Archives Center Weddings Documentation Collection
1 series.
An artificial collection of diverse archival materials relating to weddings, at present organized according to donor. Contents include wedding photographs; invitations; gift registries; contracts; invoices and receipts for expenses incurred; guest lists.
This collection is a repository for wedding-related archival materials from varied sources, including curatorial units, the public, and Smithsonian staff, which may be augmented periodically by new acquisitions.
Collection donated by Carrie and Josh DiStefano, 2008; Yolonda Earl-Thompson and Anthony Mills Thompson, 2008; Christiane Gil, 2008; Kinh and Leila Poursedehi Hann, 2008; Susan B. Strange, 2008; Priscilla E. Hall, 2008; Mitchell and Sharon Toda, 2008; Kendra Smith-Howard, 2008; and David DeFelice and Paul Scherbak, 2008.
The collection is open for research and access on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Archives Center Weddings Documentation Collection, 1945-2008, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Collection is unprocessed.
Professional photographs, invoices, list of expenses, copper plate for engraving of wedding invitation. Wedding cake toppers donated to Home and Community Life in 2003.
[Bride and groom exiting church : black-and-white photoprint].
AC1131-0000001.tif (AC Scan)
Wedding on November 24, 1945 of Marjorie Elizabeth Bonynge and Hinman Foot Strange at Christ Episcopal Church, Gordonsville, Virginia.
Photographs, invitations, large "wedding planner" notebook including invoices and contracts, emails with Todas about details of the wedding, and party favors (CD and bag with salt and pepper shakers)
Emails with bride about details of the wedding, schedule/time-line, honeymoon information (Mexico), contracts, guest book with African American couple on front, and five greeting cards with African American imagery.
Contracts, invoices, photographs by Archives Center employee Susan B. Strange (see control file), schedule/time-line, hand-made program, Hawaii Bride & Groom, Fall/Winter 2002; Pacific Rim Weddings, Summer/Fall 2002, Hawaii Bride & Groom, Fall/Winter 2004, and Crane & Co. 2004 catalog. Large wedding held at a Wakiki beach hotel.
Planning notebook, program, time-line, receipts; emails with bride about details of this small wedding held outside in a park.
Receipts, photographs by Archives Center employee Susan B. Strange (see control file); couple met on eHarmony and copies of their early emails are in the file. A small wedding held at home; bride was an undocumented immigrant from Brazil.
Contracts, receipts, invitations, gift registry, guest list, correspondence between bride and her future mother-in-law, ribbons and examples of couple's "colors." Couple met on eHarmony and copies of their early emails are in the file. Bride was a Korean-born adoptee and the groom was in the U.S. Army.
Contracts, receipts, photographs by Archives Center employee Susan B. Strange (see control file), gift registry, invitations, and oral history (transcribed). The American-born bride was half Iranian, one quarter English, and one quarter Mexican American; the groom was born in Vietnam and immigrated as a child in 1981. Bride wore traditional Vietnamese wedding dress at the dinner; this dress was collected by the Division of Home and Community Life in November 2008.
Contracts, receipts, photographs, gift registry, marriage license, vows, marriage certificate, seat assignments, and a DVD with photographs and television newscasts of the couple's wedding. The couple is a gay male couple who were married at the San Francisco City Hall in June 2008.
Includes invitation and bridesmaid thank you bag.