New TWU Bride's Book To Be Unveiled

2/14/03

DENTON — A new chapter in the history of the Little Chapel-in-the-Woods bride's book opens in this spring. On April 10, during Texas Woman's University's homecoming, a new bride's book will be unveiled.

The new bride's book, designed by TWU alumna Lucia Smith, is fashioned from sterling silver and has a replica of the Chapel's stained glass Rose Window on the cover. "I wanted to capture the elements of simplicity, elegance and the new millennium with the book," Smith said.

" As the sterling silver ages, it develops a wonderful patina just as the marriage relationship deepens with time. I put the Rose Window on the cover of the book because that's the first thing the married couple sees as they exit the Chapel. The parabolic arches of the book signify strength and unity and reflect the arches in the Chapel."

The original bride's book was used to record marriages in the Little Chapel from 1939 to 1979, then the book was filled. The new book will have enough pages to accommodate about 20 years' worth of weddings, and ceremonies that took place from Jan. 1, 2001 through the book's unveiling will be included in the pages.

Ceremonies that took place between 1980 and 2000 will be included in a virtual bride's book on the Internet. In fact, three bride's books will be available on the Internet — a copy of the original book, the book for the years 1980-2000 and the new book.

The TWU library also has established a special archive where any bride married in the Little Chapel can submit a copy of her wedding invitation and a photo of the ceremony, no larger than 8 x 10, to the collection. "We have very few photos of actual weddings taking place in the Little Chapel," said library assistant Ann Barton. "This archive will help establish a wonderful photographic history of the Chapel's weddings."

Persons who want more information about the virtual bride's books and bride's archive can contact the TWU library at (940) 898-2665.

The idea for the new bride's book came about in 2000 during a refurbishing of the Little Chapel-in-the-Woods, a project spearheaded by TWU Chancellor Dr. Ann Stuart.

Smith, who holds undergraduate and graduate arts degrees from TWU, was commissioned to design the new book. Artisan Timothy Buck in Dallas is fabricating the sterling silver and artist Gary Vigen in Colorado is constructing the stained glass elements of the book. TWU School of the Arts adjunct faculty member Tony Schraufnagel is building the Honduran mahogany case that will house the book.

"The stained glass on the book's cover is being made exactly the same way the stained glass windows in the Chapel were made. Carved elements you see on the pews and elements from the other stained glass windows also reverberate through the book," Smith said. "I wanted to reflect the iconography of the Chapel."

The new bride's book will be unveiled in an 8 a.m. ceremony on April 10 in the TWU library.

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For Further Information Contact:

Roy Kron
Director of News and Information
Tel: (940) 898-3456
e-mail: rkron@twu.edu