Lougheed House features 125 years of bridal fashion

There was a time when wearing a white gown on your wedding day simplywasn't practical.

Back in the early 19th century, for example, brides optedfor dark-coloured dresses that wouldn't easily show dirt.

"Of course, they didn't have dry cleaning back then," said Sandra Morton Weizman, the curator of a new exhibit at the Lougheed House featuring 125 years of wedding fashion.

"It was also quite common for people on their wedding anniversary every year to wear their wedding dress."

The result? Gowns in rich hues of red, purple and blue,adorned with gold or silver embroidery.

Morton Weizman said white was "almost never used for wedding gowns" until 1840, when Queen Victoria married Prince Albert.

"She made white wedding gowns popular."

Fabric rationed during WWII

While many women married during the Second World War did choose to wear a traditional white wedding gown, Morton Weizman said they often had to get creative with the design.

"Fabric was rationed during the wartime, and it was quite common to wear a two-piece suit, and in some ways, a two-piece suit almost modelled the serviceman's uniform that many of these brides married."

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It was also common for brides at that time to make their own wedding gowns and accessories.

In 1949 Doreen Lougheed, the sister-in-law of former Alberta premier Peter Lougheed, wore her own homemade veil and headpiece to her wedding.

Both are on display as part of the exhibit.

"Unfortunately, the dress has not survived," said Morton Weizman.

While wedding fashion haschanged tremendously over the last century, Morton Weizmansays one thing still holds true.

"Whatever type of wedding they choose to havea traditional gown,something casual, something contemporaryanything goes, and it'sstill their special day."

Something Old, Something New: 125 Years of Wedding Fashion runs until October 16 at the Lougheed House in Calgary.