ore people get married in June than in any other month. Some people believe June is named for Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage, making June a perfect time to get married. Also, roses —the flower of love—bloom in June. Weddings, regardless of the month in which they occur, have always been a time for celebration.

In the Cypress area through the years, some couples have eloped to marry, some have had civil ceremonies, but the majority had church weddings. After the church ceremony, the couple, their wedding party and a host of friends would gather at the home of the bride ’s parents for refreshments and merriment. A typical wedding of the times is illustrated in the Wedding Book of Reinhardt and Stella (Quade) Zahn in October of 1937.

Stella, with the help of her friend, Elsie, made her own wedding dress. The dress was princess-style with a high neck and collar, and long sleeves. There were 36 hand-covered rosette buttons down the dress front, plus four on the cuff of each sleeve.

Refreshments included cakes, pies, cookies, bread, butter and cheese. Coffee and wine were also served. Gifts were opened, and then the three-layer, 10-pound wedding cake was cut and served.

If you would like to learn more about early life and customs in the Cypress area, a visit to Cypress Top Historic Park behind Lowe ’s in Cypress would be a good place to start. Park grounds are open daily 7 a.m.-dusk. Museum buildings are open every Tuesday for drop-in tours, conducted by docents from the Cypress Historical Society, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. To schedule a tour for a different day and time, please call 281-357-5324. Contact Jane Ledbetter at janel_54@att.net for more information regarding the Cypress Historical Society.l