I do: New museum exhibit opens in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — The wedding industry is an evolving one. Weddings and what is popular at them change on almost a yearly basis. The Moses Lake Museum & Art Center's new exhibit documents the ever-changing world, rich history and important role that weddings have in today's society.

Friday night marked the opening of “I Do: Wedding Photographs from the Hilderbrand Collection & 120 Years of Wedding Fashion” and the new exhibit certainly went over well with attendees. Friday night was not only for attendees to take in the exhibit, as there was food and refreshments and a screening of the 2008 film “Mamma Mia.”

“I usually don't get to come to things like this, so I am especially keen on taking in everything that they have here. It's really a unique idea for an exhibit because you would never think that weddings had this much history. The crazy part is that what they are showing here at the museum is only the tip of the iceberg,” Moses Lake resident Dawn Shelton remarked.

A large portion of the exhibit features the photographic talent of William Hilderbrand, who came to Moses Lake in the 1950s and opened up a camera business and photography studio. Over the next 25 years Hilderbrand documented life in the area through a lens, taking family portraits, pictures of businesses and new babies, and, of course, lots of pictures of weddings. Hilderbrand's archive and a large portion of his life's passion was donated to the museum for the community to take in and enjoy.

“You know, this is really a lot of fun. But, to be honest, seeing these beautiful wedding dresses kind of make me feel guilty about the cheap thing that I wore on my wedding day,” Moses Lake resident Stephanie Hills said with a slight chuckle.

Hilderbrand's photographs are accompanied at the exhibit by a myriad of different wedding dresses. From the classic styles of yesterday, to what has made waves as of late in the wedding industry, a variety of different styles of wedding dresses are currently on display. Some of the dresses are in the museum's permanent collection, but a lot are loans from brides or their families. Other dresses were loaned to the museum by the Kirkman House Museum in Walla Walla, according to a previous Columbia Basin Herald report.

“Having dabbled in wedding photography and seeing how important the dress is, I can tell you just how important a role that all of these dresses have had at some point in the past. It's really a big deal to donate or even loan your wedding dress out to someone. Really an awesome thing to see them all come together in one spot,” Ephrata resident Gloria Nielsen said.

Admission to the exhibit is free. People who want more information can contact the museum at 509-764-3830.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.