#throwbackthursday 💍 World War II led to a surge in weddings, and according to the New York Times, over 1.8 million weddings took place in 1942 alone. Around two-thirds of these weddings involved brides marrying men who were enlisted in the military. Despite the wartime challenges, people came together to celebrate love and commitment. These weddings were often arranged hastily, with limited resources. Wedding cakes were made using rationed ingredients, and non-traditional dresses were common. Some brides even wore dresses made of silk from parachutes. This reflects the resilience and determination of people to make the best of a difficult situation and find joy in the midst of hardship. 📸: Shown are photographs from weddings of Coast Guardsmen and SPAR (U.S. Coast Guard Women’s Reserve) who were stationed in St. Augustine, Florida. These photo are in the Collections (archives) of the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum. First photo: Fred (Coast Guardsman) and Marion Barn...