Sixty Years of Marriage

It goes without saying that every feature we share on Love My Dress is adored, but there are certain posts that will always hold an extra special place for me.

I spotted these images on Instagram some weeks ago and got in touch with the wonderful ‘From The Smiths‘ photographers to ask if we could share. The couple pictured are Dorothy and Harry and their wedding actually took place on Saturday 21st December 1957. And on my, what a joy it would have been to share those photographs with you today! This post isn’t a real wedding feature however, but a celebration of 60 years of marriage….

“My advice for a happy marriage is to be honest about everything and talk to each other. Everyone has their disagreements which can be resolved if you talk and sort them out. It also helps to have the same interests, we both loved dancing and cycling, in those days it was the quickstep, foxtrot and modern waltz until the 60’s when it was rock and roll.  When you have children, which we were very lucky to have three sons, it is nice to do things as a family. Love prevails. Also, it is very important that you select the dress that you fall in love with and feel like a million dollars in.”

Photography by From The Smiths

“Our wedding day was a typical winters day, cold but dry and the trees were bare, but the grass and hedges and trees had a frosty glow, which shone and brightened up the day. I didn’t feel the cold. I had always wanted a Christmas time wedding and I have never regretted it because it’s a lovely time of the year for celebration. It was the Saturday before Christmas and my mother said “Everyone will be Christmas shopping” but when you are young you don’t think of things like that.”

“I wore a beautiful white gown of satin brocade which had a train and a wide sash both sides at the hips and tied loosely at the back, I had seen one in Vogue magazine. My two bridesmaids wore ice blue in a similar material. I carried a bouquet of pink roses, lily of the valley and stephanotis. Harry had his best friend as best man and my brother was groomsman.”

“Our ceremony was held at St Johns at Birtley, Gateshead. When we arrived inside, all the guests were seated and Harry waiting nervously at the altar. We had 80 guests, made up of family, friends and work colleagues. The reception was held at the Freemasons Hall, chosen for the size of the hall and its closeness to the church. Our three tiered fruit cakes, which were beautifully decorated – were spoiled on the day, because the caterers didn’t bring any pillars and wrapped glasses with tissue paper instead.”