Photo: exhibition flyer. Courtesy of Hat Works

Are weddings just about wearing meringue dresses and morning suits? Have brides and grooms always dressed this way?

Step into a world of weddings and find out at Meringues and Morning Suits – Fashioning a Stylish Wedding, a new exhibition at Hat Works, Stockport’s Museum of Hatting, running until September 26.

Whether you’re getting married in the morning and are in need of inspiration for your own nuptials or you just like a good wedding, the exhibition has something for you. Enter the specially styled 'bridal boutique' where you can see lots of different wedding traditions and fashions from 1800 to 1991.

The excessive layers of chiffon popular in 1991 make an interesting contrast when compared to the simplicity of dresses made for 1930’s celebrations.

Photo: Darcy dress designed by Cambric Gowns. Courtesy of Hat Works

Some wartime dresses had dress clips added to make a plain dress special, ensuring it could be worn more than once. Even shoes and handbags were re-used – a handbag used by one 1930s bride is on display containing 1½d (in old pennies), a tram ticket and an aspirin.

Contrast this with the traditional rituals and clothing of a Muslim bride. They celebrate their weddings for three days, the first day is the ceremony and the second and third are for family celebrations.

On show are fashion trends through the decades. There's Sue who got married in 1968 in a white floral mini dress after having it shortened on the advice of the shop assistant.

Any modern bride would be envious of the unknown 1920’s bride who wore a pale blue ruffled muslin dress. And there's even a quite modern looking corset and lace dress from 1891.

Photo: dresses from the 1930s to the 1950s. Courtesy of Hat Works

Personal stories connected with the dresses reveal the sense of occasion a wedding holds.

If you’ve been inspired by any of the dresses, how about having a go at designing one of your own creations or making paper tissue corsages for your assembled congregation?

Why not stand in front of the mirror and pretend to be the bride, groom or a wedding guest by trying on some of the wedding hats that are on display? You are bound to find one that fits!

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue… Meringues and Morning Suits is a fascinating look at weddings throughout the ages.

Hat Works are putting on several events to complement the exhibition. Find out How to Tie the Knot at wedding planner Catherine Firth’s workshop about the A to Z of Wedding Planning on September 4, from 1pm to 4pm. It costs £15 and includes buffet lunch and traditional high tea.

Or how about trying your hand at cake decorating on July 25 at 1pm? The workshop costs £12.50 and includes a 3-inch sugar paste coated cake and decorating materials.