Candace,
I agree with Barbara O'Brien.  At Baker University, we have a student's brown silk wedding dress.  It  has a cute little bustle, gold buttons that have a woman with a parasol on them.  The waist is so small, I couldn't get more than my.... Never mind, we won't go there.  Anyway, the label states that wedding dresses were often brown or magenta so that they could be worn to church, etc.
Brenda Day
Director/Baker University
 

	-----Original Message----- 
	From: Barbara O'Brien [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
	Sent: Wed 8/6/2003 8:09 AM 
	To: [log in to unmask] 
	Cc: 
	Subject: Re: brown wedding gowns
	
	
	Candace,
	
	The Carroll County Farm Museum in Maryland had and exhibit years ago showing a wedding dress which was not white.  The label stated that white was unusual for wedding dresses before the turn of the twentieth century except for the wealthy.   More common wedding dresses were  browns, blacks and magentas because these dresses could be worn after the wedding day for Sundays, funerals, or social occasions.    
	
	
	
	
	
	

	Barbara O'Brien
	Archivist
	McDaniel College
	(410) 857-2793
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