The fascinating stories of north east brides through the ages will be told at an illustrated talk this month.
The session, at the Centre for Local Studies at Darlington’s Crown Street Library, will feature wedding photographs from the archives of Durham County Record Office.
Although focusing on the dresses and changing fashions, the talk by principal archivist Gill Parkes, will also reveal some of the stories behind the images.
Gill said: “Some of the photos we will be looking at feature Edward Backhouse Mounsey and Rachel Ann Fryer, who were Quakers. They married in 1878 and settled at Tees Grange in Darlington.
“They were captured on camera more often than most couples tying the knot in the 1870s, probably because the groom was so interested in photography himself.
“We also know quite a lot about them – we know where Edward proposed and also that he designed the pendant worn by his bride on their big day.”
Gill will also be shedding light on a society wedding that took place in Spennymoor in 1911, when the bride, groom and bridesmaids all had the same name, and an elegant bride from 1947, who borrowed her dress and had to spray her shoes the right colour because of post-war rationing.
The hour-long talk takes place on Tuesday, 14 November from 2pm. Tickets, priced at £2, are available in advance from the library.
For more information, call 01325 349 630 or email local.studies@darlington.gov.uk