Something old and something new

Revel in decades of bridal gowns
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When you’re researching your family history one of the most delightful discoveries is wedding photographs. A fun part about exploring these wedding photographs is seeing how bridal wear has changed across decades.  

We have plenty of wonderful wedding stories on Trove including the story of the veil that was worn by 27 brides across six decades. We have a side quest for you. As we look at how bridal wear has evolved over the 20th century, see how many times you can spot the Lockhart wedding veil.  

Here comes the brides… 

1890s 

In the 1890s long sleeves and trains were important parts of the bridal gown. Ornate headwear was also a vital part of the ensemble. It was often accompanied by a long veil. 

A bride with a hair accessory and a long veil holding a bouquet.
 Portrait of unidentified bride, Sandhurst, Victoria, 1880-1900, nla.obj-136819390  

 

Superstitions were rampant around this time with green thought to be an unlucky colour for the bride to wear at any point on her wedding day. You can read about more wedding superstitions in Moore's Australian almanac and country directory for the year. 

Two side by side photographs of two bridges in long flowy dresses.
Northern Gem Photo. Co.,Young Bride, 1890, work.208476377; Bond & Co., Studio view of a bride, 1895, work.208476316  

1900s 

In the early 1900s, dresses continued to have long sleeves and were often adorned with beautiful decorative lace. A matching lace veil could complete the look.  

A bride and groom posing together.
E. A. Lumme, Mr and Mrs F.J. Carpenter, Mandurama, New South Wales, 1900,  nla.obj-139822744 

To add a taste of the 1900s to your wedding, check out this recipe for Bride Cake from The Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal

A bride and groom posing together. The bride is wearing a large brimmed hat.
Portrait of Mr and Mrs R. Anderson on their wedding day, ca. 1905, nla.obj-136580602  

1910s 

Wedding dresses had incredible detail in this period. From the stunning lace to the complementary headwear, it was truly impeccable. There was a slow progression towards headpieces with less volume, which would become an important part of 1920s fashion. Women were also starting to abandon the long trains on their dresses.  

A bride and groom posing together.
Portrait of unidentified bride and groom, Kapunda, South Australia, 1912,  nla.obj-136819283  

If you like the sound of this style, then you’ll love exploring this wedding sheet music from the 1910s.  

Side by images of two brides and grooms.
Wedding portrait of Kate McLeod and George Searle of Coogee, Sydney, 1915, nla.obj-138290888, Portrait of Joseph Richard Foster and Agnes Maud Jaggard on their wedding day at St. Pauls, Rockhampton, 1919, nla.obj-136766155

1920s

Flapper fashion was in full swing in the 1920s. The drop waist was an important feature in many wedding dresses. Women opted for flatter headpieces with beautiful embellishments like seed pearls. Satin, lace and tulle were popular materials. 

Two side by side photographs of brides with long, lace veils.
Wedding portrait of Agnes ('Nessie') Emily Hackett (née Lockhart) and Norman Alfred Hackett, June 1929, Melbourne, Victoria, nla.obj-150060449Wedding portrait of Margaret Lockhart (née White) and Malcolm Lockhart, Goodnight, N.S.W., 1929, nla.obj-150060594  

Long sleeves were still common for most brides. Sleeveless would have been pearl-clutching scandalous. Wedding dresses were slightly shorter than earlier decades, ranging from knee to mid-calf to ankle length.   

Two side by side photos of two different brides and grooms.
Wedding portrait of Arnold Pengelly and Millie Kriesel, 1927, work.180873964Soldier and his bride with a military guard of honour, ca. 1925, nla.obj-141688127  

Discover the flowers that were popular in 1920s bridal bouquets in this 1925 The Australian Woman’s Mirror article.  

1930s

“Married in white, you have chosen all right;   

Married in green, ashamed to he seen;   

Married in grey, you will go far away;   

Married in red, you will wish yourself dead;   

  

Married in blue, love ever true;   

Married in yellow, you’re ashamed of your   

fellow;   

Married black, you will wish yourself back;   

Married in pink, of you he’ll aye think.”  

- ‘Wedding Days and Ways Curiosities of Marriage Ritual That Defy Time’, The Australian Woman's Mirror, 30 March 1937, nla.obj-529021497 

A close-up shot of a woman in a bridal gown and a long lace veil. She is holding a bouquet.
Rainbow Cazneaux in her wedding dress, New South Wales, 1934, nla.obj-140228676 

In the 1930s women were using a range of wonderful material for their gowns. In the David Jones Bride book from 1938 materials mentioned include satin, lace, velvet, crepes, matelassé’s, chiffon and organdie. People were also experimenting with gold and silver in their gowns.  

A bride posing in a floor length bridal gown. She is wearing an ornate headpiece.
Bride, 1939, work.208476142 

You can also discover this pattern for a bridal cape in the Australian Women’s Mirror. 

Two side by photos of women in bridal gowns.
Wedding portrait of Lesley Edith Lambert (nʹee Hardie), 30 October 1937 at "Gulnare", 182 Pacific Hwy, Roseville, New South Wales, nla.obj-150065147Bride, 1939, work/208476138  
 

1940s 

Long sleeves were still a popular amongst brides and if women wanted a dress with short sleeves it was expected they add long gloves to the ensemble. Satin and tulle were popular materials during this period.  

Studio portrait of a Bride in her wedding gown.
Bride, 1940, work.208476144  

The most special dresses were made by a favourite family member. Read the story of army veteran James Warren Stevens who made his sister’s wedding dress. When she was a child, he also used to make clothes for her dolls.

Two photos side by side. The left photo is of a bride in her bridal gown. The photo on the right-hand side of a bride and groom walking out of a building.
Wedding portrait of Hazel Best (née Boland), Swan Hill, Victoria, 28 August 1943, nla.obj-150062694, Bride & Groom, 1940, work.208476147 

If you’re wondering about 1940s wedding traditions, read these nine tips for luck on your wedding day.  

Two photos side by side. The photo on the left hand side of a bride and groom. The photo on the right is a photo of a bride and another woman next to her.
Wedding portrait of Nancy Best (née Weame) and Herbert James Best, Gardiner, Victoria, 9 September 1944, nla.obj-150062797, A Bride and her maid’, The Home : an Australian quarterly, 1 May 1940, nla.obj-389716972  

1950s

Short-sleeved wedding dresses started to become popular in the 1950s. These were sometimes accompanied by a bolero jacket over the dress.  

Two side by side photos of brides.
Gladys Davis (nee Harrap), 1950, work.208520126Bride Fay Gidgup in North Perth, 1952, work.248860400  

Full skirts were all the rage with layers of tulle, lace and satin. 

Two side by side photos of two different brides and grooms.
Wedding portrait of Frances Gill (née Mensforth) and John ('Jack') Gill, Swan Hill, Victoria, 20 January 1951, nla.obj-150063446Wedding portrait of Zillah Tunny and Frank White, Townsville, 1950, work.180874600  
Photograph of Mr and Mrs Birks and their four attendants and flowergirl on their wedding day in 1952. The little girl is wearing a gathered bonnet and muff with her long silk dress.
A.W. Birks, 1952, work.208520456 

1960s 

It was a varied decade for wedding dresses and in the earlier part of the decade we were still seeing the poofy material from the 1950s. But then we started to move away from fuller skirts and towards more structured designs. Some women even opted for simple yet elegant tea length dresses. 

An article on wedding day traditions and romance.
Wedding Day, 30 August 1961, The Australian Women's Weekly, nla.news-article52250209  

Plan out the perfect at-home wedding banquet with this 1961 menu

Two photos side by side. The one on the left hand side is of a bride and groom linking arms. The one on the right hand side is of a bride and groom and their best man and maid of honour walking down steps in front of the empire room.
Portrait of Mr and Mrs Brian Wright after their wedding, Clovelly, Sydney, 10 November, 1962, nla.obj-145123899
Wolfgang Sievers, Wedding party on steps outside the Empire Room, Federal Hotel, Melbourne, 1965,  nla.obj-160877351  
A photographer taking of a photo of a bride and groom in a set-up function room.
Wolfgang Sievers, Wedding in function room, Lennons Hotel, Brisbane, Queensland, 1965, nla.obj-160915027  

 

A bride in her bridal gown and holding a wedding bouquet. She is linking arms with her father.
Cynthia and her father at her wedding, Brewarrina, New South Wales, 1967, nla.obj-153509571  

1970s

High necklines and a-line style dresses were abundant in the 1970s. There was a sense of freedom and joy in the flowy and flowery lace. But some women opted for a minidress which was modelled so wonderfully by Audrey Hepburn in 1969. Brightly coloured eyeshadow was also a welcome addition to the look.   

A wedding party posing for a photograph with a crowd of people walking behind them.
Girl golfer's pretty wedding, 23 February 1972, The Australian Women's Weekly, nla.news-article51584232  

It’s hard to tell if the wedding cakes were inspired by the bridal gown or vice versa. You find more beautiful wedding cakes in this 3 November 1971 edition of The Australian Women’s Weekly.  

An article on a beautiful wedding cakes with images of 10 different cakes.
Beautiful Wedding Cakes, 1 September 1976, The Australian Women's Weekly, nla.news-article55479627  
Lionel Rose with his bride and the flower girl posing for a photo.
LIONEL ROSE'S WEDDING DAY, 6 January 1971, The Australian Women's Weekly, nla.news-article51974315  
Two side by side photographs. The one on the left is of a bride and groom with two bridesmaids and their flowergirl.
NORME ROWE'S WEDDING, 24 March 1971, The Australian Women's Weekly, nla.news-article52260261PERFECT DAY FOR WEDDING, 22 July 1970, The Australian Women's Weekly, nla.news-article46443492  

1980s 

The 1980s were a time of puffy sleeves, big hair and bold veils. One of the most iconic weddings of the decade was between Prince (now King) Charles and Princess Diana. Her dress was made of ivory coloured silk and complete with puffy sleeves. If you’re curious to see the dress, then you can explore this Australian Women’s Weekly feature on the wedding.   

Front cover of The Australian Women's Weekly covering Princess Diana's and Prince Charles' wedding.
The Australian Women's Weekly and The Benson and Hedges Company Present the Royal Wedding Souvenir, 19 August 1981, The Australian Women's Weekly, nla.news-article55464043  
A bride and groom about to get married in a church surrounded by people.
Robert McFarlane, A wedding ceremony, Cherbourg, Queensland, 1986, nla.obj-152396312  
Princess Margaret and her wedding party.
Princess Margaret to Antony Armstrong-Jones, 29 July 1981, The Australian Women's Weekly, nla.news-article57125257  

1990

Stepping into the 1990s puffy sleeves were still in abundance, but necklines were changing. Women were opting for more sweetheart necklines, and they were experimenting with different shades of white. Some even went for pinks and blues.  

Linda Kozlowski in her wedding dress posing with George Negus and her groom Paul Hogan.
Rennie Ellis, Paul Hogan, George Negus and Linda Kozlowski,, New South Wales, 1990, nla.obj-145160141  
A bride and groom exchanging rings.
Greek wedding, the exchange of rings; Canberra, 1996, nla.obj-143270031  

These are just some of the wonderful wedding dresses you can discover on Trove. Start exploring and you may discover your own ancestors wedding photos. Or you might find inspiration for your own walk down the aisle.