nothin New Haven Independent | What Is Summer Without A Bevy Of Weddings?

What Is Summer Without A Bevy Of Weddings?

Like a wedding, the event was a year in planning, and when it all came together it was wonderful.

What is a wedding without flowers and floral displays?

As part of A Gardener’s Wedding,” members of the Branford Garden Club created a series of tableaus anchored by vintage wedding gowns and complementing floral arrangements that told stories representing different eras and circumstances.

Summer is the quintessential season for weddings, and the efforts of Garden Club members reflected weddings of the ages in perfect summer glory.

Sally E. Bahner Photos

Those arriving at the Community House last month were greeted by a pair of teddy bears in their wedding finery ready to depart for their honeymoon in their antique car. 

The entire building was devoted to the event with wedding gowns going back to the 19th century. This silk gown was made using a combination of machine and hand-sewing with hook-and-eye and snap closures. 

These three gowns, on loan from the Branford Historical Society, belonged to Branford residents (from left): a linen dress sewn by Ellen Lynch for her 1898 wedding; a flapper-style dress from the Baxter-Deevy family; and a lavender and green plaid silk dress worn by Cornelia Hubbard. 

Not to forget the bridesmaids.

The elegance of 1930s Hollywood is reflected in this bias-cut gown of silk satin and lace.

A gown from the 1940s reflects the simplicity of the war years. Some gowns were made from parachutes sent home by their sweethearts.

The War years was also seen in this picnic table setting.

The date of this gown is uncertain (1930s-40s to 1970s-80s) but described as Joan Crawford meets Bride of Frankenstein!

Post-war opulence was seen in this heavy satin gown worn by three brides (two sisters and a cousin).

It was worn by the mother of Terri Twigg, chair of the show, who is shown with Eunice Lasala, a consultant for the show.

Twigg has a collection of 12 to 15 gowns that were part of the display.

Floral arrangements were interspersed among the wedding gowns. This one is dubbed Wedding Finery.” It was a design for a Golden Wedding Anniversary.

On to the 1950s. A classic bouffant skirt, here, was gathered to a scalloped double yoke. The taffeta fabric ensured its fullness.

A chic coat-and-gown ensemble from 1966 was on loan from Susie Zdanowicz.

This colorful Japanese kimono from the 1960s on loan from Patricia McNelis proves that not all wedding gowns are white.

This heavy ivory gown, with lace and ruffles and an unusual train from the late 1960s or early 1970s, has a more traditional look.

It’s guessed that this wedding gown may be from the 1980s, but according to the Garden Club’s program, Words fail.”

Of course every bride wants to feel like Cinderella on her wedding day. (See top photo.)

Because this was a Standard Flower Show” a point system was used to judge various exhibits. The wedding-related themes were reflected in the cleverness of the exhibits. For instance, Champagne Taste/Beer Budge” featured facing arrangements. Another was titled Jilted,” which featured a breakfast tray for one.

Indeed there was an unfinished wedding gown from the 1950s on loan from Paula Brown. The raw lace edges would normally have been bound with silk or edged with lace trim.

The creativity of the categories developed by Garden Club members and the artistry of the contributors were amazing. No wonder the event was a year in the making.

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