Bridal Fashion

This afternoon I attended a most delightful event:  A Century of Bridal Fashion.  This was a very unique experience for me, never having seen such a show.  It was a fund raising event by the local Historical Society, which did a phenomenal job.

 There were forty gowns modeled, and the weddings took place from 1871 to 1997!  The Mistress of Ceremony introduced each dress, giving details about that particular wedding, and also constantly sharing with the audience wedding traditions from around the world, and their significance.

For example, at one local wedding, the father bent down to retrieve some greenery off of the bride's long train.  When he bent, his pants split.   As the bride and father walked down the aisle, they were giggling and laughing.  No one else knew what had happened because his long tails covered up the gaping hole.

I learned that the bridal veil comes from the time of arranged marriages.  The groom was not allowed to see the bride's face until right before the vows, fearing that he might refuse the arrangement  The father would lift the veil and the groom would see his future bride's face for the first time.  In more modern times, the veil may flow from a pillbox hat.  One was modeled and the creator of the pillbox confessed that she had used fabric from her wedding gown to cover an oatmeal box top!   I asked if the one modeled was the same oatmeal box top and it is!

I found the history of the floral bouquet to be especially interesting.   Originally, these were carried containing strong smelling herbs.  The belief was that the odor would ward off the evil spirits, or cover up smells from any who might not bathe very often.

We learned that white dresses were not really customary until the 1950's.  Prior to the more prosperous time, a bride's dress might be red or brown or navy blue.  It would likely be used again and again.  Only in the last half of the twentieth century were bridal gowns purchased and used only once.

Many of the models who wore the dresses in this program were the grand-daughters or great grand-daughters of the women who had originally worn them.  One dress was actually made from a parachute.  I got to touch the fabric, which was as light as a feather.

It was especially meaningful to know some of the brides who wore the gowns.   As a new resident,  I knew only a few.  For many,  most of the names of the bridal families would have been familiar.   I watched the face of the pianist who was accompanying the models.   When her own mother's nurse's uniform from World War 2 was modeled on that stage, I am sure that I saw tears well up in her eyes.

What an entertaining occasion.  I am so glad that I went.   I can't help but wonder whether the planners chose the date intentionally.  This is the weekend of the most watched wedding in all of human history---that of William and Catherine,  Duke and Dutchess of Cambridge, heirs to the British crown.