Today, August 8, was the first day of a four-day local history exhibit featuring vintage wedding gowns worn by twelve Aurora County brides. The exhibit continues on Saturdays, August 15, 22 and 29 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. I organized this with the help of several local volunteers including Kathy Guindon and Peggy Stoddard. I’ll post a link soon to a new page sharing much more detail on this historic event at the Sweep-Van Dyke Hotel & Railroad Museum in Plankinton, South Dakota.

The inspiration for this exhibit came from my sister, Jane Page, when she offered to donate our grandmother’s beautifully restored 1914 wedding gown to this hotel museum. Why not make it a grand affair by displaying other dresses worn by local women? Each dress reflects its historical decade in the choices made regarding fabric, neckline, dress length, waist style, sleeve style, embellishments, and closures.

More than 100 visitors viewed the gowns, and shared their appreciation for the beautifully displayed gowns. The banner picture shows me with my grandmother’s 1914 silk chiffon gown in the middle, my mother’s 1952 lace gown on the left and my 1979 polyester gown on the right.