Why do brides dress the way they do?

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I used this video a few days ago. But I want to look at one particular part of it: a wedding 2:40 into the video. The bride is wearing a strapless dress. I have seen brides dressed in this way in different countries. It always embarrasses me because I know that most of them would never go to Mass on any other occasion wearing a similar dress. Why do they dress this way on one of the most important days in their life?

Irishman Percy French, one of the first persons I hope to meet in heaven, wrote Where the Mountains of Mourne Sweep Down to the Sea in 1896, a song I have been known to sing on occasion. One of the stanzas goes:

I believe that when writin' a wish you expressed
As to how the fine ladies in London were dressed
Well if you'll believe me, when asked to a ball
They don't wear no top to their dresses at all
Oh I've seen them meself and you could not in truth
Say that if they were bound for a ball or a bath
Don't be startin' them fashions, now Mary machree
Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea.

I wonder what he would have made of  church weddings today!

Comments

  1. Anonymous9:54 am, August 17, 2011

    Fr Sean, the reason girls wear strapless dresses is simple, its the fashion, they simply don't think it might be appropriate. If they did they would be like my daughter and myself and make sure to search out a dress that has straps or sleeves or wear a cardigan or similar cover up to Mass.
    As our daughters wedding was as recent as 2 months ago, I can tell you it can be pretty hard to find a dress that isn't strapless although thanks to the Royal wedding dress there are signs of a change.Its the same with the bridesmaids dresses for adults many of the dresses offered are strapless, we gave our 2 bridesmaids lovely ivory Pashminas which they wore over their shoulders in church.Until the fashion changes it will be the same, you can date a wedding by the dresses the ruffles and puffy sleeves a'la Princess Diana 1980's-1990's or the Empire line with a straight skirt? 1960-1970's even micro minis like Cilla!.
    I told my daughter make sure that you wont look at the pics in 20 years and say How could I have worn that,What was I thinking!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous9:59 am, August 17, 2011

    My daughter wore a very dignified & modest strapless dress Fr Sean..take a look for yourself on my blog:

    http://jacquelineparkes.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous11:55 am, August 17, 2011

    @Jackie yes your daughters was lovely, the one in the youtube film Fr mentions in his post is NOT, its what my daughter calls a "Booby Dress"

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous12:20 pm, August 17, 2011

    Oh! Perhaps I'd best not watch!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. TLW7:50 pm, August 17, 2011

    The front of some of these dresses isn't the only problem. An Episcopal priest here was interviewed about a year ago about the dress code he implemented for weddings at his church. Seems as he was waiting at the altar for the bride, he saw some of the congregation snickering as she made her way down the aisle. It wasn't until after the ceremony when the couple exited the altar that he saw the reason why. Suffice it to say this priest has said no to crack in his church, and to gowns that reveal too much flesh in the front as well.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Fr Seán Coyle5:52 am, August 18, 2011

    Thanks to all for the comments. Jackie, I don't consider Jennifer's wedding dress as strapless. Strapless for me is as described by the daughter of Diddleymaz and as worn by the bride in the video. Maybe her father couldn't 'shoulder the expenses'! LOL.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous6:10 am, August 18, 2011

    Lol thing is Fr it was probably more expensive than Jennifer & Rhiannon's put together!

    ReplyDelete
  8. The.Baroness.Von.Korf11:31 pm, August 23, 2011

    I refused to wear a strapless dress for my wedding. I went so far as to MAKE a top and sleeves.

    http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/58929_551994202724_69301182_32088202_7933017_n.jpg

    ReplyDelete

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