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Wedding Dress

1952

1989
Silk, nylon
Worn by Tina Sparks
Gift of Tina Duncan

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Tina Duncan (née Christina Louise Sparks) wore this dress at her wedding to Woodson Byron Duncan on September 30, 1989. The couple married at St. John’s Cathedral in Albuquerque, New Mexico and moved to New Canaan in 1992, where they lived for ten years before moving to Wilton. For 15 years, Tina served on the Board of the New Canaan Historical Society, including six years as President.

Tina’s dress was purchased at Bergdorf Goodman, and donated to the museum along with her shoes, veil, and husband’s suit.

The princess-style gown features puffed, elbow-length sleeves, a sweetheart neckline, and simple embellishments of small bows on the neckline, sleeves and waist. The back plunges in a deep, elegant V. Dresses in the 1980s were heavily influenced by the most famous wedding of the decade – Prince Charles of England to Lady Diana Spencer, who wore her now-iconic voluminous princess-style gown in 1981.

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We are excited to announce that construction on the Jim and Dede Bartlett Center for New Canaan History is underway! Events will occur as scheduled, but because of the logistical challenges in the main building, the portrait exhibition is available by appointment only. Please contact ngeary@nchistory.org.

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