Cecilia Del Gatto, Just married, 2024

Just Married is a photographic project that explores the evolution of marriage through a unique lens: the American wedding cars of the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s. These vehicles, adorned with flowers, ribbons, and symbolic details, not only represented the social status of the newlyweds but were true emblems of celebration and cultural belonging. The photographs in the book capture moments of joy and ritual, depicting a time when the car became an integral part of wedding ceremonies.

The project draws from a valuable collection of original slides and photographs, carefully sourced from auctions and flea markets by the artist. Through meticulous selection and curation of the images, the author has crafted a cohesive visual narrative that goes beyond mere documentation, revealing the symbolic significance of the wedding car in an America undergoing significant socioeconomic change. Vintage cars, often displayed as extensions of the American Dream, embodied values linked to prosperity and marital success.

In the years of the economic boom, the car was not just a means of transportation but a tangible representation of social mobility and progress. Decorating the car for a wedding was a way to highlight the transition to a new stage of life, emphasizing the couple’s prestige and the community’s sense of celebration. Each photograph in Just Married not only documents an iconic aspect of wedding tradition but also encourages reflection on the symbolic and social role that the car played in the collective imagination during a time when marriage was one of the most important rites of passage.