The Spectacular Wedding of Two 19th Century Superstars
Long before Kim and Kanye or Harry and Meghan, America was fixated on another over-the-top celebrity wedding. Back in 1863, little person superstars Charles Stratton and Lavinia Warren tied the knot in an extravagant New York City affair that attracted crowds in the thousands. A piece from the Wedding cake from 1800s from this famous wedding can be seen today.
Though only 40 inches tall, Stratton was one of the biggest celebrities of his day, dazzling audiences under the stage name General Tom Thumb. His new bride was equally renowned as “Queen of Beauty” Lavinia Warren. So when these two pint-sized performers decided to wed, it caused major excitement across America.
The Road to Stardom
Both Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren owed their fame and fortune to the promotional prowess of circus magnate P.T. Barnum. He recruited Stratton as an entertainer in 1842 after meeting the four-year-old dwarf. Billing him as General Tom Thumb, Barnum transformed the articulate child into a singing, dancing, acting sensation.
Lavinia Warren followed a similar path. Born to average-sized parents in 1841, she started touring with Barnum as a teenager. Crowds adored the charming young woman who weighted only 32 pounds but exuded confidence and talent.
Barnum sensed a megawatt media opportunity in uniting his two little superstars. The public enthusiastically agreed, enthralled by the idea of a real life tiny wedding.
The Big Day
On February 10, 1863, Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren tied the knot in a lavish ceremony at New York City’s Metropolitan Hotel. The bride wore an elegant lace gown and the groom a dapper tailored suit as they recited vows on a grand piano.
Barnum spared no expense, with the hotel decked out in flowers and the rooms filled with champagne, cakes and hors d’oeuvres. A reception allowed paying guests to shake hands with the newlyweds in a receiving line. Each lady even got to take home a boxed fruitcake slice from the six-foot tall, 2,000 pound wedding cake. A slice of the wedding cake from this 1800s extravaganza can be seen today.
Outside the venue, crowds pushed and shoved for a glimpse of the tiny couple. Police were called in to maintain order among the eager onlookers.
The spectacle was dubbed “the wedding of the century” and covered feverishly by newspapers nationwide. Through Barnum’s hype, Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren became America’s first celebrity power couple.
Enduring Popularity
After their splashy nuptials, the newlyweds embarked on a wildly successful honeymoon tour across the United States. Lavinia later gave birth to a baby girl who unfortunately passed away at just five months old.
But Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren remained married for 20 happy years until his death in 1883, evidence that their union was more than a publicity stunt. Their wedding frenzy proved that Americans’ obsession with celebrity culture stretches back far before Hollywood and reality TV. The couple set the blueprint for future tabloid sensations like Brad and Angelina.
Though often exploited and gawked at, the two tiny performers demonstrated tremendous dignity and humanity throughout their unconventional careers. Their spectacular wedding stands as both a symbol of the excesses of fame and a testament to the great joy and connection two people can find together, no matter their size.
