Wedding Gowns Through the Decades at Oaklands Mansion

Wedding Dresses through the Decades

9th Annual Award-Winning Exhibit Presented by Oaklands Mansion

Stories of our community will come to life through wedding gowns on display at Oaklands Mansion in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Step back into time and experience the common threads that weave our lives together as we explore women’s history, fashion history, cultural history and the history of our community. Over fifty gowns will be placed on loan and exhibited, most for the first time. The “Wedding Dresses Through the Decades” exhibit in Maney Hall at Oaklands Mansion will take place from January 17th through March 1st, 2020.

Vintage gowns from the past 100 years will be on display along with brides’ photos and stories from their wedding day. During this exhibit, guests will have the rare opportunity to view items from, not only the museum’s collection, but also elegant and fashionable wedding dresses worn by ladies from Murfreesboro and around the country. Also, on exhibit this year are wedding ring quilts on loan from members of our community.

“These treasured garments reveal stories and secrets of the past and have been stored for decades under beds and in the back of closets,” said Mary Beth Nevills, Education Director of Oaklands, “We look forward to sharing with you this year’s exhibit, full of new dresses from our community’s past.”

Witness the changes in fashion from different areas, eras and cultures as we transcend time to the modern-day bride. The exhibit will be open daily, Monday-Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Sundays 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Admission to the exhibit is $10.00 per person and is open to the public. Mansion tours are available at regular rates during regular museum hours and combination tickets for the exhibition and house tours are available at a reduced rate. Group tour rates are available with a reservation. This exhibit is sponsored in part by the Human Sciences Department of Middle Tennessee State University, Karen Whitaker Ruby Ribbon, Kelly & Charlie Baum, J. Mullins Jewelry & Gifts, and the Rutherford County Convention & Visitors Bureau. For more information, contact Mary Beth Nevills at Oaklands 615.893.0022 or visit oaklandsmansion.org. Some of the gowns on exhibit are:

Zula Zong Reynolds and Dean Stelle Rising November 23, 1910 David City, Nebraska

The couple was married on the day before Thanksgiving, 1910. The dress was presented along with a transcription of a note handwritten by the couple’s son, Robert,to his nephew, Dean. This note is dated January 11, 1977 and indicates the happy couple had their wedding photo taken months after their big day.

Dear Dean, We really intended getting the wedding dress to the museum, but we have run out of time. Frustrations yes, time no. I’m sure you have a photo of mom wearing it in a seating pose. The locket (we’ve not found) was a wedding gift from DSR. The photo was taken in the summer of 1911. - R.

Margery Hill Webb & Glen Webb September 17, 1949 Walnut Hills Christian Church in Cincinnati, Ohio; The bride and groom met on a blind date in Boston while in college. They then separated and went back to their own hometowns but kept in touch through letters. They wrote each other throughout their courtship until right before they got married. They never lived in the same town until they became husband and wife. Their precious love letters are on display along with the photo from their first date! According to the bride’s wedding journal, the cost of the wedding dress was $125.00.

It was a beautiful September day. I really don’t remember too much…. Luncheon was at the Fox’s house across the street for the wedding party, then swimming in our pool. Everyone seemed to have fun. I stayed out of the sun, who needs a bride with a sun burn and I kept my hair dry and hopefully looking good. Mother was everywhere. She went to the church alone for a look at it. It was decorated by an amazing florist, Frances Jones. Meanwhile, Dad spent the day moaning and groaning about an upset stomach, nerves, with a scotch in one hand and a bottle of paregoric in the other. What a sight… no one had time to worry about me. If I had a problem, just deal with it. I adored my father but he was a real hypochondriac. We were all used to it. My bridesmaids were in and out, preferably out, in their dripping bathing suits. Peg Martin and Phyllis Condit, my Denison roommates were staying at our house to keep me company, thank heavens. They waited on me, teased me, and made me laugh. It really was a fun day.

Finally, mother chased everyone out of the pool and sent them to their homes or hotel. A huge number of the Lima contingent was staying at the Terrace Hilton Hotel downtown. We had sent everyone from Lima and elsewhere maps showing the hotel, the Walnut Hills Christian Church, the Cincinnati County Club and our house with streets and mileage marked. No one had problems finding their various destinations. The Lima group at the hotel had their own party. They had the hotel set up a bar and food station, as well as having a barber on duty. Lima-ites always traveled in style. It’s no wonder that when I walked in the back of the church the chatter sounded like a bunch of locusts. An aside: While we were at Sea Island, a newly married couple from Toledo started telling the Honeymoon group about the noisy and somewhat inebriated people on their floor their wedding night. Glen and I looked at each other and never admitted that they were our family, friends and wedding party…They had their room changed.

We had an 8:30pm wedding, so I had a long time to dress after everyone left. But I had wanted it to be a candlelight service thus the late hour. I dressed, posed for many pictures since the photographer came to the house before going to the church. Everyone had left except for Dad and me. I was so busy trying to keep him calm that I had no time for nerves. We rode in a limo to church, walked up all the steps and went in. Both mothers came up to give me a kiss, the organ was playing and I looked at all the candles, the flowers, and Phyllis in the balcony ready to sing. Her voice was lovely. I remember walking down the aisle with Dad. It was so beautiful, everyone smiling and then we were at the altar where Glen waited with a wonderful smile for me, and the service began… And then trouble. A fly. A fly on Harry Wrights nose. He was the best man and very proper, but all he could do was twitch. And then the fly took off to land on Glen’s face. I tried not to giggle, but was only a little successful. I didn’t dare look at Glen. We got through our vows and left the church, but not before I stopped long enough to take one long last look so I’d never forget the beauty of this very special night.

The Reception: The club was like a fairy land of flowers, people arriving in their long dresses and tuxes, the wedding party in tails and formal length bridesmaid’s gowns in shades of green with bouquets of fall flowers. Everything I had dreamed of. Dinner was served after the guests had gone through the receiving line, though those waiting had cocktails and canapés passed to them. Afterwards, the ushers serenaded me. I began dancing with Glen and then Dad, and also, or so it seemed like, every young man there and a few older ones. The champagne flowed and I nibbled here and there. Chatted with everyone until Mother came to tell us it was midnight and time to get into our traveling clothes and leave. Glen forgot the belt for his pants so he took some ribbing as we came down the stairs. I threw my bouquet and we left. The photographer took a picture from behind showing so many good friends, all waving us off. I love it. We went off to the hotel, The Netherland Plaza, not where the Lima crowd was. It was a wonderful start of our new life together. I was happy with my very handsome, caring and thoughtful husband then and for the next 62 years.

The next morning we started to Sea Island, Georgia. Mother and Dad got ready for a Sunday brunch at our house for the wedding party and the out of town guests, of which there were quite a number with families from Michigan and all over. Dad kept muttering doesn’t anyone have something else to do this weekend???

Mary McCarty Roberts & James Roberts September 15, 1956 Central Christian Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee

AND WORN AGAIN… Deborah Roberts Horst & Peter Horst September 5, 1987 National City Christian Church in Washington D.C.

Mary “Carty” Roberts and her groom, Jim, grew up together and saw each other at various social occasions. While Carty was attending college and Jim was home during visits from the service where he was a fighter pilot, romance blossomed and love grew. Thirty-one years after her mother and father were married, their daughter Deborah was honored to wear her mother’s beautiful dress as she married in the stately and historic National City Church in Washington, D.C. The 1991 wedding dress of Jim & Carty’s daughter, Mary, is also included in the exhibit.

Mary Loretta Pieper Marqua & Ron Marqua November 25,1937 | Covington, Kentucky On a Thanksgiving Day wedding, the bride wore a white slipper satin gown decorated with thirty-seven covered buttons. The number of buttons represents the year of marriage, 1937. The dress was handmade by the groom’s aunt, Norma Vonderschmitt Keyes, and later worn by the Marqua’s daughter, Pauline in 1970.

AND WORN AGAIN… Pauline Everetta Marqua Hardiman & Julius (Jim) Hardiman October 9, 1970 | Hamilton, Ohio The wedding took place on a Friday and as the couple left St. Ann’s Church, it began to rain. The bride’s mother shared with her the old belief that rain on your wedding day is good luck!

Mary Roberts McMakin & Tom McMakin June 15, 1991

Central Christian Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee The couple began their day with brunch at the beautiful home of Sally & Billy Ledbetter on North University Street. The ceremony took place down the street at Central Christian Church with a reception following at the Stones River Country Club. The 1956 wedding dress of the bride’s mother is included in this exhibit.

(Hanging Left) Brenda Reyburn Friesen & Cameron Friesen October 12, 1976 The Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Honolulu, HI This bride fondly remembers sharing her exotic destination wedding with her family and friends and having the most romantic honeymoon!

(Floor Left) Melissa Weatherford Batey & John Locke Batey, Jr. April 9, 1977 Murfreesboro, TN The bride wore a Juliet style dress, which was very romantic at the time. After the wedding, Deputy Sheriff Truman Jones drove the couple to their car which was in hiding at Huddleston Oil Company.

(Hanging Right) Leah Jenkins Cannon & Steve Cannon January 1, 1977 Johnson City, Tennessee Leah married Steve in Johnson City, Tennessee in 1977.

(Floor Right) Olivia Hillman Todd & Reed Todd August 4, 2018 Oaklands Mansion in Murfreesboro, Tennessee The couple’s favorite wedding memory is their first look at each other on the front porch of Oaklands Mansion. The dress is a blush tinted strapless dress with rose gold floral overlay and a matching veil.

(Hanging Above) Soumya Sinha Black & Phillip Black May 25, 2019 St. Agnes Catholic Church in Scottsbluff, Nebraska The dress was perfect for the bride’s small frame. It is very delicate on the top with mesh and lace work. The bride cried non-stop as she walked down the aisle! The 1971 wedding dress worn by the groom’s mother is included in this exhibit.

Oaklands Mansion 901 North Maney Avenue Murfreesboro, TN 37130 oaklandsmansion.org

Taylor Nichole Kearns + Daniel Joseph Young June 1, 2019

Distinctivelysouthernwedding.com 54 It was the fall of 2009 at the University of Tennessee where fate (and some friends), would bring Taylor Kearns, a Franklin girl, and Daniel Young, who grew up in Germantown (Memphis), together. What began as a great friendship would take another six years to blossom into romance after graduation and jobs brought them back together in Nashville. Daniel took the opportunity to use a Christmas holiday light excursion at Cheekwood in December 2017, to propose to Taylor. They narrowed the venue choice to Cedarwood Weddings on White Bridge Road. And began planning their dream wedding.

To help ward off rain on their wedding day, Taylor and Daniel practiced an old southern tradition passed to them from Daniel’s Aunt Jackie Lees. They went to the venue on May 1, 2019, exactly one month before their wedding day, and buried a bottle of bourbon onsite - upside down, to be specific. As it turned out, June 1, 2019 couldn’t have been a more beautiful day, with low humidity and highs in the 80’s. The arriving guests were welcomed into the front yard of the antebellum mansion with champagne. The 5:30 pm wedding was in a natural field shaded by the sun setting behind the trees, just steps from the covered porches that would eventually seat the 150 wedding guests for dinner.

The officiant was Taylor’s Uncle, Michael Collins. The ring bearers were three nephews, two under the age of two, being pulled in a

wagon by the six-year-old. The grandmothers served as flower girls spreading rose petals to the altar. Taylor was escorted by her father, Tim Kearns, to violins and a guitarist playing the melody - Harvest Moon by the Neil Young band.

The dinner was served family style at long farm tables and catered by Actual Food Nashville Catering. Madi Flournoy Photography captured the entire day beautifully. The day went off without a hitch thanks to the amazing staff at Cedarwood Weddings, the wedding part, and most importantly their friends and family!

Vendors: Ring // La Savell Jewelry Dress // Rue De Siene Photography // Madi Flournoy Photography Venue // Cedarwood weddings Catering // Actual Food Nashville Catering

SECOND TIME AROUND COMBINING FAMILIES WITH A WEDDING

BY ANNIE OSTEEN

Hollywood has done a pretty nice job of painting a cliché picture in our minds of what a wedding is supposed to look like. A girl in her twenties or thirties in a stunning white gown, walking down the aisle of a packed church on the arm of her father towards her groom at the altar. And as much as that scene is still very much a reality to many girls, there are other countless variations of weddings that take place every day. For instance, the weddings that occur that aren’t just for two people but may include an entire family such as second weddings that integrate children. Second weddings, by many different standards, are tricky. The odds are tough and let’s face it, the judgment out there can make second marriages, especially those including the blending of families, innately difficult at the start. Inevitably, despite the love and romance that comes at wedding time, behind the scenes there is a myriad of red tape, hurt feelings, (ex-spouses venting) etc. When you re-marry, addressing your children’s needs and concerns should be part of any and all planning.

Don’t let the world rain on this joyful time! Let the planning begin and if you and your fiancé have children, make sure to involve them on this important occasion for your new family. First of all, let’s preface this with that idea that not all children will be fully supportive or enthusiastic about the idea of Mom or Dad getting remarried. Nothing is ever that easy. However, depending upon their age, some kids will be excited with the idea of having step-siblings to hang out with, therefore the idea of a wedding may not be so bad. Others will be resistant and that’s okay, too. It’s perfectly normal and in due time, they’ll come around. Involving them, or at least giving them the option to be involved, it always a good idea. Put them at the front of the line with you in this. If the idea is to have a big wedding, the ideal option would be to include the children as bridesmaids and groomsmen, or flower girls and ring bearers if they’re little. If there’s only one son, he may be asked to be the Best Man. If there’s a young artist in the family, he or she may be asked to create some artwork for the ceremony. You may have one child read a passage from the family Bible during the ceremony, while another child that likes to sing may want to sing a special song during the ceremony. There are many children who feel as if they are being disloyal to their “other” parent if they participate in the second wedding. As a parent, there are several things that you can do for them without being too incessant. For instance, if your child is a little older, you may consider inviting their best friend to the wedding. Yes, it may cost a little more money but it will be give them a support system to have throughout the day; it will give them someone to talk to and lean on if they start to feel emotional. If you have a bashful child, there are many behindthe-scenes duties that can make them feel included such as helping to address the wedding invitations, attend a cake testing, choose some flowers, or assist with the selection of music for the reception.

Simple ceremonies on the beach are just that…simple. Mom, Dad, the kids and a minister to read the vows. Including the children in your vows is a brilliant way to express that you are committed to being a family, not just “roommates” once the wedding is over. Second weddings are what you make of them. They can be as personal as you make the first wedding. Some couples opt for the quick civil service wedding, others want the big, church wedding that take a year or two to plan. In either case, involving children in the second marriage ceremony, if applicable, will tell them a lot about what lies ahead for their new family. Letting children come to the front of the line with you on your exciting day is going to make them feel as if they have something to be encouraged about right along with you and that the new family that they’re entering into isn’t going to be as difficult as they may have originally thought.

18 Ways to Plan an Eco-Friendly Wedding Courtesy of marthastewartweddings.com

Even small details can make a big impact on your big day. Protecting the environment is increasingly important, but luckily, it's also increasingly easy. If you and your soon-to-be-spouse plan to host an earth-loving celebration, you'll be pleased to know that there are plenty of ways to do so. Here are just a few favorite ideas for executing an environmentallyand sociallyconscious event.

Keep Things Biodegradable Disposable and biodegradable serveware, vessels, and utensils can be a great way to stay organic.

Use Recycled Paper Save-the-dates, invitations, programs, menus, and thankyou cards can quickly add up to a whole lot of paper. Look for recycled options.

Veer Toward Vintage Besides lending style and sentimentality to your big day, incorporating family heirlooms or special items already in your possession cuts down on consumption.

Glow with Candlelight Set the mood for a romantic evening and cut down on electricity by lighting your reception tables with candles.

Toss It Wisely Have a disposal system that includes recycle containers for cans and bottles.

Recycle Your Wedding Flowers Let your arrangements live beyond the wedding day by donating them to a nursing home, hospital, or shelter.

Donate Leftovers Many food banks across the country will pick up chilled leftovers of unserved food from your rehearsal dinner or reception.

Get Charitable Purchase products from organizations that give back, such as vino from ONEHOPE Wine or tree sapling favors from the Arbor Day Foundation.

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Distinctively SouthernWedding Winter // issue four 57 FOR DISTINCTIVELYSOUTHERN WEDDING If you love all things wedding, have loads of personality, drive and a desire to succeed - then contact us! We need seasonal commission advertising sales superstars! EXCITING PROJECTS AND PUBLICATIONS OPEN TERRITORY, HUGH POTENTIAL! IMMEDIATE START! Send inquiries to: info@robertsonmediagroup.com FOR DISTINCTIVELYSOUTHERN WEDDING If you love all things wedding, have loads of personality, drive and a desire to succeed - then contact us! We need seasonal commission advertising sales superstars! EXCITING PROJECTS AND PUBLICATIONS OPEN TERRITORY, HUGH POTENTIAL! IMMEDIATE START! Send inquiries to: info@robertsonmediagroup.com FOR DISTINCTIVELYSOUTHERN WEDDING If you love all things wedding, have loads of personality, drive and a desire to succeed - then contact us! We need seasonal commission advertising sales superstars! EXCITING PROJECTS AND PUBLICATIONS OPEN TERRITORY, HUGH POTENTIAL! IMMEDIATE START! Send inquiries to: info@robertsonmediagroup.com

Amanda White  Steve McCorkle

May 4, 2019

Amanda White and Steve McCorkle met after Steve’s sister suggested, via Facebook, that they go out. Steve proposed to Amanda in Gulf Shores while we were visiting his family there and from there the wedding planning began! They were married at the Goodwin Manor in Little Rock, Arkansas. Amanda’s wedding style was classic, feminine and romantic and she incorporated those elements into the special day. Her gown was designed by Couture By Tess Bridal and was a romantic ballgown silhouette with plunging neckline, off the shoulder sleeves and cathedral train. Her bouquet was a gorgeous mix of pinks, blushes and whites.

The ceremony took place outside at the venue, overlooking beautiful scenery, with a private dinner together in the wine cellar immediately following the ceremony. After that, they all joined friends and family at the reception for celebration and dancing.

Vendors: Gown // Couture By Tess Bridal Photography // L A Y E R S Wedding Planner // Meredith Events Venue // Goodwin Manor Florist // Vase and Vine Music // Central Arkansas Entertainment Catering // Crave Catering Company Cake // Custom Cakes by Michelle Mayer Bartender // Last Call Bartending Service Videography // Kio's Photography Photo Booth // Look at Me Selfies Invitations // Hobart's Printing Officiant // Don Delukie Makeup // Jessica Humerick Stylist I Makeup Artist Hair // Isabella with Serenity Salon Little Rock

WEDDING WINE & SPIRITS 101

How to choose and serve the best spirits for your reception.

When planning your wedding, one decision to be made will be the wine and spirits to serve. Unless you have a coordinator handling the details, you may need to determine how much of everything to buy for your wedding guests. Here are some tips when you are making your wine list for the reception:

1. Menu – Chicken, Beef, Fish... Wine pairings can make or break the meal. Make sure to offer a variety, but also go heavier on the wine that best pairs with the food served at the reception. A simple tip to remember: Pair chicken or fish with white wines and beef or pork with reds. Don’t be afraid to ask your caterer for their suggested pairings.

2. Season –It is important to take into consideration the season when choosing your wine selection. Spring and Summer weddings tend to pour more white wine, while Fall and Winter weddings pour more red. Again, always have a variety of red and white, as some guests prefer one versus the other no matter what time of year it is. It is important to also offer other choices served cold when having a wedding outdoors during the hotter months. This is always a good time to add beer or cold signature cocktail.

3. Time of day – Like the seasons, the time of day your wedding takes place will reflect how your guests will take their libations. Daytime receptions tend to have lighter white wines, while evenings have more of a variety with red and white.

Now that you have narrowed down what you are going to serve, you need to determine how much you will need for the wedding reception. Plan for each guest to have one glass of wine per hour. This can work itself out, as several guests may have more than 1 glass an hour, and several may not drink wine at all. The basic formula to use to determine how many bottles you will need is: One (750 ml) bottle of wine – five glasses. This can vary depending on your bartender, but for ease of math just plan five glasses per bottle. So, if you have 100 guests for four hours, then plan on 400 glasses of wine.

400 glasses / five glasses per bottle – eighty bottles of wine. Again, this can be varied based on if you have other cocktails involved such as beer, spirits and champagne. But, if only serving wine, then it is a good guideline.

The main thing to consider when choosing your wine is your budget. You do not need to spend your entire budget on the drinks. No one will walk away from your wedding thinking “Gosh, they served cheap wine!” So, start experimenting months before with reds and whites in the lower dollar ranges and see what you like. These less pricey wines are under-rated. You can find some amazing vino to please all palettes for much less than the top shelf fancy brands. Cheers!

TM

TM

Carly Pearce + Michael Ray

October 6, 2019

“ “ “Michael has changed my life completely, and the moment I saw him at the altar was just overwhelming -- any heartbreaks or feelings of doubt were worth the struggle to find each other. All of the people we love celebrated with us during the romantic ceremony as rain on the tin roof poured outside and then the party started with all of our best dance moves and some southern food favorites,” laughed Carly. “We are both super close to our families so it was a fun process planning each detail with my mom. Seeing all of the pieces come together though was more magical than I could have imagined and really represented Michael and me as a couple with our individual tastes too. // Carly Distinctivelysouthernwedding.com 62

Vendors: Wedding Dress Designer // Samantha Sleeper Reception Dress // Hayley Paige Wedding + Reception Venue // Drakewood Farm Caterer // Chefs Market Wedding Cake // Cake Crazi Cakes Bridal Shop // Ila Bridal Invitations + Save The Dates // Minted After Party // Nashville Palace DJ // DJ Aydamn Groom’s Ring // Herb Ringquest Bridesmaids’ Jewelry // Kristalize Jewelry Bride & Grooms Bridal Party Gifts // Box + Bow Photography // Rachel Deeb

The marriage of two country music sensations, Carly Pearce and Michael Ray, took place at Drakewood Farm on October 6th, 2019. The evening began with an intimate ceremony followed by a fun, interactive cocktail style reception. As guests moved into the cocktail party, they were greeted with a signature drink named after their hit songs, Don’t Hide the Wine & Think A Little Less. A standout element during this portion of the evening was the grazing table featuring artisan cheese, locally sourced cured meats, fruits, vegetables, pickles, olives, fresh bread, gourmet crackers, nuts and dried fruit, along with seasonal dips and of course, Chef’s famous house-made chips. This elevated spread provided a colorful and inviting display with savory and sweet creations to satisfy every palette. Carly and Michael loved the idea of the grazing table, not only because it was beautiful and bountiful, but because it was a great way to bring guests together.

Carly has a confident sense of style, which was displayed in every detail of the big day (just look at her dress!). One of her creative “wants” was a Mashed Potato Station, which included Chef’s Market sweet potatoes, creating mashed potato nirvana. The styling on the food table was complimented with the same beautiful flowers in Carly’s bouquet and used the venue’s whitewashed antique furniture to display the food. Michael wasn’t too concerned about the design, but boy did he appreciate a well-made cheeseburger. Michael’s idea to add a burger table was spot on as their guests came back for seconds and thirds throughout the evening.

The menu was rounded out with a beautiful selection of mason jar salads as well as a shrimp-and-grits table with smoked gouda grits and grilled shrimp topped with a Cajun Monica sauce. As the evening came to a sweet close, guests enjoyed the “naked” wedding cake by CraziCakes in addition to the Pie and Ice Cream Station featuring pecan, chocolate chess, classic pumpkin and apple caramel.

It was a beautiful night filled with fun, good vibes, great music, dancing and phenomenal food. Distinctively SouthernWedding Winter // issue four 63

Anniversary Gifts by Year: Traditional and Modern Present Ideas BY SHELLY ROBERTSON BIRDSONG

Most everyone knows of the age-old practice of giving specific anniversary gifts based on the number of years you've been wed. The idea behind it? With each anniversary that passes, you strengthen your relationship. So, while these anniversary gifts may start out simple, their substance and significance increases as your investment to each other does. Nowadays, each year is associated with anniversary gift "materials" or types, as well as different gemstones and designated colors that tie into and relate to the anniversary year's overall theme.

Once the magic of the wedding day has passed and the bliss of opening all of those gifts and enjoying those first months of marriage has dimmed ever so slightly into routine, but hopefully not mundane, wedded harmony – you continue to celebrate throughout the years (many as we all hope), your anniversary every year, to commemorate your special day. I am a terrible gift giver. No matter the holiday or occasion, so I guess had I paid more attention to a list such as the one below, early on in my marriage, I might have been a better match for my husband. He is a great gift giver. On almost every possible occasion, he puts thought into every token or memento to mark a special day. And wedding anniversaries turned out to be no exception! He must have studied up on this list and keeps a copy in his coat pocket for reference! Every year, for seven years so far – I have received, on our anniversary, a heartfelt gift representing the very things you see below – accompanied, no less, by a description of those things (like you see below), and the correlation to our marriage. Wow. I finally gave up – until this last year I scored with some copper penny cufflinks, with the year of our wedding! That should hold me over for another seven years!

Here, we break down the different traditional and modern anniversary gifts by year. Kudos to the couple that pays attention to and implements these gift traditions each year as a way to honor each passing anniversary of your commitment!

1st Anniversary Traditional: Paper - Paper is a fitting gift for the first year because it's fragile, just like the beginning stages of marriage. But, if you take care of it properly, it'll last a lifetime. Modern: Clocks - Time is precious and clocks represent the passing of time and the change and challenges that come with it.

2nd Anniversary Traditional: Cotton - Cotton's woven threads symbolize how you become more interconnected as time goes on and learn to be more flexible. Modern: China - Both strong and delicate, china indicates the weaknesses and strengths of any relationship.

3rd Anniversary Traditional: Leather - Leather represents shelter and security for the third year, much like what a marriage and the home you build with each other symbolizes. Modern: Crystal or Glass - As a gift, glass and cut crystal both signify and reflect light and beauty. Modern: Linen or Lace - Linens and lace are both delicate and refined, and just like love, they're also objects of beauty.

9th Anniversary Traditional: Willow or Pottery - Willow is indicative of flexibility as is pottery because much like a lump of clay, marriage is formed and shaped over time into something beautiful. Modern: Leather - Leather was used by our ancestors as a way to protect themselves. The material itself is known for how well it endures, which your marriage has also done by the time you reach the ninth year.

10th Anniversary Traditional: Aluminum or Tin - Aluminum and tin won't rust, meaning they won't wear down. Their pliability and preservation is a symbol for how every successful marriage requires flexibility—especially by your 10th anniversary. Modern: Diamond Jewelry (ahhhh finally!) - When you've passed one decade, your marriage is as beautiful as a piece of diamond jewelry.

4th Anniversary Traditional: Fruit or Flowers - Your relationship has fully bloomed by your fourth anniversary, making flowers or ripe fruit an appropriate gift. Modern: Appliances - A more practical gift, sure, but electrical appliances also embody how settled you feel in your relationship by the fourth year.

5th Anniversary Traditional: Wood - Your roots have sprouted much like a tree by your fifth anniversary, so together you can endure anything. Modern: Silverware - All the meals you've enjoyed together and will continue to share are best commemorated with beautiful silverware.

6th Anniversary Traditional: Iron - Iron marks your strength because even after six years, you can still maintain a bond. Modern: Wood Objects - Much like the traditional five-year gift, an item made out of wood suggests the resilience of your marriage.

7th Anniversary Traditional: Copper or Wool -The metal helps create heat, much like the warmth you give each other. And wool is just plain cozy. Modern: Desk Sets - This may not sound romantic, but work is a huge part of modern life. Gifting a desk set brings a touch of home to their professional space.

Do not stop here all you romantic couples! Refer to a complete list of each year including colors and gemstones at theknot.com. Here we continue with the major milestones through the ensuing years of love. 15th Anniversary Traditional: Crystal- Crystal may be delicate but it's also sturdy, like your marriage, which is strong enough to have lasted fifteen years but also another fifteen and beyond. It also represents clarity and transparency. Modern: Watches - A timepiece in any form signifies the passage of time and all the years you've spent together; plus, all the ones you'll share in the future.

20th Anniversary Traditional: China - China shows the delicate and fragile nature of being in love. It needs to be looked after and handled carefully—much like a marriage—in order not to break. Modern: Platinum - Platinum can stick it out through thick and thin much like you both have after twenty years wed.

And now the biggies: 25th Anniversary Traditional and Modern: Sterling Silver - Spending a quarter of a century in love is worth celebrating with such a precious and valuable metal. No wonder a 25th anniversary celebration is called a "silver jubilee." 50th Anniversary Traditional and Modern: Gold - Only something as desirable, classic and luxe as gold can represent such an important milestone (dubbed the "golden anniversary"). It shows the prosperity, wisdom, strength and significance of such a long-standing union.

A t H a r v e s t B e v e r a g e C o m p a n y, w e a r e p a s s i o n a t e a b o u t d i s c o v e r i n g n e w b o u t i q u e w i n e s a n d s p i r i t s a n d b r i n g i n g t h e m t o M i d d l e Te n n e s s e e ’s table.

T h r o u g h s t r o n g r e l a t i o n s h i p s w i t h o u r s u p p l i e r s a n d r e t a i l e r s , o u r m i s s i o n i s t o o f f e r a p o r t f o l i o o f u n i q u e w i n e s & s p i r i t s t h a t w i l l p e a k i n t e r e s t , e v o k e e x c i t e m e n t a n d u p h o l d o u r d e s i r e t o p r o v i d e v a r i e t y a n d v a l u e f o r o u r c u s t o m e r s a n d ultimately our community.