I found these wedding photos in an antique shop. I was buying lots of wedding photos because we were doing a book about weddings and needed lots of resource material and ephemera. These photos never made it into the book. I wonder why!
Here she is—the blushing bride. I'll call her Betty. Doesn't she look like a Betty? He looks kind of happy with that half smile. She doesn't look happy at all. She doesn't want to marry this guy. But she's found herself "in the family way" and her dad told her she better marry this guy if she knows what's good for her. This was probably the 1940s and a woman didn't have too many choices in those days. So the wedding was planned, the unfortunate dress bought and the flowers ordered. Betty had her hair done. But even for the photo, she wasn't going to smile.
And here's the whole family. Betty's perked up a bit here. But her folks and the in-laws don't look a bit pleased. I'll take a clue from
Helen's post about the hand gestures - Betty looks like she's ready to claw her way out of this day. Mom looks like she's ready to slap Betty. Dad is hiding his hands so we're not sure what he's thinking. Maybe there's a rifle back there. It's funny, on the back of this photo is written "none". Betty didn't even want to order copies of this wedding photo. She's already hating her in-laws.
Here's Betty and probably her sister who's the happiest person at the wedding. She's probably still single! Dad is almost smiling here, but still pretty steamed about the whole situation. Mom is thinking "why didn't I wear my pushup bra?" But Betty liked this photo. According to the back of this one, she ordered 12 5x7s.
March down the aisle to
Sepia Saturday for more photos and stories.
You could just do a whole website like this. It's kind of like "Cake Wrecks", but with an historic twist. I'd read it, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteTons of fun!
What a great idea. I would love to do that. And it would be so much fun to comb through antique and thrift shops looking for the perfect photos.
DeleteThanks for your suggestion.
Nancy
The corsages are big enough for casket covers. Funny which picture Betty selected for purchase!
ReplyDeleteYes, I don't think she wanted anything to do with the photo of her husband and his parents. She definitely was not a happy camper.
ReplyDeleteThose corsages are pretty jumbo-sized. A little overkill for such a modest wedding.
Nancy
Wow...Mom really does need a better bra - she's far too young for the matronly look. Luckily the bride looks smaller breasted and won't feel gravity's insults as acutely. I'm enjoying all these pictures so much more since I've looked at photos with you and Barbara. You opened my eyes.
ReplyDeleteYes, she is small. But I wish she had chosen a better dress, even tho small, she still looks a bit saggy in that number.
DeleteNancy
I wouldn't presume to comment about the ladies although I can see what you mean. What I can't understand is how Dad was permitted to get away with that tie at a wedding, let alone his daughter's.
ReplyDeleteNancy, you are so funny! I really started laughing when I got to the push-up bra part. The groom's parents don't look quite as upset about the whole thing; they probably considered themselves lucky that somebody fertile was marrying their son and now they would have a grandbaby soon. They were a bit worried that nobody would marry him because he was already beginning to go bald. It was all probably a trap from the beginning, and Betty knows it.
ReplyDeleteOMG, we are bad. I hope that the real people never read this post, lol!
Kathy M.
Love you story, yes I can see why they did not end up in your book. In reality those corsages are from another planet and forming a symbiotic link with humans. I don't think it is going to end happily, like the wedding.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they had a bunch of shots to choose from. These could be what was left after choosing the best ones.
ReplyDeleteLoved this. It made me laugh but it's sad to think that the photos ended up in an antique shop unwanted by any family members. Maybe neither of the girls had children so there were no direct family to claim them?
ReplyDeletePhotos really do speak volumes!
Enjoyed your story. I can't get over how large the corsages were. Wonder if this was the style at the time? I've never seen corsages like this.
ReplyDeleteI somehow feel sorry for "Betty".
ReplyDeletePerhaps things got better as time went by,
unless he left her there to go with another.
We'll never know now...
:/~
HUGZ
Oh Betty reminds me of a woman named Juanita I featured a year or so ago. Juanita with a husband who probably ended up a cad. Perhaps Betty had just had a whisper in her ear from a bridesmaid who knew too much about the hubby to be.
ReplyDeleteI love the story you have weaved out of this photo. I really believe you could be right about it all. Poor Betty, i wonder what became of them. Maybe they fell in love and were happy. Thanks for visiting my blog too.
ReplyDelete