Indian River County Celebrates 100: A Centennial of Wedding Traditions and Trends
As Indian River County (IRC) celebrates its centennial birthday this month, it’s worth taking a look back to see how it became an integral part of the Treasure Coast. According to county historical information, the Indian River County of today has also been a part of St. Lucie, Brevard, St. Lucia, and Mosquito counties in the past. The establishment of Indian River as a separate county began in 1925 with the residents of Vero Beach, who were opposed to certain financial actions and legislative enforcement practices that were taking place at that time.
In their quest to separate themselves from other counties, many Vero Beach residents traveled to Tallahassee in an attempt to have Indian River established as its own county. The process for approval of their petition took several months, and in May of 1925, the Florida Senate approved their request. The approval was enacted 30 days later, officially making Indian River a new county on June 29, 1925.
As the new county grew, so did the number of residents and families that were created. The early history of weddings in Indian River County shows that couples typically opted for traditional ceremonies held in local churches. One notable church that was established in 1919—and still stands today—is St. Helen Catholic Church, where the first baby baptized at the church was christened with the name Helen. Another church attended by IRC residents in the early years was the Antioch Primitive Baptist Church, which has also hosted weddings for over 100 years.
For the first decade of IRC’s existence, churches and family homes celebrated many weddings, with babies born in the same home where the baby’s parents may have wed. In 1936, IRC saw the construction of a county courthouse. While this building served primarily as a center for local government, it was also a convenient location where non-denominational weddings could take place and evidence wedding styles of the time.
Among the wedding venues available today to couples planning to wed in IRC, the choices almost seem endless. From an elegant oceanside ceremony held at locations like Costa d’Este Beach Resort, Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel & Spa or The Prestige Hotel to a sublime wedding hosted on the mainland at locations like Magnolia Manor, Twisted Oak Farm, or the popular Heritage Center, etc., there are many venue options to accommodate any wedding style.
Just as wedding venue options have expanded in IRC, so have options for bridal attire. Looking at the evolution of bridal wear, trends in fashion have influenced much of what changes with each wedding season, as dress styles go from formal to casual and back again, and ruffles that are all the rage in one season are replaced by more streamlined looks in another until ruffles make a return to on-trend again.
When Indian River County locations began hosting weddings in the 1920s, women wore sleek, drop-waist gowns. Long veils also became popular and helped balance simple silhouettes. But as dresses became shorter during the Roaring Twenties, brides also became more daring with their wedding-day fashions, with some brides even opting for knee-length dresses. Elaborate headpieces also began appearing, from diamond tiaras to floral pieces worn with a veil.
In the 1930s, most brides were wearing silk or satin dresses, typically opting for long-sleeved styles with a small train and minimal ornamental designs. Staying with minimalistic styles, brides in the early 1940s (who married during the war effort) chose outfits that reflected the times, typically being formal pieces that they already owned. The 1950s saw a push to more romantic and feminine wedding dresses, like Jacqueline Kennedy’s gown for her wedding to John F. Kennedy, as well as with Grace Kelly, who set a new bridal trend with her wedding gown, which made lace highly popular again.
The 1960s and 1970s brought lots of color to bridal fashions, courtesy of multi-marriage celebrities and the flower-child movement. Hemlines also varied from miniskirt lengths to coat-style dresses and flowing bell-shaped dresses. For brides who desired an over-the-top, all-frills wedding dress, the 1980s arrived with puffy sleeves, long trains, and headdresses that evidenced the spare-no-expense largess at the center of all-things-wedding at that time. By the middle of the 1990s, however, much of the puffed-up dress designs had deflated for cleaner looks with less bedazzling. Off-the-shoulder wedding dresses also gained in popularity as well.
Going into the 2000s, wedding dresses with strapless and spaghetti-strap designs became popular as brides opted for simple, non-embellished gowns. During the 2010s, strapless gowns were the most popular style for wedding dresses, and by the mid-2000s, many brides even started adding embellishments, like lace details or a crystal sash.
For IRC brides planning to wed in 2025, the last 100 years collectively offers a wide range of wedding dress styles from which to choose, with the perfect dress sure to be found by every bride and for every budget.
When considering bridal style through the years, trends often evidence the influence that society has on arguably the most important dress a woman ever wears. Traditionally, the choice of a wedding dress was relatively straightforward—a white gown that a bride would wear for the entire wedding day. However, today’s brides have more detailed decisions to make, which can include choosing multiple dresses for different times of day or night events. Wedding experts suggest this shift in bridal fashion “reflects broader changes in societal norms and the increasing desire for personalization and individual expression.”
Along with the shift from a single dress to multiple wedding-day looks, today’s brides are also making dress decisions that involve cultural influences and traditions, as well as the embracing of glamour and grace, innovation and versatility in dress designs, the use of sustainable dress materials, and ensuring all-inclusive fashion that caters to all sizes and identities.
As change continues with every wedding season, today’s couples are making their preferences known by setting aside many tried-and-true traditions and opting for personal choices instead. Among the wedding traditions quickly fading from favor are tossing the bouquet/garter, wearing a veil, matching bridesmaids’ dresses, and tiered wedding cakes. On the other hand, trends that are increasing in popularity include bold color palettes for the bridal party, AI-enhanced wedding planning, eco-friendly weddings, and intimate, experience-driven celebrations.
However, even with sustained demands for personalization, there are some wedding traditions that are still going strong with brides and grooms of all ages and backgrounds. The top five traditions still held near and dear that show no signs of fading away anytime soon are: exchanging vows, first dances, cutting the cake, something old/new/borrowed/blue, and toasts/speeches being made at the wedding reception.
When considering the centennial history of Indian River County and its residents, some wedding traditions and trends may have changed over time, but many remain the same even after 100 years. One of the most endearing things about the IRC of today is the range of available options for celebrating the love found at the heart of weddings, as well as the love for the county that is still found in the hearts of its residents. Happy Birthday, Indian River County – we wish you another 100 years filled with reasons to celebrate!
Photo courtesy of Community Bldg., Archive Center, Indian River County Main Library
Photo courtesy of @anneanddan32963
