Within the museum’s collection are over seventy wedding dresses and several wedding suits. The archival collection boasts much wedding related materials such as receipts for dress alterations, invitations, and wedding photos. Occasionally items are brought in together such as a wedding dress and photo, but often these items are donated separately, several years apart, by different family members, and it is the job of museum staff to make the connections. Here’s some examples of wedding photos and the dresses from the museum’s collections.
John Henry Engel and Laura Hannah Monk
John and Laura were married May 1, 1930, in Walkerton. Both were born and raised in Brant Township. Laura graduated from the Weston School of Nursing in 1928 and is listed as a nurse on her wedding certificate, while John is listed as a farmer. John and Laura farmed in Brant Township near Elmwood and later retired to Hanover. Within the collection are two dresses, one Laura wore on her wedding day, and the other she wore when posing for her wedding photo. The photo of Laura and John is seen here along with the dress worn in the photo.
Edward George Hopkins and Laura Clara Beatrice Farr
Edward and Laura were married April 24, 1913, in Walkerton. Laura was born and raised in Brant Township, while Edward was born in Bentick Township, Grey County. After their marriage they farmed in Brant Township, where they raised their children. Found in collection is Laura’s wedding dress (seen here), shoes, veil and hair ornaments, and purse used on her wedding day, along with a receipt for having her dress hemmed and their wedding photo.
John Andrew Hogg and Mary Jane Sang
Andrew and Mary were married September 15, 1885, in Arran Township, by Reverend Andrew Tolmie. Mary was born to Charles Sang and Mary Fisher in Arran Township in 1854 and lived on the family farm until her marriage. John was born to John Hogg and Marion Bell in Carrick Township in 1857. After their marriage John and Mary lived and farmed on the 14th Concession of Carrick Township. By the 1920s they had retired to Walkerton. Found in the collection is Mary’s wedding dress. Although the museum does not have a wedding photo of John and Mary, the collection does have a photo of Mary’s parents, Charles Sang and Mary Fisher on the celebration of their Diamond Wedding Anniversary in 1900.
Charles Sang and Jane Fisher
Charles and Jane were married August 16, 1850, in Perth Scotland. Shortly after they settled in Arran Township, Bruce County and can be found there living with their children on the 1861 Canadian Census. They farmed on Lot 1 Concession 11, Arran Township. Both Charles and Jane lived on the farm until their deaths, 1904 and 1907 respectively. This photo taken to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, does not have their daughter Mary or their son-in-law John in it, however two of Mary and John’s children, Jean and John are identified.