9 weddings that marked major moments in history

Kate MacchiJun 30, 2020, 19:53 IST

Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle was a historic moment for the royals.Paul Ellis/WPA Pool/Getty Images

Weddings have always been considered a source of hope and celebration.
Some weddings, like the marriage between Dr. Kerry-Anne Perkins and Michael Gordon at a Black Lives Matter demonstration, have unfolded alongside major moments in history.
Others have been the cause of them, such as Mildred and Richard Loving's nuptials, which helped bring about an end to miscegenation laws in the US.

Marriage is most often associated with emotional wedding reception toasts, colorful bridesmaids dresses, and families coming together to celebrate.

However, every so often, a marriage will mark a pivotal point in history, whether it be liberation, equality, or a moment of hope amid unprecedented times.

Here are nine examples of weddings that have marked major moments in history.

When abolitionists Lucy Stone and Henry Browne wed in 1855, they argued that a woman should be equal to her husband in marriage.

Lucy Stone and Henry Browne Blackwell. Ken Florey Suffrage Collection/Getty Images; Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Blackwell Family Papers

The "Bride of Belsen," a concentration camp prisoner who married one of her liberators, stood as a beacon of hope following the end of World War II.

Gena Turgel sitting among photos of her late husband, Norman Turgel. Andrew Parsons - PA Images/Getty Images

Mildred and Richard Loving broke all the rules in order to wed in a time when racial segregation in their home state still forbade it.

Mildred and Richard Loving following the 1967 Supreme Court decision ruling in their favor. Bettmann/Getty Images

Regina and Eckhard Albrecht were divided by the Berlin Wall. Their marriage was a symbol of the determination that would eventually lead to the fall of the Iron Curtain.

Regina and Eckhard Albrecht sit down for a 2014 interview about their forbidden love. ITN/Getty Images

Regina and Eckhard Albrecht were divided by the Berlin Wall. Their marriage was a symbol of the determination that would eventually lead to the fall of the Iron Curtain.

Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin's marriage signified the beginning of legalized marriage among members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin at their 2008 wedding ceremony, officiated by then-Mayor Gavin Newsom. AFP/Getty Images

Edie Windsor and Thea Spyer's marriage led to same-sex couples getting access to the same federal benefits as heterosexual couples.

A poster of Edie Windsor and Thea Spyer being held outside The Stonewall Inn in New York after the landmark court decision announcement. DON EMMERT/Getty Images

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's union brought about the modernization of one of the oldest institutions in the world: the British royal family.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announce their engagement in November of 2017 in London, England. Karwai Tang/WireImage/Getty Images

Reilly Jennings and Amanda Wheeler showed that a pandemic couldn't get in the way of love as they tied the knot in the middle of a New York City sidewalk.

Reilly Jennings and Amanda Wheeler celebrate their nuptials after being officiated by a friend in NYC. Amanda Wheeler

Dr. Kerry-Anne Perkins and Michael Gordon made their wedding into a powerful socio-political emblem when they exchanged vows and then joined the Black Lives Matter protest in Philadelphia.

Dr. Kerry-Anne Perkins weds Michael Gordon in Philadelphia and then the couple joins the local Black Lives Matter protests. Linda McQueen Photography

Dr. Kerry-Anne Perkins and Michael Gordon made their wedding into a powerful socio-political emblem when they exchanged vows and then joined the Black Lives Matter protest in Philadelphia.

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9 weddings that marked major moments in history

When abolitionists Lucy Stone and Henry Browne wed in 1855, they argued that a woman should be equal to her husband in marriage.

The "Bride of Belsen," a concentration camp prisoner who married one of her liberators, stood as a beacon of hope following the end of World War II.

Mildred and Richard Loving broke all the rules in order to wed in a time when racial segregation in their home state still forbade it.

Regina and Eckhard Albrecht were divided by the Berlin Wall. Their marriage was a symbol of the determination that would eventually lead to the fall of the Iron Curtain.

Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin's marriage signified the beginning of legalized marriage among members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Edie Windsor and Thea Spyer's marriage led to same-sex couples getting access to the same federal benefits as heterosexual couples.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's union brought about the modernization of one of the oldest institutions in the world: the British royal family.

Reilly Jennings and Amanda Wheeler showed that a pandemic couldn't get in the way of love as they tied the knot in the middle of a New York City sidewalk.

Dr. Kerry-Anne Perkins and Michael Gordon made their wedding into a powerful socio-political emblem when they exchanged vows and then joined the Black Lives Matter protest in Philadelphia.