A Century of Wedding Gowns at Ripon Cathedral features dresses from 1885 until the present day.
The collection includes a copy of the dress worn by Katherine Worsley for her marriage to Edward, Duke of Kent, at York Minster in 1961.
The exhibition’s curator is Kevin Thornhill, who worked for David and Elizabeth Emanuel on the famous long-train dress worn by Princess Diana for her wedding to Prince Charles in 1981.
On July 29, to mark the 40th anniversary of that royal wedding at London’s St Paul’s Cathedral, there will be two fashion shows at Ripon Cathedral.
These will feature a copy of the dress and tiara worn by the late princess.
The exhibition illustrates the nuanced changes in wedding gowns and accessories over more than five decades
Mr Thornhill said:
“During my time working with David and Elizabeth Emanuel in London, I was given the absolute honour of being a member of the team who made the wedding gown.”
The finale of next month’s fashion show will include copies of the gowns from the royal collection, including those of the Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Margaret and Princess Anne, along with exact copies of the tiaras worn at the weddings.
Something old, something new …
As well as royalty, the exhibition has a local theme.
It includes the dress worn by Christine Wood on her big day, in May 1964, when she married at Ripon Cathedral. Mrs Wood, who lives in Harrogate with her husband, Tony, contacted the organisers after hearing about the exhibition and donated her gown for the display.
She said:
“Having thought that I had lost my wedding dress during a house move, it turned up in a box in the loft years later and I love the fact that my wedding dress will once again be inside the cathedral after 57 years!”
Christine Wood and her husband Tony, with the dress she wore on their wedding day in 1964
Other items that will be on show until September include a gown donated by Kleinfeld, New York – known for the TV programme ‘Say Yes to the Dress’.
Fans of TV show Downton Abbey will be able to see a copy of the Crawleys’ Downton Tiara, alongside a wedding gown from 1898.
A 1923 winter velvet wedding gown, handmade by Coco Chanel for a family friend, will also be among the 50 on display.
The exhibition will run until September and shows are being supported by the cathedral’s business partner, Raworths Solicitors of Harrogate.
