Something New

"Something new" is probably the most straighforward part of the saying, and typically the easiest part to fufill. The wearing of a new item represents optimism for the future and symbolizes the couple beginning the new chapter of their lives together. For many brides, this is accomplished through the purchase of a new wedding dress. For brides who choose to wear an heirloom gown, they may wear brand new shoes or brides can even include their new wedding band as their "something new". For the brides in this section of the exhibition, the "something new" refers to the brand new gown they purchased for their wedding. While the gowns themselves may be of a certain age now, they were the height of fashion at the time of their purchase.