A special exhibit for a special day

LYNN – The Lynn Museum is taking full advantage of the summer wedding season with an exhibit of the history of weddings in Lynn.”Tying the Knot in Lynn” opens June 13 as the museum’s first-ever wedding-based exhibit. It will feature historic wedding dresses dating back to the 1860s, photos of Lynn churches then and now, and a collection of pictures of real weddings from Lynn residents.The show is aimed at being by Lynners and for Lynners as much as possible by crowd-sourcing much of the content, said the museum’s assistant director, Abby Battis.”We want to include the community; we didn’t just want to put on another bridal show,” she said.The museum curated most of the wedding dresses and Lynn church photos, but officials have also been asking Lynn residents or nonresidents who married in Lynn to submit a copy of their wedding day photo for the exhibit.Battis said there’s been a great response so far to their request for Lynn brides.One man even came in with a wedding photo of him and his late wife, a photo Battis said she will put up in the exhibit with honor.??He was thrilled to have it be on display,” she said.Other items on display will include wedding dresses from as far back as 1865 and most recently from 1950. The museum isn’t officially accepting wedding dress donations, but a few in pristine condition from Lynn residents were too good not to include, Battis said.”We’re starting to seeing people dusting off their mother’s and grandmother’s dresses,” she said.And as much as styles have changed over the past century, so have Lynn churches, the photos of which Battis said will starkly show “how they’ve fallen by the way-side.”The idea to feature weddings was born out of the Lynn Museum’s tradition to run a textile show every spring, which usually culminates in a fashion show.This year, there will be no wedding dresses coming down a catwalk. But Battis said she’s not opposed to having a bad-bridesmaids-dress runway competition or other wedding-related programs.”The programming that’s going to follow this could get a little cooky, so that’s exciting for us,” she said.Most importantly, Battis said she hopes the wedding exhibit will allow Lynners to participate as much as observe their city’s wedding culture. Plus, everyone loves a good wedding.”It is truly unifying; everybody can really identify with it,” she said.The exhibit begins June 13 and runs through October at the Lynn Museum, 590 Washington St. in Lynn.How to participate Interested candidates are urged to submit one copy of their wedding photograph to the exhibit. ‘Tying the Knot in Lynn’ is not date specific?people may send photos from the 1800’s through 2013. Pictures can be candid or professional but must showcase the bride or bride and groom their special day attire. Specifications are black and white or color copy, 8×10 or smaller and list the bride’s name (maiden name) and groom’s full name, date of marriage, and location of wedding on the back of the photo.No original photos will be accepted.Images will be considered immediately and can be dropped off at Lynn Museum during open hours or addressed to: Lynn Museum, Attn: Abby Battis, Assistant Director, 590 Washington St., Lynn, MA, 01901.Please include contact information so a staff person may follow up with any questions. Photos will be accepted until June 7, 2013, and will not be returned.
Amber Parcher can be reached at [email protected].