World War II was a time of intense emotions: excitement, fear, homesickness, longing, love.  Young men, away from home for the first time and facing an uncertain future, sought comfort in correspondence to sweethearts waiting back home.  These romances often led to wartime weddings scheduled around service leaves and passes, a choice that required ingenuity and flexibility. 'Seize the day' became a phrase for a generation.

The fashions for weddings during the first half of the 1940s were limited by war rationing.  For this reason, many wartime brides ended up wearing their best dress or a tailored suit.  Despite the hardships, some WWII brides were wealthy enough to get a dress that was more elegant.  Soldiers often wore their military uniform. Whatever the attire, people seemed delighted to celebrate the optimism of marriage against the destruction of the war.

Shown below are the joyful wedding photos of 20 Scottsville men and women whose relationships were forged during those wartime years: