Something Borrowed: Bride wears 120-year-old gown

A wedding is a momentous occasion that warrants special family traditions. Each family has its unique way of making the event unforgettable. Many find a way to link the event to the past, to honor and recognize their ancestors who made them who they are. Some pass down jewelry from generation to generation to be worn by the bride. Others pass down meaningful heirlooms.

In my family, we have a prayer book that has been passed down to each bride since the early 1900s. It has weathered well over the years – considering how old it is – and how far it has traveled. Although worn and, in some places, unreadable, it doesn’t matter. Many brides on my mother’s side of the family have written their names and wedding date on the front page, just moments before walking down the aisle and beginning a new stage of life.

I remember the unbelievable feeling of belonging as I looked over the signatures of my great-grandmother, grandmother, mother and aunts from their wedding days, and then added my own name. To realize that I was part of a tradition established so many generations ago to commemorate this important life event eased my pre-wedding jitters. I felt honored to be included in the lineage of those women who came before me. They may have lived their lives in different generations, but they each had similar hopes and dreams on the day of their weddings. I hope to have my children sign the same book and to continue the tradition for future generations.

Abigail Kingston, a young woman from Pennsylvania, was recently in the news for deciding to wear a family wedding gown handed down for 120 years! Her great-great-grandmother Mary was the first bride to wear the Victorian-era satin gown in 1895, and it has been worn a total of 10 times to date.

(Image credit: Leslie Kingston)

When Abby became engaged to her fiancé, Jason Curtis, she decided to wear the family heirloom, and set out to track down the dress, which had been misplaced. They discovered which family member currently had the dress. The relative happily shipped the dress to Abby, but it was no longer in the best shape. It was no longer white, full of holes, and the sleeves were falling apart. It was only after careful alterations – taking some 200 hours – that Abby decided she could go ahead and carry on the family tradition.

Mary Lowry Warren, Kingston's great-great-grandmother, the first bride to wear the dress, in 1895 (Image credit: Leslie Kingston).

Because the dress is so fragile, Abby will wear a new dress for the ceremony and change into the heirloom only for the cocktail hour. She will also wear her great-grandmother’s ring and her grandmother’s locket.

“It’s not just the dress that’s been handed down,” her mother, Leslie, said. “It’s the love.”

Do you have wedding traditions in your family? Share them with us below!