.

[@rainecormier2935]

So literally, I was listening to Ellie talk about a single evening and I got so tired I got back into bed 😂😴

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Someone took “Humans are social animals” seriously because people had a mating season. (Terms and Conditions apply)

[@EllieDashwood]

😂😂😂😂

[@TheQueenAndTheKing]

Thank you for making me giggle out loud! (talking about animals, I sounded like a pidgeon)

[@sweatyskeleton7390]

Went from "Humans are _Social_ animals" to "Humans are social _Animals_ "

[@desertdaisymarie6951]

It's one of those sentences, depends where you put the emphasis....

[@MissSunTonic]

Damn, "don't go into the dark area to avoid the creepy guys" is something that is NOT going to ever change, isn't it?

[@melfreemans]

The dark walk reminded me of my friend and i getting turned around and wandering into a very bad area of the French Quarter during Mardi Gras back in 1985. A tall black drag queen came bolting towards us from the shadows. He grabbed us by the shoulders and stopped us dead in our tracks, then he gently turned us around and headed us back in the right direction telling us "y'all girls git back, there ain't nuthin for you down here". He probably kept us from getting into serious trouble! So he was our guardian angel drag queen that night. I will never forget him.

[@laraalford3995]

Thats such a nice story omg

[@thegeorges2384]

What was this tall dark dragon queen wearing?

[@IzzyMarrie]

​@@thegeorges2384Oh my goodness, DRAGON QUEEN!! Now I DESPERATELY want to see some fabulous drag queen pull off some dragon-inspired outfit

[@hollyro4665]

I think we should revive this. But instead of looking for husbands, we take that part out, we just get dressed up and do the balls and theatre and walking in gardens for a while at some point in the year. Like a holiday but with literally everyone you know and don’t know

[@asamanyworlds3772]

Be fun

[@rebeccan7276]

you should look into visiting Vienna during ball season!

[@MikaelaKMajorHistory]

Yas please. And no one person should have to spend immense fees so the more people attending, the cheaper the ticket to attend, and the venue and all the amazing food and music could be covered! (Although that in itself could be expensive)

[@BrunaX5]

Dude I would love to party from March to June as well! Just go to balls, plays, opera and walk around gardens. Sounds like heaven!

[@riadelliane5053]

it's definitely possible among rich people, peasants like me don't have the money nor the time lol

[@sh0eh0rn4]

my favorite romance novels have always been about Regency England, but in all my high school fantasies and daydreams, I never pictured myself wearing one of those weird triangular hat things. I did, however, fancy myself a time traveler who had all men falling at my feet because I brought 21st century hygiene products with me during my travels, and I was ever the freshest daisy at the dance. in case anyone is wondering, I still don't have any friends.

[@bajabl]

WHAT HAHAHA

[@Seeitall728]

This is great

[@NanaLunaTik]

🖤

[@4everu984]

Yes. You do Have friends! We are right here. 🤙🏼🙏🏻

[@Bolaseyi]

Historical romance books recommendations please 🙏🏾?

[@melindasawyer7948]

Anyone else lose audio from the Masquerade v. Costume Ball section to the end? How am I ever going to know the difference? 😂

[@liliunterberg9167]

Same

[@extraterrestrial1614]

I thought it was just me bc nobody else seemed to mention it 😭

[@deannastone9377]

Came to the comments because of this specifically. I wanted to make sure it wasn't just me

[@Beth-sn9ip]

Glad you said something, I was thinking something was wrong with my phone

[@lottaraatikainen3942]

Me too, and the texts won't go on for that section either. I wonder what was said in that part of the video.

[@eviefromthemummy]

I love how you're phrasing everything as though we're all about to embark on the social season ourselves

[@mell4248]

Lol love the pro tips, yep will keep that in mind for next time I failed to find my husband this season

[@lorisewsstuff1607]

My son overheard the video and said, "That sounds like Facebook." Before the electronic age networking had to be face to face. That's about the best definition of the season that I've ever heard. It was Georgian Facebook.

[@annewandering]

and no one has to marry who they don't want and no one has to go to balls or give cards to butlers.

[@MissAlyssa108]

Poking back in the early Facebook days was the equivalent of leaving calling cards

[@heidiooohs]

My thoughts exactly

[@violet-fl9ve]

Or did he just say that because she said "social networking" a few times?

[@ThanksHermione]

I've seen this video before and when rewatching it I noticed that it mutes at 17:10. The sound doesn't come back on.

[@giovana4121]

I can only imagine how frustrating it would be to want to watch the plays but no one lets you and you still have to be polite to them! It must have been death for the artsy kids at the time.

[@EllieDashwood]

It would be really hard!

[@elisabethn2893]

I was thinking the same thing! Imagine trying to go see the same play 3 nights in a week and still never getting to follow the story T_T

[@scarlettblythe]

This exact scene happens in Fanny Burney's Evelina and it is EXACTLY like when you're desperately trying to watch a movie and your housemates are having a loud argument behind you over whose turn it is to take the trash out

[@giovana4121]

@@scarlettblythe I was meaning to read Burney for a while, but now you've got me really curious.

[@scarlettblythe]

@@giovana4121 Evelina is really good! I've not read Cecilia or Camilla yet. I've heard Camilla isn't as good and her later stuff isn't her best, but I'm very keen for Cecilia.

[@gisawslonim9716]

In Russia it was customary to change your outfit and your jewels in your private box (you brought your maid along for that) at the opera and your maid helped you achieve a new look for the next section of the evening. No wonder they had a revolution!

[@alisaurus4224]

Seems like a ripe market for in-town highwaymen, or i suppose that’s just regular robbery

[@carololiveira4831]

First of all, can you imagine being an introvert in the 1700/1800s, Jesus Christ, the horror… I think it’s fascinating to see that people have always been people. I love your videos because we can trace so many parallels to what we do today, what teenagers and young men and women are like now! For example, going to the pleasure gardens was like going to the mall with your friends; you’ve been enough times to know the place, have favourite spots, favourite activities. You all might go with the intent of perusing one specific shop, or going to the cinema, or on a shopping spree, or just hanging around the food court eating and chatting. Different times of day and social circles and just personality affect how you dress up to go - and when you dress up nice, you low-key want other people to see how stylish you are. Your friends might bring along some friend of theirs to match up with you, or you just go to gossip with your girlfriends. We’ve all gone but we keep going, it’s just a thing to do! Idk, it’s just nice, people are still the same, you know… I think pleasure gardens are portrayed in the show Vanity Fair, btw, not sure though. There are still high profile parties and events, and private parties where people meet others and make friends and… fall in love? Idk, I don’t go to any, but they exist. It’s still the way to meet people, specially when we become adults, because we don’t have school to do that at anymore. I love how you said Almack’s was THE place to go to at some point, but after some time it’s popularity died down. I imagine new generations being like “ugh, Almack’s is so lame, everyone goes there. Honestly I think it’s overrated, let’s do something fun” and trying to be all indie and stuff… Again, people just being people.

[@Mespoina]

Yeah thats Darcy

[@sandysox]

What has Jesus Christ got to with it. He is my Lord and God not a cheap exclamation

[@MrMandy789]

I was just thinking omg my favourite part would be sleeping!

[@heatheravello4053]

@@sandysox if it helps I don't think it was meant casually... I'd be invoking God's name if I were an introvert forced into these dreadful parties too, and I'd be dead serious in doing it!

[@carololiveira4831]

@@sandysox He’s my Lord and God too! ^^ It’s chill

[@penultimateh766]

Finally! Dashie is back to give me the practical info I need to marry a Viscount! She's amazing...

[@EllieDashwood]

Aw! Thank you! Also, I have great confidence in your Viscount catching skills. ✨👍🏻

[@MilkyWhite1]

Don't sell yourself short. Aim for that duke.

[@franhunne8929]

There is a book out there, how to marry an English Lord - but the main condition was: Be a rich American heiress ...

[@missymurder1602]

@@EllieDashwood if it's ok to ask... do you sometimes share your opinion in regard to the historical accuracy of certain period films thanks

[@AstarionWifey]

@@franhunne8929 maybe just maybe there’s hope for us peasants 😂 What if the Duke/Viscount/Lord etc. want to get away from that life

[@PokhrajRoy.]

‘Downton Abbey’ had a whole season leading up to Lady Rose being presented in court.

[@EllieDashwood]

Some great Downton episodes there. 👍

[@rachelelionbaird3015]

The sound cuts out at 17:03

[@morganfeenie7089]

Pleasure gardens were like the mall in the early 2000s. There to be seen with your friends and spend your parents money

[@lisakilmer2667]

Good overview! So many comments are about the challenge of being an introvert during a Season -- now we can all understand Mr. Darcy's bad mood and rudeness at going to a ball where he knew no one. I never enjoyed the "meat market" at college, especially since all the girls were warned over and over and over how dangerous the parties could be. I think I'd have been the Regency opera-goer who shushed others so I could hear. That said, my husband and I were dragged to a fireworks concert by a matchmaking friend, and we talked through the whole concert.

[@meng2976]

Wow, being an introvert back then must've sucked so bad 😭

[@EllieDashwood]

100% true!

[@melaniekull9365]

Right?! I would have HATED it. But, I still loved learning about this

[@monicaspoor2993]

Yeah but according to Elizabeth Bennet you can practice yourself out of your original personality :-)

[@jacquelineleitch7050]

I would be in tears. AND you feel robbed of the great art.

[@sarasamaletdin4574]

@Monica Spoor She didn’t say you would practice yourself out of your original personality, just learn enough not to come across as rude. Some people do use being introvert as a personality and don’t try to be considerate towards other people. I doubt she would have bend pushing Mr Darcy to attend these events.

[@bedeorama9881]

Maybe you could cover the cost of clothing in high society, and how they got new clothes designed and made each year

[@anitabasso2965]

Yes, I can't imagine how many outfits these girls had to have.

[@evelynhillier2877]

@@anitabasso2965 dresses were often subtly changed, new flounces added, ribbons changed, etc. to fool people into thinking they were completely new.

[@jmgajda8071]

"Soooooooo many social calls" That's it, I'm done. *leaves Regency era for good LOVED this video! But there's no way I could handle that much social interaction, lol. Btw, your blouse is gorgeous!

[@EllieDashwood]

I couldn’t handle it either!!! 😂 I’m not sure how they survived. Lol. Also, thank you so much!

[@mouseketeery]

You could go to one of the smaller towns for 'The Season'. Less frantic, more opportunities to socialise more calmly with actual friends, less expensive. When you next time-travel, try out Bath, Weymouth, Harrogate, Buxton or Tunbridge Wells or somesuch.

[@adorabell4253]

You didn’t have to go to London. The girls in P&P never went, Emma never went (she hated London), many rich young ladies got married within their own county or one or two beyond.

[@angelicasmodel]

I wouldn't enjoy it now, but 18 year old me would have LOVED it. That's possibly one reason Mrs Dashwood was happy to let Mrs Jennings take two of her daughters to the London season. Her girls could have the benefits of the partying without the need for her to keep up an exhausting social schedule.

[@sarasamaletdin4574]

You could ignore these things and find social sets locally too. These were more for people who were either social or ambitious. Or with parents who were those things lol .

[@Rara-ms4og]

The moment you mentioned November as the start of the season my mind just went: "Nope." There are a lot of birthdays in November in my family so I can already imagine how much my mother would take advantage of them if our family had existed back then

[@tubby6007]

Why are so many people born in November?

[@maritk983]

@@tubby6007 Look at which date is 9 months before early november, and you'll find valentines day.

[@tubby6007]

@@maritk983 that's just one day

[@Danheron2]

Lol *Your mom walks into your bedroom* Your mom. “Rara what are you wearing for your sister’s party” You. “Something casual.” Mom. “No wear something nice I invited some men” You. “What, mother! No you, this is like the fifth this month, you said you wouldn’t invite any to her birthday, she’s six for gods sakes” Mom, “perfect it’ll show your good with children, I expect you to play with your sister but politely don’t stain your dress” You face palming. “Really mother, where do you even meet these people were fighting wars on two continents surely we’re running out of men by now” Mom, “the French are terrible shots dear, now get dressed”

[@sarahhavillamelooliveira5825]

@@Danheron2 Absolutely loved it, did you ever written any books?

[@ZiggyWhiskerz]

Hi Ellie! Rewatching this video again. I'm not sure if someone has told you yet, but at 17:10 the audio quits. And before that, there's a video to click on like there usually is at the end of a video. I'm not sure if that is a sign something is wrong, but i checked my end and everything seems ok. I'm not sure what happened.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

“You don’t understand, you need to find a husband.” - Mrs. Bennet’s motto.

[@barbaraantonelli7782]

I can't imagine having EVERY SINGLE MINUTE of EVERY SINGLE DAY of your day planned. I get exhausted just listening to what was involved! And in Victorian times, being presented at Court was RIDICULOUS!!!

[@jacky3580]

I suppose the frantic activity helped men want to pop the question!

[@jonnarobinson7541]

I read a book written by a well-known courtesan in the 1820 period. They also went to the theater opera and St. James Park looking for wealthy patrons. Interesting social customs. Your video was excellent.

[@AW-uv3cb]

Could you give the title, please? Can it be found online? 🙂

[@petrichorweather350]

That is so cool where do you even find these books?

[@vanntori2404]

May I ask what is the title?

[@teresaellis7062]

As a shy introvert, I would have died an old maid! 🤣🤣My husband and I bonded over nerdy stuff like Weird Al and perfecting a soda bottle/baking soda bomb.

[@imtired6104]

I'd love to know what the minimum wardrobe requirements would have been for all of the parties/outings. Did you have to have all your dresses made beforehand or did you have to have more dresses made during the Season? Did the debutantes have an exclusive dress for their coming out party, never to be worn again, or did they wear it often? Did they do their hair differently as a married woman or was just putting your hair up the only differentiation that was made? Loved the video!

[@Mokomis_]

I can answer some of these but not all. (I'm also procrastinating today so trying to not research dive though I want to so this is all from ontop of my head) In what contemporary novels I've read and what I have studied on the era making over dresses and having over dresses was considered normal. Some would only own a few very fancy dresses and then do them over with new lace edgings, ribbons, appliques and sleeves same could be done with bonnets and hats. (you see this talked about a lot in Jane Austen novels Lydia and Kitty want to buy new lace or ribbons to do over their bonnets and dresses). In the some era's bodices could also be switched out so the same skirt could function both as a day skirt and an evening skirt you just switched out the bodice. Regency gowns though were one piece and not something you could just replace top or bottom part, however wearing a spencer jacket over a previously worn dress would be done, different styling combo's to make an outfit look new. There are examples of gowns being done over with new ribbons as decoration giving the appearance of a new gown. There are thin sheer overdresses that could go over a plainer dress to make it more fancy and the overdress would be replaced but the dress underneath could be used multiple times. If you google regency overdress or doing over you see also pictures of detachable sheer sleeves that would just go over short sleeves etc. Very important though was to have a dress for all occasions, you had to own at least a day dress and a visiting dress, a theatre gown, an opera gown, a ball gown etc. These would have different cuts, a ball gown would be most suitable for dancing in and such. That being said it very much also depended on your status and how much money you had. The aristocracy had to appear rich even if they were short of money, the newly rich had to present their money tastefully etc. I'm not 100% on regency and sources disagree about who would wear caps and when. Often after debuting but before marriage young women could opt out of wearing caps. Married women would be expected to start covering their hair more on a day to day basis while in the home which young unmarried women were not. But yeah sources don't always agree on this practice. Some hairstyles and colours were deemed for married women only but this all changed very quickly. I suspect also that this had to do with status and money and such, married women were allowed more liberty with some stuff but they were also "safe" and not on the marriage market, so I guess they could experiment more freely especially if socially and financially secure but this is just a personal speculation. Now here after I might be crossing over here with the Victorian era but in a lot of recency novels there is talk of the small or little season where some families would spend time in town and prepare for the main season and attend the theatre and such. Some modiste's would be more exclusive than others and those were usually with French fashion influence, but then you also just went to a mantua maker etc. It was expected that you would have almost an entirely new wardrobe for the season if you could afford it especially if its your first season. Debutante dresses if they were having their own ball would often be a keepsake if they could afford to but sometimes they would get done over with new lace or used again with a new bodice etc. You could mix and match your wardrobe to a point. But yeah to five a definite answer to the debutante dress question, it depended on status and finances. If you were rich and sentimental yes keep that dress and never use it again, if not redo it with new applique or ribbons etc and reuse it.

[@evelynhillier2877]

Girls still in the Schoolroom wore their hair down and skirts shorter than floor length. When they were getting ready to be launched into Society, they pinned their hair up and let their skirts down. Caps were worn by married women. Mokomis gives a good summation below on clothing.

[@kayjay2588]

I'm impressed by the "acceptance" of certain colors, materials, feathers and accessories being reserved for only certain ranks of people, and what times of year, ages, and marital status they were allowed. Who decided and how was the word spread?

[@andreabartels3176]

Unmarried young women would wear very light colours. Married women would wear more intense, but still discret colours. Really flashy colours, like a vibrant red, were déclassé, showed lack of taste and were more used by the demi-monde.

[@kikidevine694]

​@@evelynhillier2877unmarried women 'of a certain age ' would also be expected to wear a cap. Iirc Jane Austen started to wear them at about 29.

[@TheVerdantGryphon]

As the mother of a 17 year old beauty, I’m so glad she manages her own social life and I don’t have to shepherd her about to a million parties! That sounds so exhausting.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Pleasure gardens sounds like fun. Bonus points if the street food is good.

[@EllieDashwood]

Food makes everything better!!!

[@elisabethn2893]

Right? Those would for sure be the highlight of the night since you weren't allowed to focus on the stage at the theatre anyway lol

[@TheBestVideosEver333]

“How many times can you go around looking at the mechanical water fountain going wow that’s neat” Me, going to Disneyland multiple times a week: “so many times”

[@Viewer-dj2qk]

Just watched Bridgerton 1:1 after watching this video and can’t believe all of the details they added in! Reference of season ending in June, dark walk, the opera. I know you said you won’t be watching it, but even the first episode might find your delight. It now bothers me that they stand before the queen prior to the Victorian era 😂

[@katherinemiller6639]

Would they not have stood before the Queen before the Victorian time? I have been trying to research this element and have come up short :)

[@RoseTango1]

"Flexing on the poor people is a whole part of the season" - MET Gala, anyone? 😅

[@esi4ever]

I liked the video just because you said I have not and I will not watch bridgerton because it’s not my thing. I really respect you for that! Many people on the internet that make a profit reviewing stuff online will do anything just because there are enough people to request it and you do it for the views or likes. Thank you! I wish more people were like you, not just on the internet but everywhere. Don’t get peer-pressured you guys!

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Georgian and Regency Era’s idea of painting the town red is what modern tourism is about. Some things never change, I guess.

[@ronyagpd]

Bridgerton is very much a 21st century interpretation. For a more historically accurate feel via fiction try Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer. The latter was a 20th century author but her historical research was so accurate that university students had her novels recommended for grasping the social mores of the time. Indeed her books' descriptions of Waterloo in, " The Infamous Army", are used by military historians for plotting models of the battlefields!

[@megroy6396]

If you think she hasn't read Jane Austen you're obviously very, VERY new here.

[@lottaraatikainen3942]

​@@megroy6396I think the comment was aimed at those who have only watched Bridgerton and are making questions to her based on that.

[@MrPedroHunas]

Remember when Catherine Morland went to Bath with the Allens, and they went to a ball at the Upper Assembly Rooms, but when they got there they didn’t have any acquaintances, and so they had to come back home? They didn’t even have enough “tea-things” for everyone, it was so packed for an evening in February. You should’ve mentioned that Bath also had its match-making season, of course not as fancy as London, but still, you could snatch the heir of a baronetcy or the beautiful daughter of a rich navy Admiral with £30.000

[@glendodds3824]

Yes, Bath was a very important social centre. The heirs of baronets could thus certainly be found in Bath, but it was also normal for baronets and their families to attend high society events in London as well.

[@lynseybowe8693]

Love this era! Your videos have helped me understand classic literature even better.

[@EllieDashwood]

Yay! I’m so glad they’ve helped! 😃😃😃

[@elisabethn2893]

Ooooh very nice to finally have the distinction between Masked Balls and Costume Parties, I haven't felt this enlightened since you went into the difference between Dances and Balls!

[@Zodia195]

I know this video is 2 years old, but the audio cuts out when you start talking about Masquerades. There was a time when I read historical romances and a fav era a lot of writers seem to cover was this time period. So pretty much everything you mentioned gets mentioned in stories that take place in London during the "Marriage Season". As curious as I am about this time period, I personally wouldn't want to live in it because of all that socializing lol. I do have ancestors that were British Nobility at one point so I do wonder what it was like for them.

[@BonitaHall]

Very informative video! The cat was a very welcome bonus!

[@alexiadauvergne1903]

No sound after 17:11 What a shame, I really wanted to know the big difference between masquerades and costume balls !

[@mariellouise1]

After consuming numerous Georgette Heyer books I always wanted to go to Vauxhall. Then one marvelous trip to England I went to the London Museum and there … was a lifesize animated tableaux of a section of the gardens with figures dressed in 18th century costumes. I was so happy! Hope it is still there. The rest of the museum shows the evolution of the London area through many eras. Really fabulous. 💖✨

[@jennykraemer1659]

Me too as a fellow Georgette Heyer fan! And I saw that same display at the Museum of London, which is a super fabulous museum by the way. Even my kids (ages 7, 9, 11, and 13) loved that musuem.

[@notsoseriousmoonlight]

I just bought my first Heyer book today. 😊

[@moniqueheubel8970]

Which was your favorite Heyer novel? I loved Arabella! I stumbled on it in middle school and adored it

[@erinb4237]

My favorite part would be the possibility of running into Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon. His voice was positively sinful!

[@reclaimedandrested]

Same🥰🥰🥰

[@liljenborg2517]

Here's the follow-up video idea: If that's the London social season, what do people like the Bennets do who don't live in London and can't really afford to rent a house there? Do they send their daughters to London to stay with relatives there? Is that one of the reasons Mister Bennet is letting his young daughters hang out with relatives and family friends on extended vacations (where they might elope with dubious officers)? Do they jury-rig a smaller local version of the London social scene (like a local roller-coaster park tries to "hey we're just like Disney only cheaper!") the way Mrs. Bennet brags about being able "dine with four and twenty" families in their neck of the woods? I'd be curious to see your opinion on the anime "Emma: a Victorian Romance".

[@glendodds3824]

Hi. Mr Bennet disliked London and so hardly ever went there. But as he had an annual income of £2,000 (a very large sum of money at a time when most families lived on less than £50 per annum) he would have been able to afford accommodation in London. Moreover, the journey would have been short for his estate was only about 25 miles from the city. We know, for instance that Colonel Brandon in Sense and Sensibility also had £2,000 a year and spent time in London even though his estate in Dorset was at least 100 miles from the city. Finally, some of the gentry with lower incomes than the Bennets and Colonel Brandon, or who lived further afield, had their own social centres. For instance, the City of Durham in the north of England was a place where gentry families in the region had their own version of the London season.

[@Amateur_Pianist_472]

In pride and prejudice, they went to local balls and found husbands.

[@michaelhandy4018]

Local was a choice, Bath or Brighton equally popular as cheaper, chiller alternatives. I think Austen (I've only read the draft once) specifically states Sanditon is supposed to be a slightly less-hectic alternative to Brighton for the Season.

[@Rebecca_English]

In Sense and Sensibility, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood were invited to the London Season by Mrs. Jennings ... So I'd imagine that did happen occasionally! But Mr Bennett just hated London, so the Bennett family didn't go. Mr. Bennett allowed Lydia to go to Brighton just because he didn't want to deal with hearing her whine about not going - and it was more or less a cheap trip. He literally thought that no one would bother to court her because she had such a small dowry. He really didn't think about the future, unless it pertained to his own comfort.

[@franhunne8929]

If you are not quite fancy and rich enough for London, you can have a go at a slightly less fancy place like Bath. Bath was where those who were not quite as fashionable went. Or those even further down the pecking order went to Scarborough.

[@douginorlando6260]

This video fills in what the characters had in mind in P&P when they talked about London. The way history is taught in school misses so much.

[@Saminthea]

Is anyone else having an issue with the video going silent a little bit into Masquerades and Costume Balls?

[@EllieDashwood]

Yes, you're not the only one! I reached out to YT support yesterday and they're working to fix this. Sorry for inconvenience! 🙈

[@livclarke6463]

the sound cuts off during the custome ball section till the end. is it just me?

[@natpleo]

Just finished an online video call exam, so this new video is my post-exam treat, thank you for your impeccable work Ellie!

[@EllieDashwood]

Yay! I’m so glad you’re done with your exam! Party time 🎉🎊 And thank you!

[@Anna-B]

This is so helpful! I’m writing a book that takes place during the regency season, but it was hard to find stuff

[@EllieDashwood]

Yay! I’m so glad it helps. And it is a really hard topic to find information on because it’s no where nearly as well documented as the Victorian season. And that’s so cool about your book!

[@elizabethclaiborne6461]

Girl, a debut season is crammed with subtext and subtle class markers. You should start with The Year, the American debut season in the old cities. Surprisingly little has changed.

[@ering7530]

The Writer's Guide to Everyday life in Victorian and Regency England by Kirstie Hughes was helpful for me.

[@kennashey]

I really liked a series of romance books, not because it followed the women around, but the bachelors! The theme was that a group of retired military officers, starting after the Napoleonic wars, had to get married. They were basically terrified of the London season....LOL The series is called the Bastion Club.

[@evelynhillier2877]

If you want to read novels set in the Regency period, and a lot of it in London, read Georgette Heyer's books. She dealt with the business of young ladies and their hopes of happiness by finding the right husband. More fun to read than it sounds, and a great window into history. I refuse to watch Bridgerton because there is very little accuracy in it and I'd end up yelling at the tv.

[@midnightblack07]

I loved this video! It was such an accessible breakdown of a concept we hear about so often in Regency/Victorian books, shows, etc. It all sounds so glamorous, but my introverted self would be running for the hills by the second social call of the day haha.

[@rowanwinn4723]

Audio stops at about 17:10

[@EllieDashwood]

Sorry about that! I’ve contacted the YT support team and they’re working on it. 🙈

[@MemoryOfA]

Does anyone else have the sound completely go out at 17:10? I tried running the video in a different browser and it happened there as well. Tips?

[@ocjane7146]

Didn’t want to watch Bridgerton because I knew it was going to be some weird anachronistic drama …. but since lots of people were talking about it, I gave it a go. Obviously not at all what I like but I did appreciate the work they put into it. I also think it’s stuff like that which can steer people into this regency literature appreciation niche. That can only be deemed a win, specially for people that make content like this. Thanks for your videos!!!

[@simplystreeptacular]

What I love about Bridgerton is that it isn't even pretending that it invited historical accuracy over for tea, unlike certain other shows which shall remain nameless [cough]TheTudors[/cough]. I love my faithful Austen adaptations et al, but Bridgerton is one giant Twinkie. One giant, Regency-flavoured Twinkie. And damn it, sometimes a girl just wants to stare at Rege-Jean Page with his shirt off.

[@Darkslide99]

@@simplystreeptacular agreed. It’s fantastic entertainment not meant to be historically accurate by any means. I Loved it! Super idealized world that wouldn’t be terrifying to jump through time to “go back” to!

[@sharonreeves9093]

P

[@bboops23]

Loved every second of that anachronistic nightmare

[@Kiayin7]

I wasn't its biggest fan, but I did appreciate some of the things they attempted, such as their classical reinterpretations of contemporary hits. Some of the classical composers of the time were seen as really popular figures, almost rockstars -- their music was fresh. It is difficult to convey the same feeling and create a similar atmosphere with old classical pieces nowadays for a young audience. By rielaborating hit songs in a similar style, I think the impression they left on the audience may have been closer to that of the time than if they'd used historically accurate pieces.

[@elizabethclaiborne6461]

In the US, today (2021) there are four cities with a year long debut season. The parties get epic, lots of themes and decoration. Lots of evening dresses and ball gowns and flaunting of wealth. But, an old connected family if modest means will way out debut new money, there’s a lot behind who’s on the society page in August and who’s still there on Ash Wednesday. New Orleans Mardi Gras exists so a few debutantes can carry a family’s standard as Fanciest.

[@radhiadeedou8286]

The point was marriage, so your whole comparison falls flat from the beginning

[@sinclairlanier4081]

@@radhiadeedou8286 The point of the debut season is, while mostly unspoken, still marriage. Finding love and security is naturally the secret wish in the hearts of so many participants even though the attitudes around the debut have changed quite a lot over the past 20/30 years. The young men and women are, for the most part, concerned about building a career before they marry, yet, the deb party/ball scene still flourishes in New Orleans. Participating in the debut season provides increased social and career connections and the potential of meeting a future spouse. Finding love is, and will always be, on the minds of young adults and it will always be part of the debut.

[@erracht]

Love your kittyyyyy!!! Anyway, I think I would have looked forward to the dinner parties and sampling fine upper-class English fare!

[@EllieDashwood]

🐈‍⬛ says 👋! Also, it’s all about the food ✨🍗

[@vivibee3943]

I think we should bring back the pleasure gardens (minus the dark walks though!). They just sound like a fun thing to do in the summer. There's a part in "The other Bennet sister" that takes at Vauxhall, it's a good read.

[@teambeining]

Bridgerton is intentionally not meant to be fully accurate … hence the open casting and wild colors. They are playing on what a whirlwind “the game” was - accentuating the sometimes crazy circumstances of the books. Trying to be the opposite of stuffy as some representations. For those who haven’t read the books, IMO the next season, covering the Viscount who loved me should be hilarious because some of the things Anthony does is just ridiculous. 😂

[@kathleenkalt3852]

I didn't think any season could top, "THE DUKE" but I loved season 2. So, much tension.

[@franhunne8929]

Maybe I am mistaken about this - but wasn't it that the Season was aligned with the Parliament sitting - and that they therefore had a small season from November to about Christmas, after that it was shooting Grouse in the country side and celebrating Christmas in their fancy rural retreats. And the main Season was indeed from around Easter to late June (after that London was unbearable, the river stank - no plumbing ... ) I cannot remember without looking it up where I read it, but I read that families wanted their daughters to come out in the main Season and only daughters who failed to get a husband then were taken to town again in the Small Season, to try again. Wish I could give you my source so you could either agree - or find it flawed (cannot vouch for that).

[@glendodds3824]

Emily, Countess Cowper, was one of the ladies who decided who could gain admittance to Almack's. What is significant is that both her grandfathers were baronets; holders of a title which is often wrongly dismissed as of little or no importance by people who think baronets were peripheral figures in genteel circles.

[@annec8127]

Love the kitty appearance at the end. *Mew!*

[@juliaconner8003]

Your cat looks just like my boy Muffinator. He's gone now, but was smart and an excellent hunter. I've had to chase down many birds, chipmunks, shrews, and even a bunny. He was a great cat!

[@m-the-bug]

You've mentioned in a lot of your videos that was common during the season to go to the Opera or the theater multiple times a week; Would you be consider doing a video on the theaters of this time period? What the shows were, how actors were treated, how many different shows they put on, things like that? If not that's fine, too. Either way your videos are really informative and cool!

[@thealucas7247]

This is the first of your videos KZbin has recommended to me. Will be the first of many I assure you! Exactly the kind of historical knowledge I’m craving rn.

[@xbdandix]

“It was the rich and privileged who ran England at the time”. As a Brit, I can tell you it STILL is run by the rich and privileged.

[@heidil851]

Came here to say this 🙃

[@KingOfLimbs]

We are doing the play "Sense and Sensibility" by Kate Hamill. This is great background material to help the actors understand the historical context of the "wedding season". Thanks for the content!

[@Felixia33]

I just wanted to say thank you, Ellie, for putting so much though not only in your videos but also in the research. I really like your content, as a writer, I take great inspiration from them, and putting the sources in the description helps a lot!

[@TheNicolevertone]

So, Buchart Gardens, on Vancouver Island, is a modern equivalent to the Pleasure Gardens, albeit smaller.

[@Orphen42O]

If social events between April and June were considered part of the Marriage Mart, did the attendance of unmarried men during this period mean that the young man was in search of a wife? Obviously, the whole thing depended on having a sufficient number of eligible, marriage-minded young men around. The men who went to the Almanack balls must have realized they were being evaluated as marriage partners. Was there any social imperatives for men to attend Marriage Mart events? In Regency novels, there is usually a big age difference between the bride and groom. At what age would men start attending the events of the Season?

[@ggwo5492]

It varied from male to male. Are you the sole heir or a second/third son? If you are a “spare” son, can your family afford to give you an inheritance and/or lesser title, or will you be seeking an heiress to make your way in the world? You could be a widower, seeking a second wife to beget heirs because your first died in childbirth. TL;DR, men has more flexibility in when they joined the marriage mart, depending on their circumstances and/or personal desires.

[@RogueCrafterJess]

Part of the job of a good hostess at the time was to get as many eligible men to these parties as possible and to make sure you have a good balance for dinner and dancing. You also have card rooms and men trying to socialize with each other about politics and estate/social business.

[@sarasamaletdin4574]

If the richest would but want to attend, it’s not like there would have been a want of more lower income men looking to make a good match and spend time in parties making connections. They might not afford to attend many events but would try as well.

[@justsomegirl_xiii]

When haruhi from Ouran highschool host club said “damn rich people” I felt that

[@nagisa1koneko]

At 17:20 in the clip the sounds drops

[@Omnomnomnivore.]

There’s still a pleasure garden called Tivoli in Copenhagen. It’s pretty spectacular..!

[@GoldieLoqs]

This kind of lifestyle sounds fabulous, but exhausting. How does someone make social calls during the day, visit the pleasure gardens, see a play and also hit up a party all in a single day? I wouldn't be able to get out of bed the next day. Maybe if I was 18 again lol. Love your videos.

[@kaprenamoore5721]

I just found your channel. How are you so much fun?! I paused my regency era novel to watch your video and now I understand the marriage season! Thanks!

[@giuliasturlese1876]

So excited for this one! Love what you do on here 😊💓

[@EllieDashwood]

Hope you like it! 😃😃😃 And thank you!!! ✨

[@kevingregory-evans6285]

I love that this World is so big and complex that with all the current conflicts in the world, militarily and socially, you found the time to post about Regency debutantes. God bless you :)

[@portlandrestaurants]

I really love dancing so definitely the balls. Thanks for the explanation on Pleasure Gardens. It's a little disappointing what they actually were though.

[@EllieDashwood]

Balls sound so exciting! And Pleasure Gardens definitely sound different than what they were. 😂

[@yveslafrance2806]

@@EllieDashwood Maybe you could make a video about the dances at a ball. I think the pavanes were already out for decades before the Regency, but you had the country dances, which are accessible and fun. You also had the fancy ones needing a dance master (young people spent *years* learning dances before appearing in society). And of course, there was the scandalous waltz (no waltzes at Almack’s). Dances in Regency movies are often good as it’s not difficult to find a group who knows their stuff.

[@elinat2414]

As a child I used to dream of being a Georgian or Victorian lady during the season. Wearing pretty dresses, going to balls, parties and plays sounded so fun! Now that I'm an adult....the thought of socialising endlessly and making small talk, all while my elders anxiously contrive to find me a husband in the two or so social seasons before I'm on the shelf. It sounds like a waking nightmare.

[@an.iron.butterfly]

I think I'd have preferred the literary readings and salons, as I'd have been considered quite a bluestocking. Oh, and the subscription library would've been delightful--find a book and a pleasant place to read and be seen in St. James or Hyde Parks. :)

[@breannab7112]

I literally came here because of Bridgerton lol. You know your audience well!

[@nikkirodriguez9162]

So love your kitty!! My 2 were watching this video with me ❤

[@EllieDashwood]

Awwww! Hi kitties!!!

[@jeffjohnston7642]

The Regency Era was the early part of the 19th century. Thanks

[@rosezingleman5007]

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the Lennox Sisters-Caroline, Louisa, Emily and Sarah, from the late Georgian era. I’ve always thought Dear Jane might have been influenced by the gossip about these high-born sisters. Stella Tillyard’s book “Aristocrats” is an amazing read. The letters between the sisters are loaded with historical details and also very personal. Louisa’s son was an Irish rebel who died in jail after being shot by the occupying British. It was also done as a BBC costume drama. Just a thought.

[@linnulman7138]

Just read it. Fantastic.

[@Semolina120]

Love this so much! And thankyou for humouring the bridgerton aficionados!

[@mch12311969]

I spend a lot of time at the symphony, so I am guessing that the theater and opera would have been my favorite parts of the season, but honestly as an introvert all of that seeing and being seen would have been taxing beyond belief. More importantly what would Miss Ellie's favorite aspect have been; inquiring minds want to know.

[@angelicasmodel]

Yes, if I had the money for tickets and a babysitter, I would go that often too.

[@Nadia1989]

I hold a seasonal pass for the cheapest seats, which are full of music students and tourists and I love guessing which they are, which sometimes can be more interesting than the performance itself!

[@poetryjones7946]

Ellie, you’re not missing anything by not watching Bridgerton: it’s 90% fake, even down to the costumes, hair, dialogue. So historically inaccurate it’s hilarious 😂 Great video, thanks. ❤

[@persa752]

Thank you Ellie for another awesome video!! While watching it, I thought of the Bingleys and Mr Darcy leaving for London right after the Netherfield ball. And right on time for another London season! Do you think Miss Caroline Bingley or Charles or even Mr Darcy would be attending all these parties and balls in pursuit of a husband/wife?? I honestly can't imagine Mr Darcy socializing much. I get the impression he was way too serious and moral to go partying! Or play the "I'm rich and fancy" card to all the debutantes of the season. What is your opinion??

[@kathleenkalt3852]

Pausing for a moment for heart to re-start after the Bridgerton confession. I grew up reading Georgette Heyer novels, so Bridgerton is a big improvement. As a retired English teacher, the show is one of the few times I've thought the show was better than the books. I really enjoy your deep dives into the contexts of novels.

[@reginamtzv]

Do you think you could do a video on the Debutante's wardrobe must-haves for the Season? I often wonder how many dresses each girl should have, in an era where all were hand made and very expensive...

[@RosyJalifi]

First viewer and really enjoyed your video. Have become a subscriber

[@miriamportugal4703]

I have a question about their clothes. How many dresses would a girl have? If she went out so frequently, it must have been ok to use her dresses over and over again. Or wasn't it?

[@Lorrendogge]

I recall she talks about this in one of her Victorian season videos. It was a terribly pricey amount 😅

[@monickerthejournaler]

💓💓💓yay finally uploaded. Thanks for the vid Ellie!

[@EllieDashwood]

Yay! Thank you!

[@deeboneham2738]

That was really good. Will share on both JA and Bridgerton Facebook groups. Love the cat!

[@allisonrodriguez8937]

Oh my gosh! I just read a YA romance called "Sixteen Scandals" yesterday and stumbled upon your video today. The book featured Vauxhall! I didn't know it was a real thing 😆 thank you for enlightening me! I think I would have loved the pleasure gardens, they remind me of the Renaissance Faire ;)

[@christina-yp6jy]

That was so interesting. I love the Georgian and Regency Era. Thank you.

[@steveshsi7486]

I wish Anthony Trollope barchester chronicles were your thing. You make really interesting videos and I would probably watch videos you did on old phone books. ;-)

[@EllieDashwood]

Wow! That does sound interesting!

[@franhunne8929]

@@EllieDashwood Old phonebooks?

[@DiscClub6]

Love that you actually put sources to back up what you’re saying. Great job!