Playford

In 1651 one John Playford published The English Dancing Master, a collection of "Plaine and eafie Rules for the Dancing of Country Dances". This document forms the basis of much of the repertoire of the more elegant and complex 'country dances' that you'll, most likely, have only seen on BBC costume dramas.

These dances were a very rare occasion in the 17th-19th century when single members of the opposite sex could come into physical contact without a parent or chaperone over each shoulder. Some things haven't changed - we're one of several marriages resulting from university folk dance society circles.

Every year, "The Round" i.e. the Cambridge University folk dance society, organises a Playford Ball where a selection of these dances are danced. It's an opportunity to dress up, and one thing that justified the expense of E's satin wedding dress was 'I can wear that for Playford Balls!", so here it is an impressive 25 balls later.

You're saved the sight of me in a tux.