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What was it like preparing for a wedding in 1979?
In 1979, most weddings were planned using pen and paper, with couples relying heavily on family and friends for recommendations, as internet resources did not exist.
Wedding dresses in the late 1970s often featured long sleeves and high necklines, reflecting the modest fashion trends influenced by the women’s liberation movement.
The average cost of a wedding in 1979 was approximately $9,000, which is equivalent to around $35,000 today when adjusted for inflation.
Polaroid cameras became increasingly popular in the late 1970s, allowing wedding guests to instantly capture and print memories from the event.
Traditional wedding cakes often weighed more than 20 pounds and were elaborately decorated with royal icing, reflecting the craftsmanship of bakers at the time.
The use of VHS tapes started gaining traction in 1979, enabling couples to record their weddings more easily than earlier methods like 8mm film.
Flowers for weddings typically included seasonal blooms, meaning couples had to plan their weddings around which flowers were available at the time.
The wedding ring market in the late 1970s was influenced by the De Beers diamond campaign, which promoted the idea of diamonds as essential for engagement rings.
The bride and groom often wrote their vows from scratch, as pre-written vows were less commonly used compared to modern practices.
Instead of hiring professional wedding planners, couples often sought the help of relatives, as planning a wedding was seen as a communal family effort.
The wedding ceremony was often held in a church, emphasizing religious customs, while outdoor or secular ceremonies began to rise in popularity toward the end of the decade.
The music played at weddings in 1979 commonly included live bands or vinyl records, with popular songs from disco and rock genres setting the ambiance.
Guests typically wore formal attire, reflecting the societal norms of the time where dress codes were strictly adhered to during such events.
The concept of a "wedding registry," which allows guests to purchase gifts for the couple, was just starting to become popular in department stores during 1979.
Wedding photography focused more on posed portraits, as candid photography styles we see today were not yet widely adopted.
Marrying young was much more common, and couples often started families soon after the wedding, aligning with the societal expectations of the time.
Men traditionally wore dark suits or tuxedos, while groomsmen typically aimed for matching attire, establishing looks that solidified in the following decades.
The popularization of multicultural weddings began arising, laying the groundwork for the diverse wedding traditions we see today.
The introduction of ready-to-use cake mixes and convenience foods in the 1970s made catering easier for couples and their families.
The environmental consciousness around weddings began to emerge late in the decade, with couples starting to consider eco-friendly options in their wedding planning.
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