Incorporating History into a Wedding

So, you may have noticed I recently began posting on Mary's Modern Mishaps again after quite a long hiatus. The fall had been quite chaotic to say the least. I started graduate school at Rutgers-Newark, moved, got married, finished moving, survived Superstorm Sandy, our first holidays as a married couple, then January is birthday month in my family, and we had an engagement to celebrate. Okay, maybe life is always chaotic. 

Now that things are starting to wind down on a personal level, I've been working at pushing Mary's Historical Programs and have recently created a new Colonial Era show. In the next few days, I will be working on a Valentine's Day promotion and then Women's History Month. I'm also thrilled to have been booked on a monthly basis and will be creating a Wild West Fashion Program for this facility ready by this summer. 

All that said, I've been dying to post some pictures of the wedding for two reasons. One, yeah, we had a lot of history "stuff" incorporated into our wedding and, two, when I was planning the wedding, I had the hardest time coming up for subtle ways to include aspects of Greg's and my relationship and what was important to us as a couple. Hopefully, this post will give some other couple's do-able ideas (on a budget). Also, also, as a small business owner, I am going to plug my wonderful vendors. :)

I chose to have my hair done in a 1950's era inspired up-do. I found the directions here and had my hair done by Angela at D&L Haircutter's in Jackson.

My wedding shoes came from American Duchess who I'm kinda in love with. They were almost flats and are reproduction Regency era shoes. They were also my something blue...and new...and old. 

Under my dress, I wore a Civil War era corset. This was actually one of my something's borrowed from one of my reenacting friends. That's New Jersey Smith lacing me in. 

I realize this picture is a little creepy, but that's just a dress form because my mother made my dress. The veil is actually my mom's from 1981. I really wanted a veil with a blusher, but could not find any that I liked. The crinoline is off Amazon.

My dress was perfect as it was hand-made to fit me. It was a Simplicity pattern circa 1990 of a 1950's era wedding dress. Prior to the wedding, I informed Greg my look was going to be "historical Picasso."

Our ride was one of our groomsmen's 1986 Buick. It was fantastic!

My bouquet was a reproduction of my great-grandmother's wedding bouquet circa 1929. I was really lucky to have had a bridal portrait of her which I brought to Added Touch Florist in Brick. Laura was amazing beyond words. I had waited last minute for flowers and she was able to work with me AND stay within my budget. 

Our wonderful reenacting unit came in period dress as per my request. All hail the bride, you know. They did  a sword arch as we left the church and I got a swat on the fanny for good luck. 

I made these scrapbook-esque photo boards to show my and Greg's history. One for my childhood, one for his, one of our family and friends, one of our bridal party members, and one of our relationship.

Also per my request, we danced the Virginia Reel (a Civil War era dance) to Bruce Springsteen's "American Land". Our guest were surprisingly brave in the numbers that joined us on the floor. Our first dance was to "Only You" by Sinead O'Connor which is the theme to The Young Victoria.

Finally, I just want to link up for our photographer who took all the photos Lily Szabo based out of Brick, New Jersey.