[God With Us, Salvation Army wedding], ca. 1906 / photographed by the Swiss Studios.

SPG/196

fonds

ca. 1906

Graphic Materials, Photographs

1009660

1 photographic print - gelatin silver - 16.8 x 10.9 cm

Salvation Army brides in the early 1900's were not permitted to wear traditional wedding dresses, although some floral ornamentation was allowed. The wedding depicted in this photograph was one of the Salvation Army’s ‘Hallelujah weddings’, which doubled as fundraising events. The ceremony would be incorporated into a revival meeting including spectacle and music to which admission tickets were sold. It was not uncommon for up to 500 guests to attend.
The Salvation Army began operating in Australia in 1880 and was known for offering more leadership roles to women than mainstream churches did at this time. The Swiss Studios were a fashionable photographic studio which moved from King Street to 430 George Street in September 1906.
Reference: Library correspondence file

Silver gelatin photograph, cabinet format, with photographers’ impressed mark ‘The Swiss Studios / George St / Sydney’ and inscription to verso. This picture shows a couple, members of the Salvation Army, on their wedding day. The bride wears the Salvation Army regulation blue uniform with a white sash bearing the words ‘God with us’. The photograph is annotated on the verso with ‘Dearest Auntie with best love from Sarah’, and in a later hand, ‘Mum and Dad’s wedding’.

Out of copyright: Created before 1955
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