I Do: A Cultural History Of Montana Weddings

by Martha Kohl

Through engaging stories of romance, insightful analysis, and historic intriguing photographs, I A Cultural History of Montana Weddings provides an intimate and surprising look at an important tradition. I Do journeys through the last 150 years of Montana history, from the 1860s gold rush to the internet age, to reveal the lives of ordinary people, from Finnish homesteaders, Chinese restaurateurs, and Métis fiddlers to struggling miners, Blackfeet students, and Jewish merchants. Along the way, readers will encounter fascinating the couple who courted by mail for five years before managing to overcome the vast distance that separated them; the bride and groom who won a contest whose prize was an expenses-paid ceremony in the main pavilion at the 1905 Flathead County Fair; the sixteen-year-old schoolgirl who shimmied out of her bedroom window to elope with a high school classmate; and the lavish nuptials of Helena millionaire Thomas Cruse and his bride Margaret Carter―a party so public, long-lasting, and jubilant that, according to one historian, in response to its excesses, it reinvigorated the local temperance movement. Whether celebrated in a cathedral, a courthouse, or an isolated cabin, weddings offer a glimpse of a time when lives, families, and communities join together. In the end, readers will find themselves more knowledgeable, both about Montana's vibrant, multicultural past and about one of America's most enduring traditions and important rites of passage.

Genres: Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published October 4, 2011

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a spirit of full disclosure, I should acknowledge that the author of this book is my sister-in-law, so I was predisposed to like this book. That said, I REALLY, REALLY liked this book.

I enjoy reading history and this book is an interesting look at the history of Montana, from territory to the present. Martha's investigation of marriage traditions in Montana provides a good platform for understanding the communities and cultures / ethnicities that have contributed to the diversity and common practices that have become traditions in Montana (and much of the US) today.

If you enjoy learning more about society through our shared cultural history, I recommend this book as an interesting and very accessible read.

[HM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and informative, this is a great way to learn more history. Thoroughly recommend!!

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Do is a refreshing change from the overdone romance novel plot of girl being swept off her feet by cowboy. This book is not a novel at all, actually, but a collection of true stories meticulously researched by the author (it's all true--there are photos!). My favorite story is about Anna Plovanic, the mail-order bride who jilted the man who sent for her. The author spends some time analyzing weddings trends and what they tell us about history, so I feel like I learned something instead of just reading fluff. Final verdict: it's a beautifully written, delightfully illustrated, smart, grown-up read.