AN exquisite lace and muslin wedding gown, made in the last year of the reign of Queen Victoria, will be one of the exhibits on show at a romantic three-day event at the church and village hall in Upton Pyne, near Exeter this May Bank Holiday weekend, tomorrow, Saturday, April 29 to Monday, May 1.

The gown, made up of several hand-sewn pieces, is on loan from Upton Pyne resident Veronica Clarke.

Her grandmother Constance Naylor wore the gown to marry Sidney Hodgkinson in 1902. It was worn again in 1936 when their daughter Beryl married Rev. Robert Westall.

Also see: http://www.sheindressau.com/plus-size-wedding-dresses

This family heirloom is one of many historic wedding dresses from different eras that will be on show, along with photos and souvenirs of wedding days spanning the generations. A dress on loan from Powderham Castle was worn by Lady Katherine Courtney, daughter of the 17th Earl of Devon, in 1966 when she married Mr Anthony Watney at Powderham.

A calico cotton dress from trend-setting 1970s designer Fratini, a hooped dress from the 1980s, a dress made from burgundy velvet curtains for a 1946 wedding and a £5 charity shop dress will also be among the many exhibits displayed in the flower-decked grade-one listed mediaeval church and nearby village hall.

There will be music in the church, recorded and live, with piano and organ music performed by various musicians throughout the three-day event.

Bell ringers will also be performing during the weekend. In the village hall, transformed into a glamorous wedding reception, home-made refreshments will be available throughout the day and more gowns and mementoes will be on display.

Upton Pyne is believed to have been the inspiration for the village of Barton in Jane Austen’s novel "Sense and Sensibility". The two main characters, Edward Ferrars and Elinor Dashwood, marry in the church.

The event is being organised by the Friends of Upton Pyne who raise money for the care of the historic village church.

"Wedding Memories" will take place from 11am to 4 pm each day and entrance is free, but donations to the church maintenance fund would be welcomed.

Also see: http://www.sheindressau.com/short-wedding-dresses