Another "date this photograph" request

Undoubtedly the early 1900s but is it possible to be more specific? And
what about the wild dresses and hats?

C Rihan...

Do you know who the people are?
The chap on the right has a wedding ring, so presumably the event was after
his marriage. that might help to narrow it down.
The chap in the middle doesn't have a wedding ring, but the photo could
have benn taken before the wedding, or he may not have had a ring?
The women's hands are concealed by the bouquets, and the other man's
hand not visible either.

singhals...

There's an odd resemblence among the noses which throws doubt on the
obvious suggestion of a wedding party. OTOH, there's no other really
good reason for those out-sized bouquets.

The man on the left is holding his hat rather oddly, unless he's hiding
his shirt-front and the issue is, is he hiding a food stain or the
absence of fobs?

The seated hats are different from/than the standing hat; the standing
bodice is different, too.

Jenny M Benson...

Don't know!

Jenny M Benson...

Apologies for FUMOP but I've just been looking at the photograph of my
Grandparent's wedding. (He is the one standing right at the back on the
left in the photo referred to above. The bride was his sister.)

My Grandparents married in 1907 and again all the ladies in the wedding
group are carrying bouquets. The hats of the three sisters who were
bridesmaids are again large, but much flatter than the 1899 styles.
(There are 7 hatted ladies and all hats appear to be decorated with
ostrich feathers.)

C Rihan...

It's interesting that you have another with bouquets.
I was looking at some old wedding photos (at the BBC site), but
the ladies in those didn't all have bouquets.

There's a tradition that a bride throws her bouquet, and whoever
catches it is supposed to be the next ti get married.
It would be harder for a lady to catch it, if already holding a bouquet.
Perhaps, the tradition isn't as old as thought.

Best wishes
C.Rihan

Jenny M Benson...

Maybe just the fashion. Or maybe necessary to keep the hats in place if
the wind got up!

Incidentally, I have quite a few photos of that bride - including the
ones taken on her 100th birthday! One of the bridesmaids also lived to
be over 100.

Picking up on the wedding ring -- would etiquette have permitted a

Jake Wade...

***********************************
The following site has a large number of dated photo's for
comparision -

Verminator...

ok- Let's assume that the ladies shown (all of whom bear a family
likeness) are some kin to you great uncle- did he or his wife have
sisters? If so- can you get their marriage dates? That might narrow it
down a bit.

married man participating without his wife? If not, then the couple on
the right ARE a couple -- she's thicker waisted than the other two and
looks a bit more mature (OTOH, she could just be better fed).

singhals...

I wouldn't expect to see the bride's father in this grouping. However,
if the woman on the right was matron of honor, her husband could be a
groomsman and showing off his ring. I sort of had the impression that
men wearing wedding rings was a post-WW-II thing, so perhaps tracing
when it would have been a matter of pride might help narrow down the date?

None of which goes to a date -- but the men's ties are interesting. The
one on the right is a four-in-hand/Windsor knot. The one on the left
isn't. The shirt-points are the right don't match those on the left but
DO match the standing man's.

The tie puts a later date to the picture than I'd put on the women's
dresses.

One man's opinion, worth twice what you paid for it. (g)

Best wishes
C.Rihan

Pat...

Nobody seems to be addressing your question which was to date this photo. I
have two similar photos in my family collection and judging by the hats, the
style of dress, the bowler hats, the lapels, collars etc. I would place the
photo in the 1890s. I have a wedding photo from 1897 with similar
extravagant hats and another photo from 1890 where similar fashions are
shown. You may find Robert Pols book "Dating Old Photographs" of help.
However this book states that enormous hats were really popular from 1905 to
1915 which doesn't quite tie up with my photos! No turnups on the trousers
indicates before 1912. I'm sure you know the date of birth of your great
uncle. I think he looks very young in that picture, early twenties at most.
I'm sure your assumption that the centre couple are bride and groom is
correct, with the two other ladies as bridesmaidas in their identical
outfits which complement the bride's outfit but differ slightly.