Free Republic

From gold silk and tiny waistlines, to flowing white chiffon, the picture of a bride's ultimate wedding dress has changed dramatically over the last 150 years. Showcasing the changing face of wedding gowns worn by American brides since 1830, a new exhibition, Tying the Knot: Cleveland Wedding Fashions, displays vastly differing bridal trends covering more than a century. From a 1879 dress made for socialite Alice Wade Everett, designed by famed French couturier Charles Frederick Worth; 1920's flapper dresses, the exhibit includes both the brides' traditional dresses and lingerie.

It’s not exactly the secret celebrity wedding of the season, but it still might be high-wattage enough -- at least in political circles -- to attract unwanted paparazzi. So a spokesman said Monday that Representative Barney Frank would prefer to keep the timing of his marriage to Jim Ready under wraps. It’s not working too well. Frank himself has leaked enough clues that it is easy to conclude the wedding is this Saturday afternoon, in a private ceremony in Newton. Barney said in a C-SPAN interview in May that he was not inviting President Obama and his wife, Michelle, to...

A lot of people were taken aback today by a bold, out of the blue campaign fund raising tactic. The campaign to retain The Usurper in the pResidency has asked that ordinary folks give up their gifts. That's wedding gifts, birthday gifts, anniversary gifts and for all we know, the flowers and candy you were going to give that "special someone" on Sweetest Day (because they already missed out on Valentine's day.) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2898508/posts http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2898434/posts I'm sure that if the months of December and November were reversed on the calendar, the children's Christmas toys and stocking stuffers would be fair game...

Well, a Canada progressive newspaper got around to releasing the story of Jarrett's wedding. A MPP is a Provincial (similar to State) Member of Parliment Obama attends wedding of Toronto Liberal MPP’s son; Tony Balkissoon, 29, a lawyer in the Windy City, married Laura Jarrett, also a lawyer, whom he met while they were students at Harvard Law School.

The first family walked over to a wedding in their hometown neighborhood tonight. President Barack Obama, his wife Michelle and daughters Malia, 13, and Sasha, 11, are here for their first trip to the city as a foursome in two years. While the White House never confirmed why the Obamas were visiting their hometown, it was widely expected they were here to attend the wedding of the daughter of their friend and adviser Valerie Jarrett at Jarrett's nearby home.

4 girls, two boys get death for dancing video in Kohistan Kohistan: A tribal court in Kohistan district of Khyber Pakhunkhwa has handed down death penalty to six people, including four girls and two boy for dancing in a wedding party. The Jirga issued a decree after a mobile phone video emerged of the six in a remote village. AFP news agency said Pakistani authorities in the area said local clerics had ordered the punishment over allegations that the men and women danced and sang together in Gada village, in defiance of strict tribal customs that separate men and women...

Police on Monday afternoon demolished a wedding tent at the Jewish outpost of Ramat Migron and presented an order declaring the planned nuptial site to be a closed military zone. According to 'Tatzfit' forces detained all those at the site who were setting up the wedding, dismantled the wedding tent and other equipment, and threatened to arrest anyone who persisted in making preparations at the site. The wedding party decided to move the event to an adjacent area, near the road. However, dozens of people then began throwing rocks at security forces from across the road. No injuries were reported,...

A modern-day Romeo and Juliet are on their honey-moon trying to make good on their vows after barely surviving their North Shore wedding from hell, which ended in a bruising brawl and two busts — including the groom’s mother. “They’re in love. They’re doing everything in their power to make it work,” busted mom Darlene DeIorio, 45, told the Herald last night though tears. “I’m going to be there for them no matter what. My heart is so broken. I’m sad for them.” The Saturday night nuptials between Anthony DeIorio-Weiner and Nancy Guido at the Danversport Yacht Club ballroom —...

DANVERS — For two North Shore families, the wedding Saturday night at the Danversport Yacht Club will be memorable — for all the wrong reasons. The mother of the groom ended up in handcuffs, another young woman was also arrested, and the groom himself may be facing assault charges, police said. Darlene DeIorio, 45, of Revere pleaded not guilty to charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest during her arraignment Monday in Salem District Court. Danvers police were called to the function hall just after midnight Sunday for a report of a "groom out of control." It all started when...

Camo-clad couple exchange vowsLove and mud were in the air Saturday afternoon in Putnam County. St. Johns County resident Kodie Umphenour, 24, and Interlachen native Carina Pasco, 31, were married just after 1 p.m. in the same Hog Waller Mud Bog & ATV mud pit where he proposed to her one year ago. The county-crossed lovers met on a dating site a little more than a year ago, finding they shared a common passion: mud-bogging. “He’ll do anything for anybody,” Umphenour’s best man, Stephan Doty, said before the wedding, with the groom’s sister, Autumn Umphenour, with him on a four-wheeler...

The internet has become a powerful catalyst for international violent jihad, according to a new report from the Dutch security service AIVD.

LAIE, Hawaii — Elizabeth Smart and Matthew Gilmour were married Saturday on the North Shore of the island of Oahu. The couple exchanged vows at the Laie Hawaii Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in front of a small group of immediate family members, according to a statement released by Smart family spokesman Chris Thomas. The wedding party was celebrated at a private reception and luau. Following Saturday's festivities, the couple planned to leave on an extended honeymoon to an undisclosed location. "Elizabeth's desire was for what most women want — to celebrate her nuptials in...

Wedding bells will soon be ringing for Sen. Susan Collins. The Maine Republican is engaged to Thomas Daffron, 73, the chief operating officer for the D.C.-based Jefferson Consulting Group. According to the consulting group’s website, Daffron served as chief of staff to former Sens. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) and William Cohen (R-Maine). He was also a speechwriter for the late Sen. Charles Percy (R-Ill.), a campaign manager for former GOP presidential candidate Elizabeth Dole, and a consultant during all three of Collins’ Senate campaigns. Collins, 59, has never been married.

The media will spend the next ten years with their heads up their sphincters trying to determine motive. Hmmm ..... what could it be now? For those of us in the media who have not surrendered to jihad (all three of us), we have noticed a decided uptick in this activity. Arrests in the US are weekly now, sometimes daily. Nothing to see here, folks, keep it moving until the next catastrophe. And then the enemedia and Hamas-CAIR operatives in DC will blame ...... counter jihadists. :) Colorado man arrested on terrorism AP (hat tip Ken) AURORA, Colo. (AP) —...

Anyone have experience with open bar package of drinks vs by-the-drink for a reception?

“Life with Archie No. 16″ hits newsstands next week, featuring the interracial, same-sex wedding of character Lt. Kevin Keller, a white American soldier wounded in Iraq, and Clay Walker, the black physical therapist who helped him recover. Archie Comics CEO Jonathan Goldwater told CNN it’s part of a concerted effort to make Archie Andrews’ universe mirror the diversity and complexity of today’s world

SNIPPET: "ZAMBOANGA CITY (2nd update, 1:56 p.m.) -- A powerful blast killed at least 3 people and wounded 27 others in a budget hotel packed with wedding guests in the southern Philippines, officials said Monday. The explosion, suspected to have been caused by a bomb, ignited a fire that gutted the two-story Atilano Pension House in downtown Zamboanga city late Sunday." SNIPPET: "Zamboanga city, a predominantly Christian trading hub 540 miles (860 kilometers) south of Manila, is located in a volatile region long troubled by a decades-long Muslim insurgency, extortion gangs and kidnap for ransom syndicates."

MANSFIELD, Ohio -- The old, imposing prison in Ohio where the movie "The Shawshank Redemption" was filmed has become a hot spot for weddings and hosts an annual bridal show. What was once known as the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield is all booked up for weddings through the end of 2012 and has begun taking reservations for 2013. The bridal show is called "Glamour in the Slammer" and is in its fifth year.

<p>A Bronx groom hurled himself into the Harlem River over the weekend — just hours after exchanging marriage vows with his longtime love.</p> <p>Fernando Brazier, 28, took the fatal leap after leaving a suicide note for his bride, Trudian Hay, at the front desk of the Radisson Hotel in New Rochelle, where the couple and family members spent the night after celebrating their wedding.</p>

When political royalty weds fashion royalty, the expectations of grandeur are high. But when Lauren Bush, niece of former President George W. Bush and granddaughter of former President George H.W. Bush, married David Lauren, youngest son of fashion designer Ralph Lauren, they decided to make everything a little more down-home and country. That's not to say that the event wasn't the epitome of fashion and luxury, as the newly-wed couple described their rustic affair to Vogue. David described the event like 'a beautiful movie... like you were riding across the old west and you stopped in at a wedding'. The...