1. Dating family wedding photographs

2. The brides dress is always the focus of a wedding day
The brides dress is always the focus of a wedding day. Royal weddings have always led the fashion stakes in this regard.
In 1840 Queen Victoria popularised Honiton lace and orange blossoms, while Princess Marina’s 1934 gown epitomised the period’s elegant simplicity.

3. Royal fashions may be a good starting point in dating a wedding photograph.
The Victoria and Albert Museum has an excellent database of wedding photographs to help in this task (
You can even upload and share your own photos.

4. Until the 1930s most brides dressed in line with the fashions of the day or just wore their best dress.
The groom wore frock coats in the 19th century with increasingly lounge suits worn by working class men and some middle classes.
Weddings were constrained by the cost and dress had to consider that throughout.