Post estate to host wedding fashion exhibit
March 17, 2011 3:00 PM EST
Marjorie Merriweather Post and her daughters were certainly familiar with weddings. The Post cereal heiress herself had four husbands, while her three daughters had a dozen marriages between them. In honor of the family's contributions to marital fashion and tradition, one of their sprawling mansions will not play host to an exhibit showcasing the various gowns worn to their nuptial ceremonies.
In June, the Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, the Posts' Georgian-style estate, will be home to an exhibit entitled "Wedding Belles: Bridal Fashions From the Marjorie Merriweather Post Family: 1874-1958," The New York Times reports. The Washington, D.C., home's exhibition will feature wedding dresses and bridesmaid gowns worn by family members, including all four of Mrs. Post's wedding gowns and one gown from each of her three daughters' weddings.
Mrs. Post passed away in 1973, and left both her home and a $10 million endowment to the Smithsonian. However, the Smithsonian returned it to the then-named Marjorie Merriweather Post Foundation several years later, citing that the upkeep of the house was simply too expensive to maintain. The museum has a recommended $15 admission fee, but since paying is optional, the estate relies on its endowment to fulfill about 90 percent of its costs.
Luckily, this gorgeous home still has enough funding to allow people to explore the various wedding fashions sported by the Post women over the decades. If you're passionate about wedding dresses or looking for a little inspiration for yourself, consider making a trip down the Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens.