ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 300, 18 December 1911, Page 2

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES

MISS R. SEDDOITB MARRIAGE. (From Our Special cgenraondent.) LONDON November 10; One of the prettiest, and most picturesque" Colonial weddings that has taken place in Loudon was celebrated last Saturday at St. Marylebone Parish Church, when Miss Rubi Seddon, youngest daughter of New Zealand's late Prime Minister, was married to StaffSurgeon Samuel H. Woods, RJS T ., writes our London correspondent on November 10th. The church, whiah in itself is a very handsome building, was. elaborately decorated with an avenue of giant palms and masses of white flowers reaching from the chancel steps to the altar, and with the beautiful gowns worn by the guests, who filled the entire body of the church, and the uniforms worn by the many officers present, the scene was quite a memorable one. Punctually at 2.30 the bride arrived on her brother's, Capt. Seddon's arm, and the bridal party was then preceded up the aisle by a scarlet-robed band of choristers singing "Lead Us, Heavenly Father, Lead us." The officiating clergy were the Rev. Dr. Lindsay, vicar of St. Peter's, Limehouse, a cousin of the late Mr Seddon, ■and Mr. Selwyn Bean, of New Zealand, who is also a connection of the bride's. Captain Seddon gave bis sister away, and the bridegroom was supported by Staff-Surgeon J. St. J. Murphy, R.N., aa best man, and another officer as groomsman, all three being in uniform. During the service the hymn "O Jesus, I have promised," was sung, and during the signing of the register, "O Perfect Tjove." While the bridal party were leaving the church, "Mendelssohn's Wedding March" was very beautifully played. Numbers of the bridegroom's fellow officers awaited the newly wedded pair at the door of the church, and made a bright arch of swords over their heads from the church to the motor which awaited them. Those who signed the register in addition to the bride and bridegroom were Sir Wm. Hall-Jones, High Commissioner for New Zealand; Sir George Heid, Madame Ada Crossley, and Captain Drury Lowe—Captain of the "Gibraltar," the bridegroom's ship. Dr. Francis Muecke, Mr. T. E. Donne, Mr. T. Hamer. and Mr. Leslie Beauch.imp acted as ushers at the church. The bride looked very stately and charming in a lovely gown of white satin charmeiise lavishly trimmed with Limerick lace (a present from the bride's mother) which was draped down one side of the swathed bodice and down the whole length of the long court train. One side of the draped skirt opened over a jupe of chiffon and lace, and the train was decorated all the way down from shoulder to hem with sprays of lily of the valley. A plain tulle veil was worn over a coronet of lily of the valley and white heather, and in the midst of the great sheaf of lilies Mias Seddon carried, there was a little bunch of myrtle, orange blossom, and white heather, which was specially sent from the Isle of Man. She wore no ornaments. The bridesmaids, who were Miss Chaddie Beaucharap and Miss Eileen Russell, both of New Zealand, wore gowns of pale pink satin veiled in ninon of the same shade, the bodices having Marie Antoinette fichus of ninon, and the skirt tunics outlined with pink fringe and caught, back and front, with rings of tiny rosebuds. On their heads they wore French caps of silver net embroidered with pink pearls and edged with tiny pink rosebuds and green leaves. Pink satin shoes and white glove 3 completed their costumes, and they carried sheaves of pink Japanese chrysanthemums, and wore the j bridegroom's gifts—pendants of pink en- ' amel and pearls attached to long gold chains. The bride's train was carried by two dear little girls—Joan and Doreen Morley—who wore Romney dresses of white satin with a ring of pink rosebuds on the left of the high yokes, and white lace Juliet caps outlined with tiny pink velvet rose buds. Mrs. Seddon wore a gown of violet charmeuse veiled in ninon to match, a black velvet toque, and black fen ther boa, and she carried a bouquet of violets presented by the bridegroom. Miss Marie Seddon wore a beautiful gown of very pale grey charmeuse under a tunic of grey ninon edged with charmeuse, the bodice having touches of pale blue; a large black velvet picture hat with white plumes. She carried a bunch of pale pink roses. The bridegroom's sister. Miss Woods, was in pastel blue charmeuse with a large hat. The bridegroom's mother, Mrs. Woods, lives in Dublin, and was not able, on account of her age, to be present. A reception was held afterwards at Durham House, Lartgford Place, kindly lent for the occasion by Dr. Francis and Mrs. Muecke (Madame Ada Crossley), at which some hundreds of guests must have been present. The house, which is a very pretty one in St. John's Wood, was exquisitely deooxated in every room, and the bride and bridegroom stood to receive congratulations in the entrance hall, under a great bell of white chrysanthemums from which, on long sprays of smilax hung two large true lovers knots of white heather. An orchestra stationed behind the staircase played all the guests in,, to the strains of the "Wedding March," and pcrfontned. durinjr the afternoon, a programme arranged by Madame Ada Crossley. As soon as the bride had. cut the wedding cake, Sir Wm. Hall-Jones called for a toast proposing the health of the bride and bridegroom, but no speeches were made. Later in the afternoon the happy pair left on their honeymoon, which is being spent in the Riviera, Mrs. Woods wearing a going-away gown of draped blue crepe charmeuse, a long sealskin coat, and a sealskin hat trimmed with ermine and a black plnme. i As they left (to mate the first part of the journey in a car specially lent by

friends in Lancashire) a band of naval 1 officers again made an arch of swords ' over their heads, and the bridesmaids » flung showers of silver paper horse-shoes • and slippers over them. Madame Ada Crossley, who helped to • receive the guests, wore a gown of jade • I preen chiffon velours trimmed with . Oriental silk embroidery and dark fur, and a large black velvet hat trimmed with black plumes. I The presents were very numerous and beautiful, numbering altogether over three hundred. The Duke and Duchess of Afjryll sent two silver fifteenth century "Arpyllß." ( Most ?Tejy Zealand friends followed the example of Pir Joseph and Ladv Ward, Mrs. S. .A. Rhodes, and Mrs. Stratford J Henniker, and sent cheques. 1