The Wedding Dress: 200 years of wedding fashion

Text: Denise Ngo
Photos: National Museum of Singapore

Today marks the opening of the National Museum's latest, and most romantic, exhibit: The Wedding Dress, showcasing 200 years of wedding fashion from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. To give this collection a local flair, the National Museum has also curated a number of wedding dresses worn by the various ethnic groups in Singapore over the past 100 years.

While the dresses and accessories are certainly beautiful, what's more interesting is the stories behind the women who wore them. At the media conference yesterday morning, National Museum curator Chung May Khuen said that the exhibit is as much about the brides' choices and circumstances in which they chose the dress, as it is about the gowns' design. For example, did you know that during World War II, when fabric was rationed, some brides commissioned dresses made out of curtain material? Or that 200 years ago, brides wore their wedding gowns even after getting married?

The exhibit is categorised into eight thematic sections, making it easy for visitors to understand how wedding dress traditions developed. And in addition to seeing dresses from famed designers like John Galliano and Vera Wang, you will also see gowns worn by celebrities, such as Gwen Stefani, in all their glory.

To give you a sneak peek of what's on display, we've highlighted 15 notable wedding gowns from the exhibit. But trust us, the detailing is way more impressive in real life, so pay a visit to the National Museum while the exhibit's still open.

The Wedding Dress: 200 Years of Wedding Fashion will be open from August 8 until October 31, 10 am - 6 pm daily at the National Museum of Singapore. Admission is $11. There is a discounted admission fee of $6 from August 8 - 31 for Singaporeans and PRs only.

Have you ever been a bride, a groom, a bridesmaid, or a groomsman? Post a photo of yourself in wedding attire on our Postbox!