A Century of Wedding Gowns on show in County Durham includes royal favourites

A Century of Wedding Gowns on show in County Durham includes royal favourites

Ushaw Historic House, Chapels & Gardens is hosting a display of 72 wedding dresses including those worn by the late – and current – Princess of Wales

A selection of world-famous original and reproduction wedding dresses are on display in a new exhibition in County Durham which is showcasing a collection spanning 100 years of fine gowns worn by brides on their big day.

The exhibition includes original gowns and reproductions of dresses worn by royalty including Princess Diana and the current Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton.

There are 72 fabulous dresses that make up the display A Century of Wedding Gowns. The show is one of three newly-opened exhibitions at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels & Gardens in County Durham and the dresses are being displayed throughout the equally beautiful setting of its suite of chapels.

And the heritage and visitor attraction says that the show has already sparked so much interest from visitors that it has now extended its run to June 30. Ushaw, which was recently named a finalist in the Museums and Heritage Awards to be announced in May, says the collection captures the ‘exquisite craftsmanship and evolving trends’ which have defined wedding days over the years.

Also among the highlights is a dress made and designed by Coco Chanel. The exhibition – curated by wedding dress collector and designer Kevin Thornhill, and following on from his display of vintage wedding gowns at Newcastle Cathedral in 2022 – showcases a range of styles and designs, from classic to modern. And it reveals how styles and materials have changed over the decades, with examples also included of dresses borrowed and adapted in wartime.

Each dress has a story to tell about the bride as well as the time and place it was worn and visitors are able to read information about the background and context. Sanjay Gidda, Ushaw’s content marketing manager, said: ”We are thrilled to extend our exhibition.

“A Century of Wedding Gowns is an exhibition which the public are really able to resonate with by taking a nostalgic journey through time. Whether it’s fashion or history, the exhibition provides something which everyone can enjoy.“ Another upcoming treat at Ushaw is to be a complementary fashion show, The Wedding Walk, which will take place on June 28.

Tickets for this can be pre-booked here. The exhibition is open daily, from 10am-4pm, and access to it is included in the admission price to Ushaw. To book and to find out more about the venue, which houses a range of paintings and sculptures and runs a number of events across the estate, see here.

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View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/gallery/century-wedding-gowns-show-county-29053535

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