Spotlight on ... Wedding Days!

I've decided to branch off for a while and share things other than just the stories of my direct ancestors.  The main motivation for this is my desire to share some of the many wonderful photos I've found of my extended family (not too many degrees of separation from my direct ancestors).  

These photos deserve to be in the spotlight, so I thought long and hard about an interesting way to do this.  I've decided to put together collections of photos that all share a common thread.  For this post the spotlight is on ....   Wedding Days.

Many would say that their wedding day is one of the most unforgettable days of their life.  There are many wedding day photos in my family tree collection, but for this post I'm sharing some of the earliest photos where I've noticed something a little out of the ordinary and unforgettable.

Time Period:  1871-1919

1871

 

Alexander Johnson Brown, known as Sandy, my paternal 2nd great uncle married Margaret Jane Bustard in November of 1871.  

This photo was taken on their wedding day and my eyes are drawn to the bride. 

She is not dressed in the  'traditional' white wedding gown.

In fact, in the 19th century a white wedding dress would not have been a commonly seen item of clothing for those who were not wealthy.

Given that Alexander and Margaret, children of early pioneers in the Richmond River district, married at McLeod's Creek, near Tenterfield in northern New South Wales in 1871, I think it's highly unlikely they would have been able to find fancy wedding attire very easily and most likely wore the "best" clothes they owned.  Alexander's white trousers seem slightly unusual though!

Alexander, known as Sandy, was 22 years old and Margaret was 18.  They celebrated 60 years of marriage, both dying in 1931. Margaret died in March and it's said that Alexander stated at the time that "he'd like to go with her".  Indeed, he died just five months later. They had a family of 12 children.

Common Ancestors with Alexander: my 2x great grandparents Henry Johnson Brown and Caroline Penelope Browning.

1896

James Cusack, my paternal 1st cousin 3x removed, married Hannah Sutton in 1896.

This bride is wearing the expected beautiful white wedding dress, but that wasn't what drew my attention in this photo.

I just love the flowers atop Hannah's head!  It doesn't look like much thought was given to their appearance though.  Rather it looks like they were simply placed on top of her head!   

It also looks as though hasty alterations were made to adjust the length of James's trousers. 

On their wedding day, James was aged 34 and Hannah was 18 years old.  They were married for 23 years and had 13 children.

As with the previous couple, they both died in the same year.  James passed away in March of 1919 and Hannah died in July that same year, a victim of an influenza outbreak.

Common Ancestors with James:  my 3x great grandparents Michael Cusack and Mary Green

1900

Alma Florence Barrow, my paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed, married Charles John McCann in 1900.

Alma was 18 years old and Charles was aged 18 as well.

Alma is wearing a gown that is not in the traditional colour of white.  

She is also wearing flowers on her headpiece but they certainly look like part of a gorgeously designed veil.  The feathery fan seems an odd choice of accessory though!  That certainly drew my attention.  Charles is looking quite dapper in his dark wedding suit.

Alma and her husband Charles were married for 53 years.  Alma died in 1953 and Charles died the year after.  They had a family of nine children.  By the time Alma died, they had 24 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

Common Ancestors with Alma:  my paternal 3x great grandparents James Exton and Susannah Lancaster.

1902

Alice (Dolly) Holden, the sister-in-law of my maternal great grand uncle married John Kiely in February of 1902.  They were married for 52 years, until John's death in 1956.

On her wedding day Alice wore quite a plain outfit, again not the traditional white.  Her hat is styled quite simply, but the jaunty feather adds a special touch.  I'm not entirely sure why she's holding an umbrella for this portrait!

Husband John looks very dapper in his suit and I love the fact that he's holding his flat cap rather nonchalantly over his knee.

1906

William Hugh Cusack, my paternal 1st cousin 2x removed, married Mabel Hicks in 1906.

William was 21 and Mabel was 20.  They were married for 27 years. 

From the start of the 1900s, I start to see the white wedding dress appear more and more in the family tree photo collection, and Mabel's white wedding gown looks quite elegant.

What is going on with that hat though, I have to ask?  It just looks strange!  I'm not sure it would have been all that comfortable to wear! 

Mabel died in June of 1933 and William died the following month.  They had a family of six children.

Common Ancestors with William:  my 2x great grandparents Patrick Cusack and Eliza Exton.

1907

Amelia Barrow, my 2nd cousin 2x removed, married Thomas Neil McInnes in 1907.

Now that is a much more reasonable hat to wear on your wedding day!  The sleeves on Amelia's wedding dress are certainly multi-layered and the hem seems to have some rather fancy lacework or needlework as part of the design.

Amelia, known as Milly, was 19 years old and Thomas was aged 26 when they were wed.  They were married for 30 years until Thomas died in 1937.

They had a family of eight children.  Amelia survived her husband by 22 years but never re-married.

Common Ancestors with Amelia:  my paternal 3x great grandparents James Exton and Susannah Lancaster.

1908

Alfred Barrow Jnr, my paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed, married Mary Ellen McCann in 1908.

Alfred Jnr. was aged 28 and Mary Ellen, known as Nell, was 20.

I love everything about Mary Ellen's wedding dress, especially that spiral pattern above the hem.  

The headpiece though looks quite intricate and theatrical, and I notice she is holding a bridal bouquet.  That wasn't something seen in any of the previous photos.

Alfred and Mary Ellen were married for 36 years until Alfred died in 1944.  They had a family of four children.

Common Ancestors with Alfred:  my paternal 3x great grandparents James Exton and Susannah Lancaster.

1909

Adeline Sarah Cribb, my paternal uncle's mother-in-law, married Walter Henry Masters in 1909.

Adeline was 26 years old and Walter was 24.

The wedding dress has rather a high neckline, right up to Adeline's chin and there is a small flower spray attached in the very middle of the bodice of the dress.  I have not seen that on any other bride's dress for around the same time.  Adeline chose to wear a very pretty hat but no veil.

1910

John Thomas Browning, my paternal 1st cousin 3x removed, married Margaret Ellen O'Reilly in 1910.  John, known as Jack, was 31 years old and Margaret was 24.

Margaret is wearing quite a pretty flower wreath as part of her headpiece and holding a lovely bridal bouquet. My attention was immediately drawn to that tiny little waist though!  I wonder if that was the result of a stifling corset?  Margaret's bridesmaids look beautiful in their dresses with the scalloped hems and those sensible hats.

John and Margaret were married for 41 years until John's death in 1951.  They raised a family of 11 children.

Common Ancestors with John:  my 3x great grandparents William Henry Browning and Anne (Nancy) Littlejohns.

1911

In the middle of this family photo is the bride Agnes Jane Smith, my paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed, beside the seated groom Laban Arthur Ellem Jnr.  Agnes and Laban married in 1911, when Agnes was 24 and Laban was 26.

In this wedding day photo, Agnes is surrounded by her close family, including her parents, her brothers and sisters-in-law, and her sisters.  Her bridesmaid, front row far left, is her sister Fanny.  Her flower girl, standing in front of Agnes's mother and next to Fanny, is Sarah Ann.  Agnes's matron of honour is Emma, seated far right.  I adore Agnes's bridal bouquet.  It's almost as long as the skirt of her wedding dress!

Agnes and Laban (known as Arthur) were married for 18 years until Agnes died in 1929.  Sadly she died the day after giving birth to her sixth child when she was 41 years old.  

Common Ancestors with Agnes:  my 3x great grandparents William Henry Browning and Anne (Nancy) Littlejohns.

1912

In stark contrast to the previous wedding photo taken outdoors, here we have a studio photograph that's quite poised and almost regal-looking!

The bride is Bridget Mary Burke, my maternal 1st cousin 2x removed, standing sideways looking across her right shoulder, holding a stunning bridal bouquet. This is the first wedding gown where I've noticed a train at the back. 

The groom, seated in the middle of the shot, is James Dever, looking rather dignified.  Bridget and James were married in 1912 when Bridget was aged 33 and James was 32.  

In the wedding day photo, Bridget's bridesmaid is wearing an enormous but beautiful hat and holding a stunning bouquet of roses and ferns.  That lovely lady is my grandfather's sister and Bridget's cousin, Mary Margaret O'Donnell.

The bride and groom were married for 48 years and raised a family of four children.

Common Ancestors with Bridget:  my 2x great grandparents James Burke and Catherine Crotty

1916

Martha Hannah Thomas, my 2nd cousin 2x removed, married Harold Ackroyd Oxenham Moon in 1916.

I do so love the beautiful embroidered veil that Martha is wearing.  I wonder if it was a family heirloom?  There is the most exquisite detail all over that veil.

The dress in comparison is rather plain, although I noticed there is a lengthy train attached to the dress.

On their wedding day Martha was 28 years old and Harold was 29.  They were married for 23 years as Harold died in 1939.

They raised six children and lived their entire married life in Orange, New South Wales.

Common Ancestor with Martha:  my 3x great grandparents William Henry Browning and Anne (Nancy) Littlejohns.

1917

Charlotte Bertha Cusack, my paternal 1st cousin 2x removed, married Francis Sydney Busine in 1917.  

This wedding day photo is definitely not a studio shot and seems to have been taken very quickly in a spot where a tarpaulin of some sort had been strung or hung up perhaps in a back yard.

The bride does look lovely in her simple white dress and lace veil.  The groom looks exhausted though, as if he's recovering from a rather long bachelor's party held the night before!  

On their wedding day, both Charlotte and Francis were 18 years old.  They stayed married for 65 years until the death of Charlotte in 1971.

They raised three children, two sons and a daughter.  Sadly they both lived to see their eldest son, Sydney Herbert Thomas Busine, head off the fight in WW11 in 1939 when he was 21.  He was captured in early 1942 and held as a prisoner of war in Thailand and Burma, eventually succumbing to the combined effects of malnutrition and disease and dying in late 1943.

Common Ancestors with Charlotte:  my 2x great grandparents Patrick Cusack and Eliza Exton.

1918

Ivy May Browning, my paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed, married Clarence John Edward Moehead in 1918 when she was 17.  Clarence was 20 years old.

I find Ivy's wedding gown intriguing.  It appears to have a separate short bodice over the dress and there are two satin ribbons criss-crossed across the full pleated skirt.  It's rather an unusual look.  There seems to be a train attached to the back of the calf-length skirt and the look is completed with a long veil held in place with a floral wreath atop Ivy's head.

Common Ancestors with Ivy:  my paternal 3x great grandparents William Henry Browning and Anne (Nancy) Littlejohns.

1919

Susan Mary McCane, my maternal great aunt, married Frank Alexander Bidgood in 1919.

On their wedding day, Susan was 26 years old and Frank was 36.  

This is the first of the early 1900s wedding portraits in my collection where the bride is holding a horseshoe and prayer book, and not a bridal bouquet.  I know the horseshoe is a symbol of good luck, but I wonder when brides starting carrying them on their wedding day?

As with so many of my family tree wedding day photos taken before 1920, this is not a portrait taken in a studio. 

The photo was taken in the yard of Susan's parents' property near Gumlu, in northern Queensland.

Susan's and Frank's marriage lasted only 13 years as Frank died in 1932.  They had a family of seven children.  Susan lost her husband when she was aged 39, but she never re-married.