Dating and advice on Wedding Photo Etiquette

[Harold1066]

Can somebody please look at the attached photograph and give us a date - we believe it is post 1901 but before 1910.

We would also like an explanation on Wedding Photo Etiquette, for this time period,  in particular:

1. The placement of the Brides parents.
2.  The placement of the Groom's parents:
3.  Where would the Best man be?
4.  Would the brides maids sit in any particular order.

Hopefully the answer to these will help us sort out who's wedding it is.

My wife's grandparents are in the photo (sadly its not their marriage) instead her Grandmother is the bridesmaid nearest the groom and her Grandfather is the man standing behind her with the thing (assume its a hanky) sticking out his breast pocket. 

The military thread have already kindly identified the man in uniform as being in the Seaforth Highlanders - with the Queen Sudan & Khedives medal. Hence we know the earliest date of the photograph from when these medals were issued.

Can somebody also explain why the "yellow" would appear to be darker than the "blue" on the ribbon of the Khedives medal (which was a Yellow / Blue / Yellow ribbon)?

We would also be interesting to hear peoples opinions on how much a wedding turn out like this would have cost?

[PrueM]

Hi Harold

What a wonderful photo

As a starter, I can tell you that the blue on the medal ribbon may not look right because some early photographic emulsions and lenses were not able to resolve the blues in the same way as other colours.

The date would definitely be 1900-1910 and I'm sure that others will be able to more accurately date it, and to explain the placement etiquette etc.

Cheers
Prue

[jim1]

The etiquette was simple,you went where the photographer told you to go.The important thing about large groups was getting the balance right.Having said that there was an order to it with the close senior members seated near their relative.
The bridesmaids are traditionally family & friends of the bride & the one seated next to her I would say is a sister or cousin,the others being spread out to give balance.Married couples would be together & if one was seated in front one would expect to see their partner behind.The best man would be in the vicinity of the groom but could be any of the 3 young men behind him.After that it was down to how many were there from each side,these would be spread out across the photo.
I would expect the second row to roughly equal between his & hers.
The cost would be down to what they did afterwards,wedding receptions were rare.They don't look particularly grand so sherry for the ladies & beer for the men I dare say.
As for a date I would suggest 1903-8.
Edit:Had a closeup look & I think I can tweak it up a bit to 1906.
I notice the older woman sitting next to the man with the Newgate frill has taken off her left hand glove to display her wedding ring,a common practice for married women.
The man on the left looks like the father of the groom with his dog so one might assume this is in his garden.
The question for me though is how did SuBo get in there?
jim

[Harold1066]

Jim,

Thanks for the information.  1906 would fit with a marriage of one of my wife's Grand Aunts.

Regarding cost I was thinking more of for the dresses etc and would the younger men seem to be in posher suits then we would expect


We've been told that the man with the dog is my wife's Great Grand father - making him the father of the bride.

Again thanks - will keep the subject open since it would be nice to get some other input.

Regards

Harold

[IgorStrav]

The question for me though is how did SuBo get in there?
jim

Jim!!

[chinakay]

I think 1906 is about right for this lovely photo...no sign of the higher waistlines seen in a wedding photo dated at 1908 on a photo dating site.

I absolutely love the hats...especially the lady at the back left who is wearing one with wings on it, and also the lady 4th from the right in the second row whose hat seems to be levitating

Unusual to see a dog in a wedding pic!

Cheers,
China