The Wedding of the American Heiress and The Earl-to-Be
by Kimberly Keagan, September 11, 2023

On the chilly afternoon of December 6th, 1905, American Heiress Eloise Breese and Lord Willoughby de Eresby tied the knot. Newspapers in the United States and Britain, described in the event in full detail. The Grantham Journal said:
“There was a large and fashionable assembly on Wednesday afternoon, at Saint Margaret’s Church, Westminster, when Lord Willoughby de Eresby  (Gilbert Heathcote Drummond Willoughby), MP for the Horncastle Division of Lincolnshire, eldest of the Earl and Countess of Ancaster, of Normanton Park Stamford;  Grimsthorpe Castle, Bourne, Lincolnshire; and Drummond Castle, Crieff […], was married to Miss Eloise Breese, elder daughter of the late Mr. W.L. Breese of New York, and of Mrs. H.V. Higgins, of One Upper Berkeley Street, Portman Square, SW [Eloise’s mother had moved to London after her first husband’s death] some handsome decorations had been arranged in the chainsaw of tall palms and white flowers in the altar vases were also filled with choice white blooms.
 
The bridegroom was supported by his brother the honorable Peter Willoughby as best man there were eight bridesmaids and attendance upon the bride, and who waited her arrival in the spacious porch on the Church of the church, namely, the ladies blanche and Diana Somerset, lady Alice Willoughby, sister of the bridegroom, Miss Ann Breese sister of the bride, Lady Dorothy Onslow, the Honorable Gladys Fellowes, Miss H Moira Goth, and Miss Peggy Cavendish.
 
The four elder ladies were gowned in pale periwinkle dash blue satin, trimmed with chiffon, the skirts having a band of brown fur at the helm; Velvet hats to match the gowns comma trimmed with blue feathers and veils of chiffon. They carried muffs to correspond with their dresses.
The bridegroom presented to them diamond and ruby crescent broaches. The four little girls looked well in long blue coats and hats without veils and the bride groom presented them with diamond and ruby heart lockets.
 
The bride wore a gown of plain white satin, slightly trimmed with lace and silver, and a Brussels lace veil, over a tiara of orange blossom; her only ornament was a pearl necklace, the gift of the bridegroom, and instead of the orthodox bridal bouquet, she carried a prayer book."

The list of gifts was two columns long and included:
  • A tortoise shell umbrella handle from Mrs. Waldorf Astor, junior
  • Two ivory boxes from Mr and lady Evelyn Guinness
  • A diamond and topaz brooch from Lord and Lady Barrymore
  • A large silver cigar box from the Duke of Canaught
  • Copenhagen China vases from Princess Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden
  • A traveling cushion Francis of Teck
  • A diamond tiara from the bride’s mother and a diamond crescent from the bride’s stepfather
  • A diamond necklace with a single stone pendant, a Pearl necklace and a pair of Pearl earrings, three brooches set with diamonds, and a complete chest of silver plate from the Earl and Countess of Ancaster.
Nice gifts!