Two ceremonies in two days: the Vanderbilt’s wedding

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In June 1898, George W. Vanderbilt and Edith Stuyvesant Dresser held their wedding in Paris on June 1 and June 2. Why two ceremonies? The first was a civil service and the second was a religious ceremony, in accordance with French law dating from the French Revolution.

Popular opinion had assumed the wedding would be a grand affair, possibly at George Vanderbilt’s home church of Grace Episcopal Church in New York City. Despite the speculation, the couple decided to be wed in Paris with as little fanfare as possible—as possible for a Vanderbilt, that is.

George and Edith were first married in a 15-minute civil ceremony at 3 p.m. on June 1, 1898 by the mayor of Paris at the Town Hall of the Eighth District in the Rue Anjou. According to one newspaper article, the couple had to comply with all the requirements of French law; the civil ceremony was complete with family witnesses, baptism certificates, the marriage certificate for George’s parents, and proof of American citizenship. The couple signed a contract of marriage.

One newspaper described Edith’s dress at the civil ceremony; unfortunately, no photos are known to exist: “The dress worn by the bride to-day was a creation of Laferrière (a noted Parisian fashion designer). It was of café-au-lait crepon, over a lining of yellow silk. The skirt was cut out in a deep Vandyke edged with a fringe of white silk, which fell to the hem. Underneath the fringe, one caught occasional glimpses of yellow lining. The bodice had a rounded collar of mauve taffeta covered with guipure (a type of lace). The bride wore a white straw hat trimmed with pink roses.”

At the end of the civil ceremony, George and Edith left the hall separately, as it would have been scandalous for them to be seen together before the church ceremony the following day.

The religious ceremony was held at the American Church of the Holy Trinity in Paris at noon on June 2, attended by family and close friends. Before the ceremony began, George had to present their civil contract to the clergymen and sign the wedding register. An eyewitness account from the Philadelphia Record reports:

―It was a union of quiet contentment…There probably never was so unostentatious a Vanderbilt wedding since the family made its millions. It is true that the church was full of costumes and the company was very fine, but there was an altogether marked quietness of tone and an absence of display.

​Although there are no wedding photographs available, newspapers described the bride’s attire. Edith—a striking figure at six feet tall—wore an understated Empire-style gown in creamy white satin of French design, with a court train trimmed in the same lace worn by her grandmother nearly a century before. According to the Philadelphia Record, her veil was decorated with lace worn by her mother. Regarding the family lace, the New York Journal declared: “It is an admirable thing to have lace, and it is also an admirable thing to have ancestors, but when one can have both lace and ancestors it is most admirable.”

After the ceremony, the wedding party, family and friends attended a breakfast at Edith’s apartment on Rue Vernet. Natalie Brown, Edith’s sister, provided two bottles of special champagne which their maternal grandfather had set aside at Edith’s birth, to be served on her wedding day. From there, the newlyweds left for Geneva by train to embark on a four-month European honeymoon.

Every wedding is personal for Inn’s floral designers

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We’ve been talking a lot about weddings lately. Mostly those that have happened in the distant past. Today we talk a bit about weddings that happen at Biltmore in the present tense.

Did you know that this year alone, more than 200 weddings are scheduled for venues across Biltmore? Jodee Mitchell, Floral Designer at the Inn, and her team will have their hands in some of those events.

“It’s so personal to us. We put a lot of emotion into it and want everything to be perfect. Many of the brides have been thinking about their perfect wedding since they were little girls, so it’s a huge, important day,” said Jodee.

By the time a large wedding takes place, Jodee and her team have been in touch regularly with the bride for months. The process usually begins with booking the venue, often a year out. Fall weddings are especially popular and venues book up fast for this gorgeous season.

Floral Designer Jill Rutherford said the initial meeting with the bride, and often her mother, is the most important. “We talk about décor, look at the venue, nail down the date, get a feel for budget, and listen to the bride’s ideas. We also offer our own ideas, things we know will suit the selected venue.”

A flurry of emails are traded after that first meeting; the team offers more ideas and sends photos. Many brides create Pinterest boards to exchange ideas. After the details are ironed out, the team and the bride hold a final meeting where the team presents a mock set-up.

Today’s décor is decidedly different from even a decade ago. Jill says many brides want more than flowers.

“We often create display pieces, use fabric draping, and order signage and rental furniture,” she said. “We’ve even decorated a candy table for the reception! And theme weddings are very popular now.  We always suggest that the bride selects a look that matches the venue to let it shine.”

Most of the actual set-up for both large and small weddings happens within a week.  Some of the preparation can include setting up frame systems to accommodate hanging items, creating arbors, putting the floral arrangements together, and painting things as needed. Jodee credits Biltmore’s engineering team for their professional and fast help. Everything that’s built must also be taken down, and she and her team do that too.

“When we are at the actual wedding and see the bride we feel so proud of the work we’ve done to make their day exactly what they wanted and really magical. We take pride into our work.  The whole team is equally excited about making each wedding look spectacular,” Jodee said.

Cornelia Vanderbilt’s Wedding: A Sweet Discovery

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Our Museum Services team made a sweet discovery related to Cornelia Vanderbilt’s wedding to the Honorable John F.A. Cecil on April 29, 1924. It’s a fascinating detail that was recently uncovered in an attic—a first for Biltmore—and the sweet discovery all started with a simple phone call.

Fred Cothran proudly holds the keepsake cake from the Vanderbilt-Cecil wedding.
Fred Cothran proudly holds the keepsake cake from the Vanderbilt-Cecil wedding.

A sweet discovery

In 2014, Biltmore acquired a piece of cake for the Biltmore collection, which our curators confirm is the only edible artifact now housed in the archives. Cake? For the archives? Indeed. And even more of an enticing tidbit: we believe that it’s about to be 100 years old!

Candler resident Frederick Cothran, then 96, found the cake in a trunk he inherited from his aunt, Bonnie Revis. Miss Revis was a cook at Biltmore House between 1924 and 1935. He contacted Biltmore’s museum services department to report that he had what he thought was a piece of cheese from Biltmore House. Not wasting any time, Laura Cope, Collections Manager, paid a visit to Cothran.

“Food is personal. People bond over it, and it’s easy to relate to it on several levels,” she says, and that’s why she had to see the cheese for herself.

Keepsake cake with monogram details.
Keepsake cake with monogram details. “CVC” for Cornelia Vanderbilt Cecil and “JFAC” for John Francis Amherst Cecil.

When she met Cothran he presented her with a neat and tiny box engraved “Biltmore House” on the top. Two sets of monograms are engraved on either side: “CSV” for Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt; and “JFAC” for John Francis Amherst Cecil.

After getting back to Biltmore House, Laura researched the customs of the day and realized that this was more than likely cake rather than cheese. Then, upon hearing a recording of Paul Towe from Biltmore’s Oral History collection,  she and her colleagues confirmed that this was indeed cake – fruit cake – that the Cecils gave out as favors on their special day.

Mr. Towe recalled attending the wedding as a small boy. Towe’s father was employed at Biltmore in the 1920s and 1930s, and his sister, Sarah, was a flower girl in the wedding. Towe said that “everybody got a little white box with their name on it with a piece of fruit cake.”

Keepsake cake box with Rauscher's stamp
Charles Rauscher was a French confectioner and caterer, and his business, Maison Rauscher, was known as the ‘Delmonico’s of Washington’.

The box top’s underside has a stamp on it, “Rauscher’s – Washington, D.C.” In her research, Laura learned that Rauscher’s catered and supplied many fine confectionaries and baked goods to society families in Washington, including the wedding cake for President Wilson in 1915.

The tradition of wedding cake keepsakes can be traced back to Victorian times, typically sliced from the groom’s cake, which was often a fruit cake. Slices were wrapped and placed in tiny boxes to take home as a memento of the wedding. The belief was if an unmarried woman slept with a piece of the groom’s cake under her pillow, she would dream of her future husband.

Prince William and Katherine Middleton carried out the tradition by sending pieces of boxed cake to commemorate their wedding in 2011.                              

100 year old keepsake cake box from Cornelia's wedding at Biltmore
Cornelia Vanderbilt and John Cecil’s keepsake cake box has stood the test of time for a century.

This 100-year-old piece of cake may be considered an odd addition to a collection that contains famous works of art, books, ancient tapestries and antiques. Historically speaking, that’s not the case.

“This is a clear line connection between our day and their day, so it’s worth the effort to have it in our collection,” Laura said.

Main photo: Guests at the wedding of Cornelia Vanderbilt and John Cecil enjoyed breakfast in the Biltmore House Winter Garden, April 29, 1924.

Cornelia Vanderbilt’s Wedding: It’s All in the Details

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Many people say that the success of an elaborate event lies in the details. Cornelia Vanderbilt’s wedding to the Hon. John F. A. Cecil on April 29, 1924 was no exception—from photographers to invitations to accommodations, many hands insured that all was perfect for the big day.

According to Lori Garst, Biltmore Curator, society columns were aflutter as soon as rumors began about the engagement of John Cecil to Cornelia. Letters from the Washington Times and other inquirers arrived at Biltmore asking if the engagement rumor was indeed true. No information was officially released by Edith Vanderbilt until the decision was made as to what photographer would capture the moments of the wedding and take the official bridal portrait for the newspapers.

An Official Announcement

A formal announcement was made at a dinner hosted by Mrs. Vanderbilt at Biltmore on March 8, 1924. After much conversation, Mrs. Vanderbilt awarded two professional photographers from Washington, D.C. the job. Underwood and Underwood photographed the actual wedding, while Harris Ewing captured incidental photographs including the social whirl which occurred the week prior to the wedding.

Cornelia Vanerbilt's Wedding Invitations
Invitation to Cornelia Vanderbilt’s wedding (left); invitation to the wedding reception (right)

Wedding invitations were one of the first details to secure. While famous New York jewelers, such as Cartier, wrote offering to print the wedding invitations, Adolph & Dungan engravers of Louisville designed the wedding invitations, and Inland Press of Asheville printed them. There were two separate invitations to the occasion. Five hundred people received an invitation to the ceremony at All Souls Church at 12 noon and the reception immediately following at Biltmore House. Another 2,500 received a separate invitation to attend only the wedding reception at 12:30 p.m.

Arrangements & Accommodations

With guests arriving from across the globe, Mrs. Vanderbilt’s secretary, William Ashby, had the job of making travel arrangements to Biltmore and arranging accommodations for the wedding party, close family, and friends. Most guests stayed at the Grove Park Inn, Biltmore Country Club, and Kenilworth Inn. However, 43 guests including members of the wedding party stayed in Biltmore House. Ashby sent extensive instructions for cleaning and furnishing Biltmore House to Mrs. Donohue, the head housekeeper, as early as March 15.

Rooms were updated with new wallpaper and paint, iron beds and mattresses were ordered for the visiting guests’ staff, and all sheets were washed and ironed. The bride’s wedding party stayed in the Oak Sitting Room and Mr. Vanderbilt’s Room, while the maid of honor, Rachel “Bunchy” Strong, stayed with Cornelia in her room. The groomsmen stayed at the Biltmore Forest Country Club which opened just two years prior.

Edith Vanderbilt escorting her daughter Cornelia Vanderbilt for Cornelia's wedding
Edith Vanderbilt escorting her daughter Cornelia into All Souls’ Church for Cornelia’s wedding

Other house guests included the bride’s cousins Mr. and Mrs. John Nicholas Brown, the groom’s father Lord William Cecil, and several of Mr. Vanderbilt’s sisters. Meticulous notes were kept by Mr. Ashby documenting when guests arrived, departed, and what room they stayed in Biltmore House.

No Detail Overlooked

He also kept lists of last minute specifics to make sure nothing was forgotten. His records included seating charts for the church, train reservations for guests’ departures including their preferred train accommodations, wedding gifts and addresses, and cars to be provided for the guests’ convenience. As a final detail, Mr. Ashby secured the assistance of the Biltmore Fire Department to sprinkle the streets of Biltmore with water to keep the dust down.

The Asheville Citizen published extensive accounts of the wedding for two days. While many of the details of the wedding ceremony are found in these articles, the lists and correspondence found in Biltmore’s archives give us a true understanding of the specific arrangements made to insure that Biltmore’s only bride had a perfect day.

Cornelia Vanderbilt Cecil and the Honorable John F.A. Cecil as they left All Souls Church
The Honorable and Mrs. John F.A. Cecil as they left All Souls Church

The First Bride of Biltmore

A poem titled “The First Bride of Biltmore,” written by Mrs. Vanderbilt’s sister, Pauline Merrill, painted a beautiful picture of Cornelia Vanderbilt’s wedding day on April 29, 1924.

The sun rose clear and beautiful from the hills that surrounded Biltmore.
All the world seemed happy on that day.
The daughter of the house was to be married.
The beautiful Cornelia who knew all the mountain people;
The Cornelia who loved the house and grounds;
The Cornelia who was loved by all.
The wedding bells pealed joyfully from the belfry of the little old church.
The tenants were crowding to the gate to behold their beloved mistress.
The guests crowded into the church.
The musicians played his best of the little organ.
Finally the bride entered the church escorted by eight bridesmaids and leaning on the arm of her widowed mother.
She looked more beautiful than ever before.
John Cecil, her bridegroom, had reason to smile proudly on his pretty Cornelia.
The marriage service was gone through with, and when Cornelia walked out, with a radiant smile on her face, the children streamed flowers at her feet.
Then they went back to the house.
The enormous rooms were fuller than ever before as the crowd surged forward to congratulate the first bride of Biltmore House.
Her English husband shook hands with a proud smile.
But, at last, it was over and the setting sun shone rosily over the young couple as they started on their honeymoon.

Bringing Spring Ahead Of Schedule

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Sometimes in the midst of winter—with a little help from our Conservatory—spring arrives a bit ahead of schedule.

“Gardeners have been forcing blooms for centuries,” said Parker Andes, Director of Horticulture, “and the practice became especially popular in the 19th century. As many wealthy Victorians added conservatories to their homes, they could enjoy the look and the scent of delicate bulbs even in the coldest months of winter.”

According to our archives, in February 1908, Chauncey Beadle, Biltmore’s Garden Superintendent, wrote to Storrs & Harrison Nursery of Ohio ordering fruit stock of cherries and apricots “for placing in tubs in preparation for forcing later on in the greenhouse.” This effort would have enabled the Vanderbilts and house guests to enjoy a hint of spring before it actually came.

The Conservatory is Parker’s favorite garden in the winter, and she enjoys the beauty and the cozy warmth it provides to complement the year-round lush greenery and tropical foliage of palms, ferns, and other warm climate exotics.

“Along with the orchids and other beautiful plants in the Conservatory this time of year, we add containers of spring bulbs that have been forced to bloom. Look for containers of daffodils, hyacinths, and tulips during this period,” Parker said. “We’ll rotate them every couple of weeks until mid-April.”

Branching Out For Spring


For a more informal look, consider forcing flowering spring branches—here are some easy tips to help you “branch out” on your schedule rather than waiting for Mother Nature to do it for you!

For a springscape arrangement, choose early bloomers like crabapple, forsythia, and spiraea branches for forcing. Just remember that the forcing process can take anywhere from one to eight weeks, so the closer branches are cut to their natural blooming time, the quicker they will bloom. With a little extra effort and planning, you’ll have all the beautiful blooms you need to brighten any room or make any occasion more special.

Items Needed
Sharp cutting/pruning shears
Access to flowering shrubs
A warm, humid space (bathroom, kitchen, sunroom, etc.)
5-gallon bucket or other large container
Spray bottle
Decorative Biltmore tin planter or container

Directions
Gather branches on a day when temperatures are above freezing, or on a warm, rainy day.

Cut branches 1–3 feet long on a slant with sharp shears. Always keep the shape of the tree or shrub in mind as you are pruning.

Immediately place twigs in a bucket with tepid water (remove all buds from the part of the stem that will be under water) and keep in warm, humid room.

Re-cut the stems and change the water every few days. Spray stems with water if humidity in room is low.

Tips:
The easiest branches to force are those that are early season bloomers: Almond, Apple, Cornelian Cherry Dogwood, Crabapple, Daphne, Forsythia, Pear, Plum Pussywillow, Quince, Spiraea, Winter Honeysuckle, Winter Jasmine, Wisteria, Witch Hazel

Branches bearing larger flowers like Deciduous Magnolias, Dogwood, Japanese Maple, and Mock Orange should be left on the shrub until their buds are large and well-developed. 

The Knot Dream Wedding at Biltmore

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Today, Biltmore welcomes The Knot Dream Wedding hosted by The Knot, a popular wedding magazine and online wedding resource. The couple selected this year has a compelling engagement story, as each was seriously injured during the Boston Marathon bombing. Their story touched everyone who has worked on this special day, as well as millions of people who have followed them in the news and on social media.

Their positive outlook is something everyone has noticed about this special couple. Although Rebekah, Pete and Rebekah’s son Noah were injured in the devastating attack in Boston, they kept looking forward and have already overcome numerous challenges. Pete proposed last October and that is when The Knot first heard of their story. The editors decided that the couple deserved their dream wedding and the planning began.

In January, The Knot started efforts to throw the ultimate dream wedding for Rebekah and Pete. Readers were asked to vote on the different elements that would make up this grand day. Step one was selecting the perfect wedding location. Voters loved the idea of this amazing couple saying “I Do” in Asheville, NC, as it is one of their favorite vacation spots. Once Asheville became the voters’s choice, Biltmore was selected as the venue.

Weddings are special at Biltmore and have been part of the estate’s history since 1924. That year, George and Edith Vanderbilt’s only daughter, Cornelia Vanderbilt, celebrated her marriage to John Cecil. Their ceremony took place at All Souls Church in Biltmore Village with a brunch that followed in the Winter Garden of Biltmore House. It was a magical time and one that still serves as inspiration for event planning today.

Play Ball!

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Among the first signs of spring in 1924 was the opening of the new McCormick Field for the Asheville Skylanders (now the Asheville Tourists) baseball club. At Biltmore, the spring of 1924 was also a festive time as preparations were underway for Cornelia Vanderbilt’s marriage to The Hon. John F. A. Cecil on April 29.  

Just as guests for the wedding began arriving, Edith Vanderbilt received a letter from Mr. H.  L. Carter of the Asheville Baseball Association thanking her for her assistance with a “ball park, beautiful.” Carter included box seat tickets for the opening of McCormick Field on April 21, 1924.

A few days later, Mrs. Vanderbilt’s secretary, Todd Ashby, responded to Carter stating that Mrs. Vanderbilt was very pleased and would make it a point to be there and bring the rest of the guests staying at Biltmore House. He wrote a list of names in the margin of the letter: Mrs. Vanderbilt, Miss Vanderbilt, Lord William Cecil (John Cecil’s father), Miss Cecil (Mr. Cecil’s cousin) and Miss Todd (bridesmaid). 

Built for $200,000, McCormick Stadium was named for local biologist Dr. Lewis McCormick. Situated among the hills of Asheville, it was soon recognized as one of the most beautiful ballparks in the country. This sentiment was echoed by Babe Ruth in 1925. As he stood off in right field, he exclaimed, “My, my, what a beautiful place to play. Delightful. Damned delightful place!”

McCormick Field is one of the oldest operating minor-league baseball parks in North America still in use today.

Photo: Edith Vanderbilt, Cornelia Vanderbilt, and two unidentified guests, 1924.

Spring Babies Wake Up the Biltmore Farmyard!

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More babies are due to join the Biltmore family as the Farmyard’s other Boer goat will deliver her kids in early April, and Iris, our Alpine dairy goat, will birth her kid in late April or May. These early arrivals are just the start, as there are nine more female goats, or does, who are expectant mothers this spring.

These early arrivals make for much excitement on the estate as names must be chosen and stalls are refreshed to welcome the newest members of the farmyard. Lucky guests who drop by have the unique opportunity to see and interact with the animals.

Baby animals aren’t the only excitement in Antler Hill Village, though. The area transforms into the perfect playground for families once warm weather arrives. Little ones can climb, dig, and slide at Pisgah Playground, which features a central lookout, rock formations for climbing and a small lagoon.

Weekend demonstrations with our resident blacksmith, woodworkers, and featured craftsmen bring the past to life. Guests can also try their hand at classic games such as the game of graces, ring toss, and bean bag toss.

The old-fashioned fun at Antler Hill Village pays homage to the way life used to be on the estate. In George Vanderbilt’s time, life at Antler Hill Village was consumed with agriculture activity and the area was home to an assortment of farm animals.

At the turn of the century, Angora goats, prized for their abundant mohair coats, lived in the farmyard along with multiple Berkshire hogs. Estate records indicate a prized boar named Highclere Topper lived at Biltmore along with his lovely companion, a sow named Fritters.

The residents of the poultry farm probably looked much like the current flock at the Farmyard. Records show the flock included Light Brahmas, Buff Cochins, Black Langshans, and Cornish Indian Game Hens.

Horses were also part of the estate’s livestock family. Early residents included a horse named Sherman who was ridden by the estate’s first forester, Gifford Pinchot. Edith Vanderbilt rode a prized horse named Jet, while Cornelia had a pet donkey named Jack.

Today, the guests can visit with the Farmyard’s resident Belgian draft horses, or view the estate’s livestock guardian donkeys, Captain and Maybelline, as they keep watch over the chickens in the pastures.

Celebrating 100 years of Pisgah Forest

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May 2014 marked a significant milestone for both Biltmore and Pisgah National Forest: the 100th anniversary of Edith Vanderbilt selling part of the estate to the U.S. government to create the first national forest east of the Mississippi River.

George Vanderbilt acquired Pisgah Forest under the direction of his forest manager, Gifford Pinchot, as part of his land holdings which eventually totaled 125,000 acres. Pinchot, who later served as the first chief of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, developed a forest management plan for the property. In 1895, Dr. Carl A. Schenck succeeded Pinchot, and continued and expanded the plan over the next 14 years. Dr. Schenck founded the Biltmore Forest School—the first school of forestry in the U.S.—graduating more than 300 of the nation’s first professionally-trained foresters.

While the Vanderbilts originally had offered to sell 86,000 acres of Pisgah Forest in 1913, the offer was rejected. After her husband’s death in March 1914, Edith Vanderbilt resumed negotiations with the Secretary of Agriculture, David Franklin Houston.

Cradle of Forestry

In her May 1 letter, she stated her family’s interest in preserving the property:

“Mr. Vanderbilt was the first of the large forest owners in America to adopt the practice of forestry. He has conserved Pisgah Forest from the time he bought it up to his death, a period of nearly twenty five years, under the firm conviction that every forest owner owes it to those who follow him, to hand down his forest property to them unimpaired by wasteful use.

I keenly sympathize with his belief that the private ownership of forest land is a public trust, and I probably realize more keenly than any one else can do, how firm was his resolve never to permit injury to the permanent value and usefulness of Pisgah Forest. I wish earnestly to make such disposition of Pisgah Forest as will maintain in the fullest and most permanent way its national value as an object lesson in forestry, as well as its wonderful beauty and charm; and I realize that its ownership by the Nation will alone make its preservation permanent and certain…

I make this contribution towards the public ownership of Pisgah Forest with the earnest hope that in this way I may help to perpetuate my husband’s pioneer work in forest conservation, and to insure the protection and use and enjoyment of Pisgah Forest as a National Forest, by the American people for all time….

In the event that my offer is accepted, I shall be glad for the Government to assume control of Pisgah Forest as soon as it may desire. In the same event, it would be a source of very keen gratification to me if the tract retained, as a national Forest, the title of “Pisgah Forest”, which my late husband gave it.”
Very truly yours,
Edith S. Vanderbilt

Pisgah National Forest was dedicated to the memory of George Vanderbilt in a 1920 public ceremony attended by Edith Vanderbilt and her daughter Cornelia, N.C. Governor Locke Craig, and George S. Powell, secretary of the Appalachian Park Association.

Today, the Cradle of Forestry is a 6,500-acre Historic Site within Pisgah National Forest, set aside to commemorate the beginning of forestry conservation in America and the lasting contributions of George Vanderbilt, Gifford Pinchot, and Dr. Carl Schenck.

Visit Biltmore today

Make plans now to visit George Vanderbilt’s magnificent estate and see the results of managed forestry for yourself.

Pillowed In Comfort

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George and Edith Vanderbilt welcomed all their guests with warmth and hospitality, ensuring that no detail was overlooked. From the moment friends and family arrived at Biltmore, everything was done to make their stay at America’s largest home comfortable. 

With more than 30 bedrooms in Biltmore House, making beds and fluffing pillows could have kept the entire staff busy during extended visits and house parties!

While today’s homes have fewer rooms to manage, a good night’s sleep is still a priority for most of us. For expert advice on choosing pillows that suit your needs, we turned to Nicki Cloud, Assistant Product Manager in Sheets, Bath & Utility Bedding for Belk.

“The most important aspect of selecting a pillow with the correct amount of fill is the position in which you start your night’s sleep. For those who sleep on their side, more fill is better.  For those who sleep on their stomach or back, less fill is better,” Nicki explained. “The right style of pillow is beneficial in attaining healthy and comfortable rest.”

“We’re also seeing a trend in down prices continuing to rise due to an extreme shortage of this natural material,” said Nicki. “But technology has come a long way, and down alternative options feel closer to down than they ever have before. Between technology and pricing, this is the perfect time to give down alternatives another try.”

For ease and comfort, Nicki recommends the following collections of pillows—inspired by the legacy of luxury at Biltmore—and available at Belk:

Artisan Collection


This collection features Serene fiberfill which truly replicates the feel of down. The innovative fiber mimics the compression of down, but unlike down, does not require fluffing. It is also hypoallergenic and machine washable, making it a perfect solution for down lovers that have allergy concerns.

Artisan 2-inch Gusset Pillow–A deluxe 2-inch wide gusset offers a plush, full pillow that looks as lavish as it feels. Because of the way this fiber responds, this pillow is a great choice for all sleeping positions.

“Try combining our Artisan Gusset Pillow with our Artisan Comforter,” Nicki said. “This 100% cotton covered comforter is a perfect choice for your day-in and day-out use. Providing year-round comfort, you’ll rest comfortably with the perfect amount of warmth, and that cozy down feeling.”

Click here to shop our Artisan Comforter.

Memorelle Collection


“Our Memorelle Collection features Memorelle fiberfill which consists of loose fibers blown into the pillow. Memorelle has an especially fast rebound, so once you rest your head on the pillow, the fiber returns to position to offer you support where you need it, while taking it easy on pressure points. Best of all,” Nicki added “is the fact that Memorelle is machine washable.”

There are four pillows in this collection:

• Memorelle Damask Scroll Classic Shape Pillow–A beautiful jacquard scroll makes this pillow a perfect fit for any luxury bed ensemble. A classic shape appeals to the largest number of people.

• Memorelle Infinity Gusset Pillow–Perfect for side sleepers, this pillow has a specially designed gusset that allows room for your shoulder to rest comfortably while offering plenty of support for your head.

• Memorelle 2-inch Gusset Pillow–A deluxe 2-inch wide gusset offers a plush, full, pillow that makes a great choice for side or back sleepers.


• Memorelle Teardrop Pillow—The most versatile pillow for any sleep position. One side of the teardrop shape offers plenty of support for back or side sleepers, while stomach sleepers will appreciate the other side. It’s a winning solution for a guest bedroom or for those who change positions throughout the night.
 

Click here to shop our pillows.

Pillow Care Tips

Pillow protectors and pillowcases are a great way to extend the life of a pillow; however, pillows should still be cleaned on a regular basis. For ease of care, look for machine-washable pillows and be sure to follow the care instructions on the label. Ensure to dry pillows completely to prevent mold from forming.