It was a photo of her beloved 1968 wedding dress – a gown both beautiful in its dressmaking detail and encapsulating in the memories behind it. 

Accompanying the Facebook image was the caption, “Feeling nostalgic today. This is the last thing my mother bought me; that’s why I treasure it.”

“The ‘likes’ and comments [on the photo] clearly showed that women were interested in sharing their gowns and their stories,” Rebecca says. 

“And so I began chasing after the ladies at church, asking about their gowns, speaking at the CWA monthly meeting, word of mouth and the gowns started creeping in.”

As a social historian, Rebecca feels the stories and memories that accompany wedding gowns are just as important as the garments themselves. By bringing the two together, they can be captured and documented for future reference and enjoyment.

“The project requires women of the Upper Hunter to share with me their most precious gown, pre-dating 1970,” Rebecca explains.

“I then sit with the women and record them reminiscing about their gowns. These recordings are then edited into a story telling narrative.”

With the help of the talented Amanda Gaffney-Ray, of Amanda Ray Images, the gowns are also photographed for the project.

“We have now photographed about 30 gowns, and I’ve another 23 for either our next few photoshoots,” Rebecca says.

“So I’m feeling quite excited at the interest from our local women as the word spreads.”

The project will showcase gowns from the Upper Hunter, though as Rebecca explains, any connection to the region warrants its inclusion. For example, her grandmother’s gown will be included as Rebecca is now a resident of Scone, and a bride married in Sydney, though now in Denman, will also be included.

“The best part of this project so far has been watching the women’s faces change as they gaze at their gown and speak to me about the lived experience of it,” Rebecca says. 

“There have been so many eyes twinkle as the women recount how they met their husbands, and laugh over their initial impressions.”

For Rebecca, it is a privilege to be entrusted with the safe handling and care of a treasured gown for the purpose of photographing it for the project. She feels it’s important to document the precious gowns as the fact is, they will not last forever.

“The collected documentation will form a delightful book which will be a treasury for posterity,” Rebecca explains.  

“We’ve also hopes of holding an exhibition of the gowns alongside their stories, though this is a project for another day.”

The next photoshoot is set for December 5, and Rebecca is eagerly seeking participants for the study.

“I am happily learning the roads around the Upper Hunter in pursuit of these precious gowns,” she says.

“It’s a relaxed and happy project to participate in, this gathering process for ‘Reminisces of a Precious Gown.’”