Wedding styles are a sign of the times

The Associated Press

Published Sunday, January 25, 2009

In 75 years of Brides magazine, just about everything about the weddings and the way they’ve been covered has evolved.

"Exchanging vows in front of family and friends, with a toast to the newlyweds and breaking bread with the people gathered, and receiving gifts are all done to give people a good start," says Editor-in-chief Millie Martini Bratten. "Those things don’t change; it’s how they’re realized that’s changed."

Two pieces of advice that have been consistent over the years: Make sure your guests have enough to eat and be polite. A look back:

1930s - Pared-Down Parties: Even in hard economic times, people wanted to spend on their weddings. The party, ranging from punch and cake to a four-course meal, was often at home. In preparation for their big day, the magazine advised women to give up smoking from time to time.

1940s - Rations on Passion: During World War II, weddings were done on a much smaller scale. Even with rations, a bride could probably find some satin for her wedding gown, but it was in the back of her mind that if she wore too much of it, she might be taking away from someone else, Bratten says.

1950s - A Woman’s Place: Brides honed in on the public’s interest in their homes and home life. It was a bigger adjustment to live in their own house for women than men because many women had lived only under their father’s care before their weddings.

The magazine started to look more at the emotional side of marriage, too, even if the main message was to treat your man well.

1960s - Revolution and Romance: There was rebellion with miniskirt-style wedding gowns and articles on birth-control pills. But the party line for women with a snoring husband was to get used to it: Men were the breadwinners.

1970s - Wives Can Be Feminists, Too: During this decade, the magazine started to write about interfaith marriage, women’s lib and extramarital affairs. Bratten thinks the skeptical tone that many marriages took on were partially due to the Watergate scandal, which "shook the foundation of the country," she says. "People looked at everything going on and said, ‘We’re going to do it differently.’ "

1980s - Royal Weddings: With the fairy-tale union between Prince Charles and Lady Diana, pomp and circumstance came back - that is, until the stock market crashed in ’87. Then couples became introspective and pared down everything, including weddings.

1990s - All About You: Couples decided to get personal, tailoring their weddings to suit their own taste. "People looked at traditions and wanted to keep the rituals, but they wanted to do it in a way that makes sense for them, who they are," she says. "The cookie-cutter wedding was officially done, and we’ll never go back to it. It’s better for your marriage if you start out with who you are."

2000s - What Matters Most: "People are concerned about looking inappropriate," says Bratten. Couples want a beautiful wedding, but instead of being showy they’ll ask for donations to charity in lieu of gifts or give out favors that are edible instead of eventually taking up space in a landfill.