The Dark Wedding Gown of Lou Henry Hoover
Lou Henry was an enthralling lady. She loved camping with her father and was an accomplished taxidermist. She was fascinated with rocks and minerals. She graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. in Geology, where she met future President Herbert Hoover. She spoke Chinese fluently and was the only First Lady to do so. In February 1899, she married Herbert at her parents’ house in Monterey, California. She, like the groom, chose to become a Quaker, but they were married by a Roman Catholic priest. The bride chose a dark-colored gown rather than a conventional white gown.
The Dark Wedding Gown of Lou Henry Hoover
Lucy Hayes’ Wedding Gown
Lucy Ware Webb was 21 years old when she married Rutherford Richard Hayes on December 30, 1852, in Cincinnati, Ohio, at her family’s house. Lucy had many admirers before settling down with Rutherford. Rutherford’s mother desired that her son marry Lucy because she appreciated the young woman’s moral qualities and religious upbringing. In his journal in 1851, Rutherford wrote, “I suppose I am a great deal in love with L(ucy)….Her low sweet voice…her soft rich eyes.” He also referred to her as a “real lady.” The couple had eight children and dressed in black on their wedding day.
Lucy Hayes’ Wedding Gown
