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Harriet Sperling's Wedding Dress

(26 Posts)
LilyoftheValley Mon 08-Jun-26 13:10:05

I think that her outfit, although beautifully made, was inappropriate for a divorced person of 46 and who has a child. She did look striking but the outfit was not really suitable for someone approaching middle age.

Silvershadow Mon 08-Jun-26 13:13:53

I thought she looked lovely. It’s her wedding, her day. Who knows what her wedding was like first time round? Maybe she wanted to do it right this time round. Her wedding, her dress, her choice.

Icandoit Mon 08-Jun-26 13:15:35

Don't wish to seem rude but I thought she was beautiful. It is her own right/choice to choose what she wears as a wedding dress . I think nowadays people at least have the confidence not to worry too much about what others think especially on a very happy occasion such as this was. It was her/their very special day.

Tuliptree Mon 08-Jun-26 13:16:03

I found it ever so surprising (not) that they both got ever so special dispensation from their parish priests to be able to remarry in church. One might almost think they were well connected.

MarieElla Mon 08-Jun-26 13:17:25

I wouldn't call wearing white with a veil covering your face 'doing it right this time around'...however, you can wear what you want.
I think the virginal look was a bit silly, tbh.

Cossy Mon 08-Jun-26 13:22:53

I think we can all have and voice an opinion.

However, whatever one’s own feelings are, it’s not up to us to decide what is and isn’t appropriate for a complete stranger’s wedding outfit.

Plenty of people marry in white, in full wedding dresses, in second or even third marriages and often have children from prior relationships as their bridesmaids or pageboys.

It would not be for me, but I certainly wouldn’t judge others and I too think it was a beautiful dress which she looked radiant wearing.

Good luck to them both flowers

Cossy Mon 08-Jun-26 13:23:41

Tuliptree

I found it ever so surprising (not) that they both got ever so special dispensation from their parish priests to be able to remarry in church. One might almost think they were well connected.

🤣🤣🤣🤣 Well if it’s good enough for the King…

Whitewavemark2 Mon 08-Jun-26 13:24:23

She has a reputation for being very stylish, and indeed if you look at some of her outfits they really are lovely.

One photo wearing a yellow dress is to die for.

I was not aware that she was divorced.

GrannyGravy13 Mon 08-Jun-26 13:25:38

Tuliptree

I found it ever so surprising (not) that they both got ever so special dispensation from their parish priests to be able to remarry in church. One might almost think they were well connected.

I have been to several weddings in churches where the bride and groom have been divorcees.

Cossy Mon 08-Jun-26 13:28:23

I also don’t think many people are these days,
1) Virgins when they marry
2) Even connect white with virginity.

Times change as do traditions and expectations.

I do find it a bit ironic though to marry in church second (third etc) time around and use older ceremonies containing “til death shall we part”, but maybe they don’t use these older words?

valdali Mon 08-Jun-26 13:32:26

It's a lovely dress which suited her.

It would have symbolized a virginal look for the 120 years from 1850, but culturally I think we've passed that phase a while back now.

butterandjam Mon 08-Jun-26 13:42:44

Tuliptree

I found it ever so surprising (not) that they both got ever so special dispensation from their parish priests to be able to remarry in church. One might almost think they were well connected.

Hardly very "special".

Since 1996, 10 % of church weddings in England and Wales involved a divorced person.

www.theguardian.com/world/2000/jan/26/religion.uk

rafichagran Mon 08-Jun-26 13:46:30

I thought she looked radiant. My first thought on seeing the dress was she looked lovely, not that she was previously married.

Georgesgran Mon 08-Jun-26 13:46:43

Well said Cossy my thoughts exactly. My Sis-in-Law married a divorced man in church in 1970.
As a spinster (awful word) I married a bachelor in a registry office in 1972 and I wore red.

Live and let live.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Mon 08-Jun-26 13:48:03

She’s a very attractive lady
I just thought the long train a bit OTT and the veil too if I’m honest

Tuliptree Mon 08-Jun-26 13:48:38

I wonder how many get turned down? Actually I don’t think the Cof E as our established church should turn anyone away from a church wedding if that’s what they want. And I include same sex couples in that. If a couple are legally free to marry each other, the C of E should marry them.

Cossy Mon 08-Jun-26 13:50:49

Tuliptree

I wonder how many get turned down? Actually I don’t think the Cof E as our established church should turn anyone away from a church wedding if that’s what they want. And I include same sex couples in that. If a couple are legally free to marry each other, the C of E should marry them.

I agree, though it wouldn’t be my choice, their choice is important.

silverlining48 Mon 08-Jun-26 13:52:35

I have never heard of her, but if she wanted to wear a white dress even if she’s been divorced, that’s up to her snd her new but also divorced husband.

Casdon Mon 08-Jun-26 13:56:32

Cossy

Tuliptree

I found it ever so surprising (not) that they both got ever so special dispensation from their parish priests to be able to remarry in church. One might almost think they were well connected.

🤣🤣🤣🤣 Well if it’s good enough for the King…

The king didn’t remarry in church, he had a civil ceremony.

Casdon Mon 08-Jun-26 13:58:17

I liked her dress, the only bit that I thought was less than perfect was the lace over jacket neckline, it seemed too high on her neck. A minor point though.

eazybee Mon 08-Jun-26 14:30:15

The decision would be that of the Priests I would imagine, not our concern; perhaps it was a service of blessing. She looked lovely, they both looked extremely happy, as did their extended families. Good wishes to them.

Tuliptree Mon 08-Jun-26 14:36:09

eazybee

The decision would be that of the Priests I would imagine, not our concern; perhaps it was a service of blessing. She looked lovely, they both looked extremely happy, as did their extended families. Good wishes to them.

No it was a wedding service. I’ve been reading up about the changes brought in in 2002. The individual priests decide apparently as you say. Big negatives are if the person you are marrying contributed to the breakdown of your original marriage or multiple previous marriages. All sounds very sensible

Calendargirl Mon 08-Jun-26 14:44:46

The king didn’t remarry in church, he had a civil ceremony

Followed by a church blessing, which has been allowed for some time, I think.

merlotgran Mon 08-Jun-26 14:50:37

I agree with FGT and I can’t see why any attractive middle aged woman would want to walk up the aisle with their face covered - especially as their teenage daughter is carrying the over long train.
I refused a veil and had a much shorter train when I married in the sixties as I didn’t want to look as though I was dressing up in some old net curtains. 😂

JdotJ Mon 08-Jun-26 15:38:56

I thought Harriet and her 3 bridesmaids looked lovely