Women of...Wednesday--Priscilla Didn't Make the Cut

The trouble with working on books of notable women is the fact that so many women get left out for one reason or another. One of those I had hoped to be included was Priscilla Kidder. Priscilla was the co-founder and driving force behind the internationally renowned bridal design house, Priscilla of Boston. Unfortunately, there's not a lot of personal information readily available about Priscilla, aside from obituaries that were printed after her death in December 2003.

The bridal industry is big business in the U.S. today, and it has been building steadily since the late 1940s when Priscilla Kidder entered the scene. One source of wedding statistics says,

2,160,000 weddings occurred in the US from December 2005 to December 2006 (CDC) spending approximately $86 Billion (Not counting the honeymoon or new household items!)

Priscilla of Boston designed bridesmaids' gowns for the largest "fairy-tale" wedding prior to the wedding of Charles and Diana--Grace Kelly's marriage to Prince Rainier. Priscilla also was the designer for two presidential daughters' weddings!

I avoid reality programs like Bridezillas, but there's something about fashion that draws me right into Say Yes to the Dress. Despite my personal distaste for the excessiveness of the contemporary wedding, as a writer I can't deny that many a little girl enjoys playing wedding dress-up and would love to read about a woman who had a great influence on the world of bridal fashion.

--Diane