Cornelia's Garden Party
An evening under the stars is always a magical experience. But imagine an elaborate, moonlit birthday party in Biltmore's gardens, colorful Japanese lanterns hanging from trees and shrubbery, an orchestra guiding guests towards midnight. This is not the stuff of fairy tales, although it seemed as such to those attending. Instead, it was the very real birthday celebration in 1925 for George and Edith Vanderbilt's only daughter, Cornelia.
The event actually began in the afternoon, when employees gathered in the gardens for a tea party and dancing to Guthrie's Orchestra. Biltmore dairy employees presented the newly wed Cornelia Vanderbilt Cecil with "one of the largest cakes ever made by Biltmore Dairy," consisting of 26 gallons of ice cream with alternating layers of chocolate parfait, Lady Ashe ice cream, all covered with a vanilla mousse and studded with roses and lilies. The cake was four feet high and two feet square at the base, and the inscribed birthday sentiment was equally as grand and magnificent—"May your joys be as many as the sands in the sea."
By 9:30 p.m. dancing to the Charles Freicher Orchestra was underway in a pavilion, and the whole affair was crowned with a midnight buffet. The newspaper accounts captured it best. "The beautiful array of summer gowns of the many dancers made a scene as beautiful as that of gay moths and fireflies in a fairy garden."
Cornelia's memorable birthday celebration was not the first of its kind to take place in Biltmore's gardens. Six years earlier, in 1919, Cornelia threw a party for her best friend, Rachel Strong, who would later serve as maid of honor in Cornelia's wedding to John Cecil. Orchestral music, dancing, a late night supper and fireworks were highlights of the evening. One attendee remembered a dance platform built in the Rose Garden with "no roof, and the lighting made it look more like a fairyland than anything I have ever seen."
Visit Cornelia's fairytale home and discover the wonder of Biltmore.