And the Bride Didnt Wear White

While through history brides have agonized over what to wear on their wedding day, usually looking good was never too far away from their thoughts. Except during the American Revolution and the American Civil War.

The time in which the bride lives, or the association she belongs to, and her life style, all tend to influence the bride's outfit.

The Mayor of a city might decide to wear her badge of office; a chain around her neck and her velvet coat around her body. An army chick, especially when marrying a partner who also wears a uniform, might walk down the aisle in army greens and sturdy shoes.

Brides who belong to a religious organsiation such as the Salvation Army, might wear their neat suit and hat, while their appearance at the door after the ceremony, might be greeted by the sound of tambourines wielded by enthusiastic fellow-members.

In times of tragedy, while the world keeps on turning, the individuals who want to celebrate their good fortune in finding a soul mate, feel a sense of gratitude that they are still alive and well, while at the same time a sense of pity for those who aren't.

They don't want to see life as anything but a gift, yet can't help feeling a sense of guilt.

It is in such times that outward expression of inner feelings becomes more genuine. In the American Civil War where at times a brother fought a brother, many brides chose to wear the subdued colour of purple to denote a grieving that was as much personal as it was national.

On the other hand, the American Revolution brought out an entirely different sentiment.

During this time a bride was prepared to flout conventions, in order to express her own support for a cause that seemed to transcend the suffering that all wars bring.

On her wedding day, this bride came down the aisle in scarlet ? perhaps the one colour that no bride would normally wear. For the English-speaking bride scarlet was associated with the abandoned woman as portrayed by Nathaniel Hawthorne in "The Scarlet Letter". This was the woman for ever branded as immoral and impure.

But for the bride living during the American Revolution, the scarlet dress was a battle cry worn with the same pride and challenge as the red white and blue cockade worn by the men on the battlefields.

Vlady, an Australian Civil Marriage Celebrant, is an author of "The Complete Book of Australian Weddings", "The Small Organisation Handbook", and ebook "Honeymoon! A Sizzle or a Fizzle?" which you can see on her website http://www.vlady-celebrant.com/

In The News:

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The Associated Press
Eloping to Vegas? Why Not Lower Manhattan?
New York Times, United States - Jan 7, 2009
“With these new digs, there might just be a new world wedding capital.” The city clerk’s office issued 66600 marriage licenses 2007 and performed about ...
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Washington Post
‘Bride Wars’ is a failed marriage | 1 ½ stars
Kansas City Star, MO - 11 hours ago
And their mutual friends will have to decide which wedding to attend. All would be well if only one of them would cancel (or if they would agree to a double ...
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Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway are funny allies Los Angeles Times
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Tampa Tribune - Washington Postall 725 news articles

New York Times
Movie review: Cliches nag 'Not Easily Broken'
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - 4 hours ago
The opening wedding scene in the new Bill Duke film, "Not Easily Broken" is so overwrought and cliched, it's akin to sitting down with a promising novel, ...
Not Easily Broken ( ** ) AHN
Movie Review: ‘Not Easily Broken’ is a romantic soap opera that ... Providence Journal
» Inspirational drama anything but 'Broken' Chicago Daily Herald
Pittsburgh Post Gazette - Kansas City Starall 64 news articles

FOR FAMILIES: A guide for parents to Jan. 9 and earlier releases
Chicago Tribune, United States - 9 hours ago
By Roger Moore | Tribune Newspapers What it's about: Best friends become dueling brides when they both book the wedding they've always dreamed of in the ...

Wedding war: Las Vegas versus New York
KVBC, NV - 7 hours ago
The city has renovated it marriage bureau and even built a 24000-square-foot wedding complex with the hope of becoming the most popular wedding site. ...

Wearing white and eating cake, Brides magazine turns 75
The Canadian Press, NEW YORK - 19 hours ago
"The magazine is realistic about how people's lives are today, but still the focus is how to have a successful wedding and start a healthy marriage," says ...

New York Magazine
City to Make Your Shotgun Marriage Just That Much Nicer
New York Magazine,  USA - Jan 7, 2009
Photo: Getty Images Perhaps sensing the economic downturn (and having eventually watched the Sex and the City movie), the city spruced up its civil-wedding ...

MLive.com
Bay County gets older, refrains from marriage, likes guns ...
MLive.com, MI - 17 hours ago
Luczak said economics could be partly to blame, as young couples struggling to get a foothold in life may be putting off the expense of a wedding.

MSNBC
Couple goes from divorce to 'I Do Again'
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Cheryl and Jeff Scruggs, founders of Hope Marriage Ministries, recount the slow destruction of their relationship, which ended in divorce. ...

KHOU
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