Help with old wedding photo

Hi all,
I’m hoping to get your advice on the meaning of the bib or tabard worn by the maid or matron of honour (to the immediate left of the bride) in this old family wedding photo. I believe it’s 1908 in Australia. Does the bib perhaps indicate whether she is a matron (married) or maid (unmarried) of honour? Many thanks.

 

Oh and some may remember I posted this pic before. I’ve since confirmed the wedding was 1908. Now trying to confirm who’s who - determining whether the matron/ maid of honour is married or not will help. Thanks.

 

Does the matron of honor wear a different dress?

Usually she is dressed the same as the bridesmaids, although some brides will reflect her status with a different colour, piece of jewellery or slightly different dress design.

best I could find.....

 

Looks like the woman on the left is holding an oversized sewing needle. Maybe they're Borrowers.

 

The woman on at the opposite end of the row has a long stick thing with a hook at the top lying across her lap, too. All of these may be symbolic of something -- but what?

Do you know anything about the lives of these family members, @NTC Collector ?

 

Both women on the ends are holding the stick, the one on the left is holding it so you can’t see the shape of the top of it.

 

Good catch!

 

I don't think there's any way to determine if the attendants were married or unmarried. They all have their hair up but that could mean either they were married or of an age to be out in society. The decorative bodice looks to my eye like a fashion detail and not an indication of status. The floral-decorated crooks or staffs were discussed in your initial post. A popular wedding party accessory in the day. As to the woman in the fancy bodice... She is carrying a bouquet like the bride, not a staff, so one might assume she was maid/matron of honor.

Debora

 

The staffs look like shepherd's hooks. Religious symbolism. Shepherd's hook represents guidance I believe..

 

Perhaps a double wedding? The two in the middle are brides (same floral arrangements) with each maid of honor next to them. New husbands, best men, and fathers of the bride standing behind them?

On a side note....whose hand is that behind the lady on the far left? Is it the second man's hand on his own waist or the hand of the older gent with his arm around him?

 

Many thanks, yes as Deborah later notes these are shepherds hooks and fashionable at the time.

 

Thanks Debora, yes I’m confident the one on the left of the bride is the maid or matron. I’m just trying to determine which sister it is. The witness on the certificate was 2 years younger than the bride and unmarried - to my eyes the maid/ matron looks older than the bride….and there were two sisters that were 8-10 years older. That said perhaps the obvious is right - the other witness is the best man (left of groom) so it’s most likely the maid is the witness too.

 

Not a double wedding but your keen eye on that hand isn’t something I’d noticed. It looks like the older man on the end’s hand. Interesting because the older man is I believe the groom’s father and the tall one was married to another of the bride’s sisters and shares the same last name as the groom’s mother…so I’m thinking a cousin/nephew - hence the familiarity….

 

I think he was just asked to squeeze in to the frame....

 

Looks to me like it is the second gentleman from the left with his hand on his own waist/hip.