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Wedding dress designed by Jenny Beavan and John Bright for Howard's End

Wedding memories

We asked visitors to the Marriage in the Movies exhibition what they wore to their own weddings. Here's what they said.

2000s | 1990s | 1980s | 1970s | 1960s | 1950s | 1940s

2000s

"Getting married tomorrow at Gretna Green. Nobody knows we've come away. Groom wearing a three piece grey suit, bride - shorter white layered halterneck dress. Our seven month old son is our witness!! We fell in love and caught each other."

Married 2010

"Married yesterday 8/7/10 wore a traditional bridal dress with net over satin decorated with tiny pearls and sequins. Tiny pink & coffee flowers embroidered throughout. Had a fairly long train, wore my  mother's 50 year-old veil that reached the length of my ivory pointed shoes. Wore tiara with pearl & diamonds."

Married 2010

"Married yesterday 8/7/10 at Gretna Green. I wore a late Victorian suit: dress  shirt, detachable Imperial collar, woollen trousers & braces, waistcoat, boots with heel irons and a bowler hat. I wore my great grandfather's watch chain with pocket watch and my great, great grandfather's walking stick with greyhound top head."

Married 2010

"I wore a natural linen galebeya with olive green shoulder stole with lilac and gold stripe. Lilac sandals with gold beads, freesia corsage. Partner wore ivory handkerchief hemmed dress with three-quarter length lilac lace jacket, lilac beaded Egyptian cap. Lilac freesia corsage. Amazingly we can still get into them. The test will come on return home after wonderful Scottish hospitality and cakes. P.S have you guessed it was a civil partnership?"

Married 2006

"A cream dress - not what I thought I would wear, but something came over me in the shop and I suddenly wanted to dress 'like a princess'."

Married 2002

"Married in Orkney, 2001. Had a wedding cog, a present from my husband's family. Home brew prepared by brother-in-law to his family's secret recipe. Enjoyed by all guests who sipped from the cog and wished us good health. Like liquid alcoholic Christmas pudding!"

Married 2001

"'Marry in June, it's like you'll droon' - the opening of my dad's speech as we watched the downpour from the comfort of the dining room in the hotel. I had a long cream satin dress with hand-painted poppy motif, long veil and cream satin shoes, also a satin corset made by a girl in Bridge of Weir - very comfy! The minister married us in the hotel and I remember the blinding flash as we turned to face the guests and they all jumped up, camera in hand, to take photos."

Married 2001

 

1990s

"It was my second wedding, I wore a rose champagne colourful dress and my husband, best man and my father wore full Highland dress. Instead of a bouquet I carried my mother's bridal missal, with her photo inside, so she could still be part of this wonderful day, although she had passed away seven years earlier. My dress was then cut down to make a beautiful christening gown, bonnet and jacket for our daughter one year later."

Married 1999

"Gold satin dress with short puff sleeves, ivory satin shoes. Wore my great aunt's wedding ring who was married in 1924. I still wear it thankfully."

Married 1997

"I wore an off the shoulder duchess satin dress. We were married at Dalhousie Castle on a very bright, but cold September day in 1997. I wanted to wear my mother's wedding gown but she had thrown it out!"

Married 1997

"Family wedding tradition: every wedding anniversary out comes the wedding dress for me to try on and see if it still fits - it does, even after 15 years! Every year a picture gets taken of me doing increasingly mundane things in my wedding dress, jumping on the trampoline with the kids, feeding the dogs etc."

Married 1995

"A white/cream bag, meringue style dress from a charity shop sale (although it was new, just ex shop). Still have the dress, although I would never fit into it ever again."

Married 1995

"Hottest day in the year. Married in tent to Glaswegian. Most of wedding party travelled from Scotland. Quite a spectacle in a quiet country village. I wore ivory satin 1850s style: mutton sleeves, high neck, bead details, initials of bride & groom with beads on bustle. My youngest daughter would like to wear it for her wedding after making a few alterations. My dress now awaits that occasion in the loft."

Married 1990

1980s

"Duchess satin and lacy with huge leg-o-mutton shoulders - very 80s!! I still have the dress although someone kissed my shoulder and left a lipstick mark."

Married 1989

"I wore my mother's wedding dress (she was married in 1959). This dress was made of satin, it had lamb's leg sleeves. To make it my own, teardrop pearls were added around the neckline. My headdress was made of orange blossom wax flowers (which my sister borrowed for her wedding)."

Married 1986

"Blue skied day - went to hairdressers in morning didn't get back to mum's until one hour before wedding. Mum thought I had run away. So nervous, didn't see anyone in the church until after the service. Reception in co-op hall and celebrated with over 100 guests. Would do it again just to see all that I missed due to nerves."

Married 1982

"Celebrating 30 years of marriage today. The day we married was Wimbledon Men's final 1980. John McEnroe versus Bjorn Borg. Dress was smart/casual."

Married 1980

"I made my own dress, high neck, long sleeve. Very modest! Made bridesmaids too. My daughter is marrying soon and I am making dresses again!"

Married 1980

1970s

"I wore a white dress with a sweetheart neckline, back and front, with a Juliette cap and veil. I did my own hair and make-up. The menu was lentil soup, steak and vey followed by trifle - Dad paid for the day so choice of menu was his. I still have my dress but now it is famous for its Halloween parties! It was my going away outfit for our 25th wedding anniversary."

Married 1979

"I wore a white, long cheesecloth dress, with a circle of flowers in my long hair. Money thrown out into street by my father (for the children to collect). Top tier of wedding cake kept in hopes of being used as christening cake. Dress in case in wardrobe."

Married 1979

"I made my own wedding dress in 1979 and have kept it but it is now a liner for my dog's bed!"

Married 1979

"A white calf-length dress with side slits, mandarin collar, front buttons and large padded shoulders, bought in Covent Garden. American Navy style hat with veil from Harrods, very high strappy white sandals like Marilyn Monroe in her films and blue ribbon garter I made with artificial anenomies from a bridesmaid's headdress from 1962."

Married 1979

"Made my own midnight-blue dress, my husband had a dove grey suit and velvet tie. I walked with a gold sovereign in my shoe... Still happy together!"

Married 1978

"Wore white long dress with huge sleeves in the style of Princess Anne - made this and bridesmaid dress myself. My something blue was a hankie with a tatted edge made by my mother-in-law."

Married 1978

"I wore a dress made by my sister's friend - a fellow Art student - Sandra MacLeod. I also wore a wax flower headdress from the 1960s. Years later Sandra Murray designed and made the Queen's costume for the opening of Scottish Parliament."

Married 1974

"After keeping my wedding dress for 30 years, a local appeal went out for bridal wear to send to Bosnia for folk who had lost everything else, to marry in traditional outfits and have a memorable day."

Married 1973

"White long dress with bows, long veil with flower headdress. Five bridesmaids. Freezing day, it snowed. Had reception and everyone got food poisoning. Was in agony on plane to honeymoon. Everyone had a good day though."

Married 1973

"£5 of white patterned crimplene in the style of the Hardy Amies - high collar, long Elizabethan sleeves. I took off the sleeves, shortened it and wore it to dances for several years afterwards. Made a pinafore from the bottom part I cut off."

Married 1972

"I made my dress in a dark cream fabric. It had a big, slightly ruffled collar edged in a paler cream lace. The sleeves were shortish, loose and also edged with lace. It was very short, well above my knees. My shoes were two-toned cream platform sandals, very clumpy."

Married 1972

"Married in Aberdeen in 1972. Our minister did not appear but the taxi driver did us proud and saved our day by hijacking a minister who was about to catch a train to go on holiday. Front page news in local paper and item in the Nationals."

Married 1972

"White long dress with train. Marguerite at edge of dress, white shoes, veil with flower crown, husband wore new suit. Horse and carriage. Cutting of veil for good luck. Before wedding, smashing of porcelain cups and plates for good luck. Couple has to sweep. Still have wedding dress in the wardrobe in cellar."

Married 1971

"Very plain empire line dress - white - from St. Cuthberts Co-op in Edinburgh. Cost £16 - a fortune. Hated my headdress - Anne Boleyn style, but I had liked it initially so had to wear it. All now in a box in our attic with horseshoes, telegrams etc... 40 years almost - still in love!"

Married 1971

1960s

"Married 16th August, 1969 in St James Parish Church, Castle Eden, Co. Durham, England. The best man filled the case of the bride's aunt and uncle with confetti thinking it belonged to the bride and groom."

Married 1969

"My dress was white satin with a bodice of gypuire lace, long sleeves with a long lace veil made with net, held by a single white rose. My bouquet was made up of cream roses and stephanotis... I remember how proud my dad was, walking his daughter down the aisle, and the love in my husband's to be eyes. We celebrated our Ruby wedding last year!"

Married 1969

"Wore an ivory slub satin straight sleeveless dress with a boat neck and wide collar under a lovely lace coat with wide sleeves. The coat filled out into a train at the  back. I just loved the dress and it is still carefully packed and stored in my loft. My husband now sadly dead wore a morning suit and cravat. We had a 'scramble' for the children as we left the church."

Married 1967

"I paid 5/- per yard for pearl coloured satin from Dunfermline Silk Factory in 1964. £2 altogether for 8 yds. 8th February wedding day was the anniversary of the death of Mary Queen of Scots."

Married 1964

"I made my dress as part of my college course. It was in the style of the 1890s with a& train embroidered in white in a peacock design. I still have it, but can no longer fit in it as it has a 23 inch waist!"

Married 1963

"I was married on Sunday which was April Fools' Day and Mothers' Day, 1962. I made my dress of stippler satin and lace. I still have the dress, wish I still had the 19" waist. Been very happily married, with four children and at the present 14 wonderful grandchildren. How can anyone be so lucky?"

Married 1962

"We married in 1962. I wore a white lace wide skirted dress, from which I made later into curtains in 1973! (We were quite hard up.)"

Married 1962

"Wore a short sleeved broderie anglaise dress made by a dressmaker, short veil attached to a simple head band in my hair. Three sisters were bridesmaids - older one cried all day as I was leaving for England. Made a christening gown out of my dress for my three sons. Still married!"

Married 1962

1950s

"I wore a lace dress, low scalloped lace neckline, long tight sleeves, wide three layered skirt to the white laced gown. Prince Charming wore a morning wedding suit and we drove away in his British racing green Jowett Jupiter Sports Car to the south of France. I wished to stop the clock then. Sadly heleft me in 1987, happy memories."

Married 1959

"White lace dress, something borrowed from my older sister - lace garter. Dress was new. Something blue from my chief bridesmaid. My dress was given to a Carmelite convent for a novice wedding."

Married 1958

"Thunder & lightening on the wedding eve. No sleep! Brief spells of sun on 'the day'. Just enough for photos. Hat fell in to back of open MG, & got wet through. A great day!"

Married 1956

"White lace over taffeta. Petticoat (Victorian) handed down to two daughters-in-law. Dress had sleeves removed, shortened as evening wear - finally ended up in dressing up box!"

Married 1955

"I was married in London on June 13th 1953. We were young and hard up, so my dress, white grosgrain, was borrowed from my husband's friend and the veil from his landlady's daughter! It was an austerity wedding!"

Married 1953

"Our ration books had our pre-wedding names for our honeymoon! The food for the reception was on rationing times. Our flowers were made by myself and a working engineer colleague whose wife had  just opened a florist shop. Bride made her dress from white sharkskin. Two years to our diamond!!!"

Married 1952

1940s

"I was married at a church in Tottenham in England. I was 18 and my Bill was 21. My dress was satin figured with lily of the valley. We met 65 years ago and this year we would have been married 61 years."

Married 1949

"I borrowed my dress in 1945 to marry John. He was on embarkation leave, I was 19, John 20. We had to get a special licence as we were under 21. Food was on coupons still. We had our reception at home for about 30 people. The drinks cost £7 and we only had £27 to get married with and had 46 wonderful years of love."

Married 1945

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What are these links?

Wartime wedding in 1943

Wartime wedding in 1943.

Bride and groom passing a wedding cog in Orkney, 1955

Bride and groom passing a wedding cog in Orkney, 1955.

Bride and groom cutting the cake at their wedding in South Queensferry, 1973

Bride and groom cutting the cake at their wedding in South Queensferry, 1973.

A new wedding tradition: a cake of cheese!

A new wedding tradition: a cake of cheese!

Marriage in the Movies

Open: Until 31 October 2010
Cost: Entry free with admission to the National Museum of Costume

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