Dearly Beloved: Gifts and Gowns from Nebraska Weddings, an exhibit at the Nebraska History Museum, opened June 1, 1999. The exhibit featured a selection of eighteen wedding dresses dating from the 1850s to the 1950s, drawn from the Society's extensive textile collection. Wedding invitations, accessories, photos, and gifts were also displayed.

A silk wedding dress made in Denmark in 1883, a flapper-style chiffon gown with train from 1925, and a 1956 tea-length satin dress were just a few of the garments on exhibit. Shoes, gloves, and jewelry from a variety of time periods were also on view. Some of the featured wedding gifts included an 1887 love seat, a 1905 hand-painted china clock, and a set of china lemonade cups from 1914.

 

A special section on "Living Traditions" featured objects, a 1990s wedding dress, and photographs associated with a variety of cultural wedding traditions in Nebraska: Laotian, Hispanic American, and African American.

The exhibit ended May 31, 2000.

 

Nebraska History Museum

Exhibits