Community weddings

Every decade or so one of the rural halls in the isles has a wedding exhibition.

This time around it was the turn of MidYell Hall which is currently celebrating its centenary. As a way of marking this special occasion a request went out on Facebook, asking if anyone had items to display from weddings that had either taken place in the Hall or where celebrations had happened after a Kirk marriage. The response was overwhelming and during the past week the Hall has been open for visitors, welcoming people to see a wedding dress from every decade in the past hundred years, and photographs, stories, bridesmaids' outfits, grooms' suits and of course bridal gowns. It was a tremendous sight upon entering the Hall; a true testament to community spirit!

Weddings are great ways to source fashion from yesteryear. People tend to keep and treasure the dresses, if not the suits. At least, up here in Shetland they do! The oldest dress in this show was found in a small suitcase when a house was being cleared, and has been kept safely since. What a lovely story; one of many in this lovely show. Happy 100th birthday, MidYell Hall.