Our Takes

Here comes the (very pregnant) bride

"First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in the baby carriage."

Countless schoolchildren have learned that ditty. We know, however, that society does not place a high value on that order of doing things.

Pregnant brides are nothing new, but there is a developing trend that the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette highlighted in a March 24 story: More and more of them are opting for traditional wedding gowns with all the lace and ruffles.

White wedding dresses are the norm now, but, as the writer of the piece pointed out, that has not always been the case. It wasn't until Queen Victoria chose white for her wedding gown in 1840 that the color became popular for nuptials, and that had more to do with status than it did with virginity. Still, white gowns are associated with purity today.

We don't want to rain on anyone's parade -- and it's good that couples recognize the need of a child to be raised by a mother and a father united in matrimony -- but perhaps a more subdued approach should be taken so as not to send the wrong message to wedding guests, especially the young ones in the crowd.

Maybe that way, we can re-emphasize that marriage should come first before the creation of a baby is even a possibility.