Today is our 35th wedding anniversary: 1st June 1985. The ceremony was planned for 2pm.
My husband and I were reflecting last night on all the changes to the buildings in that time – where we met is now a housing estate, where we had our wedding breakfast is now a block of flats, and the Church has even undergone a big transformation.
I was pondering the cost of things then (petrol 45p per litre – seen in the picture below at the garage that was opposite the church, which is now a Tesco Express): my wedding dress £150, crinolin £43.90, veil £49.95, photos £195 and my hairdo £10. We all know how prices have increased, maybe not just by inflation!
But it got me thinking about how fashion and wedding dress styles have also changed (never mind men’s suits).
I got married in the 80’s when puff sleeves and shoulder pads were all the rage. Here we are now with much more fitted and figure-hugging styles. In the last decade or so we went through sleeveless styles with lace-up backs, which has given way to today’s sophisticated yet revealing styles: intricate delicate details like lace and beading, and backless dresses.
(2000+)
(2020)
In truth, as in today’s world of fashion, things are becoming much more like “anything goes”, as people are choosing to wear what they like or what they know particularly suits them, so there aren’t any “right or wrongs” when it comes to wedding dresses.
Hemlines too, although ever changing like the seasons, are currently back to where they were for guests of the day in 1985.
Colours for bridesmaids have gone through a transformation as well. Whereas 35 years ago bridesmaids would generally wear the same colour and style of dress, that is no longer necessarily the case. Bridesmaids will often have a style to suit them, even if they are all in the same colour, or will have mixed colours, which again can be chosen to suit the individual. In my case both bridesmaids were similar hair and skin colouring, although in my naïvety then I chose white for me (cream would have been better I later discovered) and a “cool red” which didn’t compliment them particularly nor me. But, I wanted red, and in those days for a summer wedding red wasn’t in such plentiful supply of choice – not that I knew then about colour like now of course! Luckily, I think because we were all at our blooming best, that didn’t matter too much!
Thankfully, one of the constants, apart from the lovely sunny weather, is our love, which after all is what the wedding was all about.
If you would like help choosing the perfect outfit/s for such a special, memorable and photographed occasion, please do have a conversation with me, to see how I can help.
I recently wrote a couple of blogs about constantly changing (and reinventing!) fashion, from the 1960s to today. You can find part 1 here.
Fiona
Your Colour & Style Consultant
07469 246722
Independent Personal Stylist – Helping you DRESS WITHOUT STRESS
