You think you have it all figured out. You have the venue and the dress. Your save the dates and invitations are sent out to your guests. The pre-wedding jitters have set in as you envision your day all coming together. Then, an unthinkable pandemic happens, closing everything around you. You anxiously watch the news, looking to get some sort of hope that your wedding will still go off without a hitch, but unfortunately, Covid-19 has impacted everything that you thought was going to happen. For many couples, this is an extremely trying time in what is supposed to be one of the happiest moments of their lives. What does all of this mean for your wedding, and how do you manage planning a wedding during the Covid-19 outbreak?

 May 9th was supposed to be a special day for bride Autumn Freeman and her fiancé Joel Miller. However, due to Covid-19, everything changed. "The day we actually decided to postpone was very draining. I had so many mixed emotions. I felt extremely sad because I was so ready to celebrate our marriage with everyone in less than two months. After we called our vendors, I called my dad immediately and started to cry," Autumn said. 
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Autumn and her fiancé are not the only couple in this boat. As of March 15, 2020, the CDC recommended that all scheduled weddings be postponed for at least 8 weeks, and that recommendation is changing by the day. Weddings that are scheduled for May are not likely to take place as normal, and June and July are still very questionable. With that said, many planners are recommending those who have weddings scheduled for the summer months consider postponing. Though this is a hard decision, it may bring couples a sense of relief that they don't need to worry about it for a few months. Autumn says, "Even though I was sad we had to postpone, I also felt beyond relieved. For weeks leading up to our decision I was stressed to the max." 

If you have decided to postpone, then the question remains, "When do I reschedule?" With all the uncertainty, it can be hard to decide on a date that will hopefully be Covid-19 free. Many experts agree that the wedding should be pushed back a far as possible, even though this can be uncomfortable to the couple. This may seem sad and daunting, but it actually may give you the freedom to have things as close to as how you originally planned them a possible. Autumn and her fiance had a May 9th wedding planned, but now it has changed to January 30, 2021. Though this isn't ideal, the couple is able to keep their venue and their original Saturday date. Many venues want people to know that rescheduling your wedding is a difficult task. Weddings may be booked every weekend, especially in the spring and summer months. Postponing every client is a very hard task, but in times like these, there may not be another choice. Some wedding experts are even predicting the popular Saturday date for a wedding to be a thing of the past after the pandemic. Not everyone can reschedule for the same Saturday date, so perhaps a smaller wedding on a Wednesday or Thursday will be popular. Those dates are more likely to be open at the venue of your choice. 

This situation remains volatile and will continue to change, so choosing a date farther in the future could ease your stress more. Follow the CDC for up to date information. 

Many brides and grooms have already sent out their invitations and save the dates to their guests. So what do you do if you have already done this and need to inform your guests of a change? First, it is important to have your new information completely solidified before mailing anything to your guests. Many couples, including Autumn and Joel, are considering sending out RSVP cards with the new date on them. This not only allows your guests to see the new date, but also gathers information about any guest list changes.  
Another option is an announcement on your wedding website. If you don't have a website, you may consider getting one. Websites like theknot.com offer couples free wedding websites that allow couples to post details and collect RSVPs. After you finalize your new date, you can post the details on your wedding website for your guests to see. 
The most important thing is to inform guests that changes are being made and that you will be in touch so that they have time to plan. Most wedding experts recommend at the very least to give the people on your guest list a call to inform them of changes. 

The key to getting through wedding planning during this crazy time is maintaining communication with your vendors. From your flowers to your venue, it is important to work with your vendors to make decisions. Both sides need to be open with each other to ensure a solution be met. Many wedding experts are recommending couples ask their vendors what the worst case scenario would be in order to prepare for the worst. First and foremost, contact your venue with any concerns you have and postpone if need be. If you decide to go another direction and change venues, finalize where you want your wedding to be. Then, ensure that the new date fits with your other vendors, including floral providers and caterers. Many couples are reporting that vendors are being flexible during this time, including Autumn and Joel. "The venue was very helpful with rearranging everything, and all change fees were waived. We asked what was still available and wanted our wedding to remain on a Saturday, so we had to go pretty far back." She also says, "I think the biggest advantage we had on our side was time." Though they had to reschedule, getting ahead of things and communicating with their venue eased a lot of stress, and ensured that they still had their desired Saturday date. Being open and honest with what you want is the key to finalize your rescheduled wedding details the way you want them. 

Another option in connecting with your vendors is to hire a wedding planner. Many couples who didn't have a wedding planner in the beginning of this pandemic are now opting to hire a planner. This helps the couple deal with the stress of planning,  and also gets another person on your side. A wedding planner's job is to ensure that your day goes as planned, and often will contact your vendors for you. 

If you decide to postpone your wedding you need to come to the realization that your guest list will be different than originally thought, especially if you have already sent and received your RSVPs. Some guests who may have been able to come on the original date may not be able to make a date later in the year. The opposite situation could also occur, and those who may not have been able to make the original date could be able to attend the new date. The new guest list is another reason to consider sending out new RSVP cards. 
Brides and grooms must also take into consideration what the state of the country will be after the pandemic. If your wedding involves a lot of travel for your guests, it may be hard for them to afford travel or take off work to travel. 

Regardless of what decisions are made during this pandemic, it is extremely important to comply with CDC and other government guidelines. It can be very tempting to go through with your wedding as planned, but at this time that is not feasible or recommended. Following CDC guidelines is required, and though it may seem like an impossible thought to change your plans, it is likely to ease your worries if you get ahead of the situation. By following these guidelines you will not only help to keep yourself healthy, but also those you love.  For additional links on this topic, see the resources at the bottom of the post. 

Planning your wedding is supposed to be one of the most exciting times of your life. It is easy to get caught up in the disappointment of Covid-19, but it is important to not give up hope. When I asked Autumn if she had any words to other brides who are going through this trying time she said, "Although postponing the wedding of your dreams is heartbreaking and not an easy decision to make, keep reminding yourself that everything is going to be okay. Everyone will understand and support your decision. Take advantage of the extra time. Maybe now you can save up for that videographer you wanted before and couldn't afford. You will still get your happily ever after, even if it takes a little longer." 

Written by UNCW English student and Bellamy intern, Hailey Morrison

Sources
Photographs supplied by Autumn Freeman and taken by Ashlee Nicole Photography
 https://www.ashleenicolephoto.com/
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
https://www.harpersbazaar.com/wedding/planning/a31673827/how-to-plan-weddings-during-coronavirus-pandemic/
https://www.brides.com/what-to-know-about-coronavirus-and-wedding-planning-4799160
​https://www.theknot.com/content/postpone-wedding-guidelines

Written by UNCW English Student and Bellamy Intern, Hailey Morrison 
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​Information and Photo Resources  
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/542402348844138608/ (Bellamy Mansion) 
https://www.bellamymansion.org/photographs.html
https://www.brooklynartsnc.com/weddings/the-annex-and-1910-suite/ 
https://www.brooklynartsnc.com/weddings/church-and-manse-suite/ https://www.ironcladbrewery.com/plan-event 
https://www.cityclubofwilmington.com/the-city-club-of-wilmington-wedding
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgwin-Wright_House#/media/File:House_Front.jpg  
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=58542864  
Wilmington Wedding. Burgwin Wright House www.amyallenphotography.com 
https://taralinephotog.smugmug.com/Weddings/Fowler-Wedding/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/129126714287117949/ -City Club 
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/143552306852760135/ -Ironclad Brewery 
Krista Stevens Photography, www.kristastevensphotography.com-Wrightsville Manor Slideshow
Vertical Sync Films (Ironclad Brewery Slideshow)
https://www.eventective.com/wilmington-nc/burgwin-wright-house-and-gardens-666199.html (Burgwin Wright House Slideshow) 
 
 

     Though these two men never stood side by side and their voyages never caused them to cross paths, Blackbeard and Isaac Hull mark are unified in their position as two prominent figures in Wilmington's history and North Carolina's former Deputy State (Underwater) Archaeologist Mark Wilde-Ramsing's career. Our very own Cape Fear River and neighboring waters were frequented by these men and their vessels, beginning with Blackbeard's Queen Anne's Revenge in the early eighteenth century, and later in the mid-nineteenth century by Isaac Hull's namesake, the USS Commodore Hull.  The journeys that these two ships and their crews took on the waters bordering Downtown Wilmington were significantly different in their geography, motivation, and on-board lifestyle. Through the remains of an eighteenth century pirate ship and a nineteenth naval vessel, we are offered a lens into two tremendously different tales; not only of two captains, but of their crewmen and the citizens of historical Wilmington.

      Queen Anne's Revenge, pictured to the left, is speculated to have been constructed in 1710. As a 200-ton frigate used firstly as a French merchant ship, then later as a privateer fleet in the Triangular Trade, she was appointed as Blackbeard's flagship upon her capture in 1717. In May 1718, having been Blackbeard's flagship for just under a year, she was run aground in Topsail Inlet.
     
​     After her discovery in 1996, Mark Wilde-Ramsing's archaeological research confirmed that the wreckage was in fact that of Edward Teach's flagship. The archaeological record shows that when QAR was run aground, the process was slow and allowed enough time for Blackbeard and his crew to safely evacuate and take their belongings (or, rather, Blackbeard and a few men to claim the entire loot and leave the majority of the crew with nothing). 
      While many of the men's more personal and valuable belongings were taken off the ship by the crew, the materials left on the ship and discovered by Mark Wilde-Ramsing provide insight to the lifestyle and every day practices of the men on the ship. Among the loaded cannons and general weaponry, a unique conglomeration of items were found that tell us about the beliefs, practices, and routines of not only the men on the ship, but of society. 

     One of the ​most significant discoveries was the collection of medical and surgical equipment left on the ship. What makes the discovery of these so poignant is that it reveals both information surrounding eighteenth century medicinal practices and shows that Edward Teach was conscious that the health of his crew was key. Prior to this discovery, little was known about how illness was recognized and/or treated on ships like the QAR. Aside from the revelations of the shocking treatments and medicines used (for example, mercury-infused mixtures in syringes, like the one pictured above), the equipment's French origins and first-hand accounts of crew members reveal that Blackbeard had captured French surgeons, formulating a crew dedicated strictly to maintaining the health of his men. This recovered equipment paints a picture of the surgeon's responsibilities, treatments and recipes, and the cognizance of Edward Teach in maintaining his ship and crew.

     Jumping into the mid-eighteenth century, the recovery of the USS Commodore Hull similarly provides a unique scope into history and lifestyle of life on the open waters. The USS Commodore Hull, originally the civilian ferryboat Nuestra Señora del Regla, was built in New York City, then later purchased by the Union Navy in 1862. She was re-outfitted as a gunboat, and was utilized in the North Atlantic blockade and the Seige of Plymouth. After being heavily damaged in the Siege, she was repaired and further utilized throughout the Civil War, only to be abandoned here in the Cape Fear River in Downtown Wilmington in late 1886. 

     Akin to the discovery of Blackbeard's Queen Anne's Revenge, the artifacts recovered from the USS Commodore Hull offer a scope into the landscape of the eighteenth-century waters in which she voyaged. Including recovered materials that tell us about life of the members on the ship, letters like the one above speak to the journey of the ship itself. Letters like these help paint a picture of the logistics of the ship's journey through their postage and content. Mail like that of the above picture are significant indicators in identifying contraband on captured blockade runners; the CSA postage shows us ​a timeline of the journey from Charleston, SC to New York that the ship took.

     Despite the height of their journeys being taken hundreds of years ago, these ships aren't done yet; even in their wreckage, sites like that of Queen Anne's Revenge and USS Commodore Hull can tell us the tales of the waters they sailed, the crews that called them home, and the citizens that saw them from the riverbanks and coastlines. To hear more about the discovery of the wreckage and the archaeological treasures they have to offer, attend Dr. Mark Wilde-Ramsing's lecture tonight, March 5th, at 6:30 PM here at Bellamy Mansion. As usual, doors open thirty minutes before the lecture, at 6:00 PM, and are first come, first serve!

When we learn or hear about Frederick Douglass today, his name is often preceded or followed by words like 'hero' and 'inspiration.' Albeit true considering the success and power of his activism in a structure that was designed to marginalize him, in his day, Frederick Douglass' name wasn't always accompanied by such admiration. As a free and educated young black man, originally born into slavery (the child of a slave and her slave master), many citizens of the Confederacy thought of Douglass not as a hero, but a villain. 

     Douglass, born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, was born into slavery in Maryland around 1818. Young Frederick experienced a tumultuous childhood in slavery and was no stranger to separation: having been separated from his mother in his infancy, then from his maternal grandmother at the age of six, and again relocated to a plantation in Baltimore around the age of eight, he developed an independence and self-sufficiency that his Baltimore slavemaster's wife, Lucretia Auld, recognized and cultivated. Though forbidden, Lucretia began not only teaching Douglass how to read and write, but treated and tended to him more so as an equal than a slave.

 Despite abruptly ending their tutoring sessions at the command of Douglass' slavemaster, Thomas Auld, the independence that had originally drawn Lucretia to Douglass only grew; in secrecy, Douglass continued to educate himself in any way that he could. He furtively collected and studied any materials he could get his hands on.
  Douglass's passion for knowledge didn't stop after his youth; years later, Douglass began hosting private Sunday school classes for fellow slaves, marking the beginning of his philanthropic work. The hosting of these classes was pivotal in marking a transition from a self-propelled desire for knowledge, to his developing a passion to educate and liberate others. Douglass's private Sunday meetings went relatively unnoticed for a six-month period before they were found out by their slave-owners and Douglass was subsequently sent to Edward Covey, or rather, the "slave breaker."
     The irony behind Covey's title as the "slave breaker" can be found in the first sentence of Douglass's autobiography, stating: "You have seen how a man was made a slave; you shall see how a slave was made a man."  Covey broke not the slave, but the slavehood, of Douglass. Five years after his relocation from the plantation in which he hosted his Sunday schools, at the age of 20, Douglass became a free man by a journey that took him less than 24 hours to complete. Resettling in an abolitionist hub in Massachusetts, Douglass attended and later led segregation protests, joined abolitionist organizations, became a licensed preacher, and cultivated his oratory skills that led him to become one of the greatest speakers of his, and arguably of all, time.

     Perhaps one of the most significant tenets of his dedication to ensuring equal rights was Douglass' commitment to intersectionality. Not only a campaign-leader for the  abolition of slavery, but for women's suffrage, Douglass's activism was especially remarkable for its inclusiveness. Douglass's awareness for issues outside of his own, despite having a story that would have made it so easy to concentrate on issues concerning those strictly affecting him, are part of what makes Douglass's activism so profound and, at the time, so influential.
     Douglass went on to travel abroad, write five autobiographies (and countless other important works), fight for emancipation and suffrage, deliver the Emancipation Memorial speech, serve as president and chairman of newspapers and governmental positions before dying of a heart attack at home at the age of 77. Through following his journey from slavery to freedom, we concurrently watch the journey of a young boys' hunger for and acquisition of knowledge, grow into the desire to share his wealth. Douglass' humble beginnings in contrast to the accomplishments he had accumulated by the time of his death in 1895 were what painted him to some, a seasoned hero, and to others, an unqualified villain.  

For those families who were proving their wealth and had an abundance of food to be served at the wedding breakfast, table utensils were absolutely vital. For those who were wealthier, utensil sets were often given as gifts. Regardless of what financial scenario a family was in, table utensils were very popular in the Victorian Era. For "New Money" families, these sets would be out in full force on wedding day. Beautiful, articulately designed silverware to be used for particular foods were common and collected. Silverware sets were sold for a high price, so collecting various different sets was a sign of wealth. Each piece was designed for a particular purpose. For example, a table may have many different fork-like objects however, only one fork was designed for strictly ice cream, while another fork would be only for pastries. The incorrect usage of any of these utensils was not only considered rude, but also an indicator to bad social standing. That being said, a wedding was a very important place to make sure you were all caught up on the current table manners.  
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​With companies printing out a great deal of Christmas cards concentrated on the aesthetic and finer arts of the time, there were some Christmas cards that stuck out more than the others. Some cards had strange designs that range from dead robins, dancing frogs, and little girl heads on flowers. Not much is known as to why these cards were designed for Christmas. One explanation from Katie Brown of York Castle Museum is that many of the cards during this time period were meant to be conversation pieces. Victorians collected cards they had received and put them into scrapbooks. Another explanation for the peculiar iconography, is due to mail delivery being more affordable for people. When mailing of letters and cards became cheaper, the production of cards simultaneously became cheaper. This cheaper production leads to a wide variety of imagery for consumers. For Victorians there was more of an interest in having a multitude of images presented on their cards. They were not concerned necessarily with seeing typical Christmas images. Victorians were interested in animals, and during this time Charles Darwin’s On the Origins of Species and changed what people thought about animals.

     Through the speculation of doctors, physicians, and the public, the general consensus seemed to be that the poor sanitation of the city and intermingling with the sick were the primary proponents in the spread of the infection. In response, many families fled Wilmington to surrounding, uninfected counties. The families who had the capability to flee – like the Bellamys – were extremely fortunate; those who remained in the city by the end of the fall of 1862 essentially belonged to three categories: soldiers commanded to remain stationed there, slaves (for example, Sarah, a Bellamy slave, who was appointed to maintain the mansion in the family’s absence), and the sick who were unable to leave.
​Speculation on the origin and spread of the disease didn’t cease in Wilmington, however. Newspapers from surrounding counties, like the Fayetteville Semi-Weekly Observer or Raleigh’s Semi-Weekly Standard, also weighed in on issues concerning the epidemic.

The Fayetteville Semi-Weekly Observer proposes the sanitation of Wilmington – like many speculated at the time – to be one of the driving factors behind the epidemic’s rampage through the city.

On November 13th, 2018, a gathering of individuals could be seen on the steps of the Bellamy Mansion Museum. On the street in front of them, a covered marker was waiting to be revealed. The occasion was the unveiling of a new North Carolina Highway Historical Marker for William B. Gould (1837-1923), an enslaved plasterer who escaped to his own freedom in 1862 and subsequently served in the United States Navy where he fought against the Confederacy until the end of the Civil War. Some of the guests in attendance for the unveiling ceremony included Gould’s descendants, as well as descendants of Henry Taylor, an enslaved carpenter presumed to have worked at the Bellamy mansion as well. This official state historical marker was the culmination of years of research, efforts on the part of local historians like Beverly Tetterton, Gould family members, and the Bellamy Mansion Museum staff. ​​

North Carolina Highway Historical Markers, erected and managed by the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, “designate places, events, or persons of statewide historical significance” (ncmarkers.com). In order to be chosen for a North Carolina Highway Historical Marker, individuals or places must fulfill all the criteria listed by the program. The rules are put in place as a way to ensure that NC roadways are not littered with markers along their entire length. As well, this keeps the significance of these markers by limiting marker eligibility. The criteria states, “subjects of primarily local or regional, as opposed to statewide, significance are not eligible for state markers. An individual cannot be considered for a marker until twenty-five years after his or her death. Structures are not marked for their individual architectural value. Rather, an individual or historic event associated with a site is more likely to receive consideration” (ncmarkers.com). In placing the marker, Department of Transportation rules must be followed regarding their placement alongside a roadway. As for the applications, roughly 100 are received each year, yet only around 10 applications are approved to be recipients of a North Carolina Highway Historical Marker. ​

During the marker unveiling ceremony, descendants of William B. Gould I came from as far away as Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, and California to honor their ancestor, including three generations of William B. Gould’s namesakes—the IV, V, and VI. William B. Gould IV, Gould’s great-grandson and Professor Emeritus at Standford Law School, spoke during the ceremony which he followed with a lecture later that evening at the Bellamy mansion where Gould IV discussed his great-grandfather’s life and legacy. ​

Written by Bellamy Mansion Museum intern and UNCW English major Kasey Baker

Special thanks to former Bellamy Mansion intern Alyson Mayernik for her research on this topic, which was used in the writing of this article. 
Works Cited:
-Bigham, Shauna, and Robert E. May. "The Time o' all Times? Masters, Slaves, and Christmas in the Old South." Journal of the Early Republic 18, no. 2 (Summer, 1998): 263-288. https://search- proquest-com.liblink.uncw.edu/docview/220950705?accountid=14606.
-Blassingame, John W. The Slave Community: Plantation Life in the Antebellum South. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1940.
-“Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936 to 1938.” Library of Congress, online collection. Accessed 12 Nov. 2018. Web.
-Wiggins, D. “Good Times on the Old Plantation: Popular Recreations of the Black Slave in Antebellum South, 1810-1860.” Journal of Sports History 4. Fall 1997. 260-284.

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