Most of us only see the ceremonies of our ancestors in antique pictures that have been meticulously preserved in closets and. One home in the U. K., but, just got an up-close-and-personal perspective of the bridal dress their long-lost family wore to her weddings in the early 20th century—which truly marked the first time someone had seen the dress at all. The artist missed the couple’s wedding in 1910, so the gown and other important details were lost in past.
At the Leeds Discovery Centre, Jennifer Slater and her daughter, Lily Cathcart, saw the relic, which belonged to her aunt, at the. Their trip to the exhibition was a tribute to Lily, who, according to family documents, was a vocal suffragist and admirer of women’s rights. Before enrolling at Darlington Training College in 1905, Lily claimed to have started teaching at Quarry Mount School as a prerequisite for her teaching position. In 1910, when she was 26, she married her father Charles at Buslingthorpe Church in Leeds, the party was evidently a “lavish” event.
As for the outfit? The silk and velvet dress had army stitching down the front, gathered waist, wispy sleeves lined with beige embroidered lace, and petticoats that were loaded with weights, a popular ploy that made the garment swing and swoop when the bride moved. The dress’s greatest surprise, however, was not related to the gentle fabric or the frequently used design: Jennifer and her family were delighted to discover glitter that had been tossed throughout the fabric during Lily and Charles ‘ post-ceremony marriage exit at Buslingthorpe Church.
Since she had quite an impact on family years both past and present, Jennifer felt a bit when she saw her in person. “My grandmother’s efforts were actually pretty outstanding for that period in time. Women didn’t really go to work back then, let alone study and get qualifications. Given that, it’s hardly surprising that she was a member of the feminist movement because she had been able to realize her personal goals in a way that only 99 percent of other women were able to do so,” she told the outlet.
Although Lily’s bridal gown is too fragile to be displayed permanently at the Leeds Discovery Centre, it still stands as a testament to the dedication and values of one woman to both herself and her family. We all understood the value of being like our mothers and grandmothers, who had shown us how to recognize our ability and have the means to become independent, Jennifer said.