The American obsession with weddings and wedding gowns is evident at least as early as 1850, when the March issue of Godey's Lady's Book included a colored plate in its feature on bridal dress. Yet brides who feed the nation's current obsession to the tune of more than $160 billion annually may be astonished to learn how much things have changed. Fashion illustrator Norma Lu Meehan and costume curator Mei Campbell draw upon collections at the Northern...