Wedding Bells

Southland Times, Issue 19036, 2 May 1903, Page 3

Wedding Bells

A onetime resident of Invercargill, who was present at the wedding of Mr W. Sounders, sends ua the following interesting account of the ceremony : —

On lGth April Mr \V. Saunders, of Otautau, was married to Miss Marian Laing, daughter of Mr and Mrs William Laing, of Clova, Liverpool Road, Ashfield, Sydnc-y, at the Ashfield Presbyterian Church, the celebrant being the Rev. John Auld, M.A. The bride, who entered the church on the arm of her fuither. wore a dress of cream liberty satin, trimmed with embroidered chiffon, a tulle veil and a wreath of orange blossoms and white lilac. She also wore a necklet composed of pearls, diamonds, and turquoises, an opal brooch, and carried a shower bouquet of white roses, stephanotis and asparagus fern. The marriage evoked great interest in AshDeld, the church being well filled by guests iwid sightseers. As the bride entered the church Miss Gertrude Palmer, L.R.A.M., played the bridal imarch, and also the Wedding March at the conclusion of the ceremony.

The wedding breakfast was served at Clova in a large marquee. A reception was held by the newly-married couple, at which some 120 guests attended.

The presents were numerous and included some costly articles- of silver, china and valuable pictures. A silver tea and coffee service was sent from England by Mrs McDougall, nunt of the bride, and tho present from her father and mother consisted of the whole of the household linen, while that from the bridegroom to the bride was a solid cheque. Mrs Saunders' presented lit r husband with .i set of silver-bucked l»rushos and comb.

IU i-oii sun of the (iisuince iho friends of the brii'^groom were not numerous, l)ut Mr IMackwell was there to support him, as also were Mr T. H. Jones, formerly of Invercargill, and Mrs Jones. Tht> bridegroom during the afternoon received numerous, cables from New Zealand felicitating him on the happy event. The happy couple left the same evening for Leura, on the Blue Mountains, where the honeymoon was spent, and left for Invercargill by tho Monowai on the 25th ult., many friends being present to see them off and wish them God-speed.

The Gore papers contain accounts of the marriage of Miss Brett (eldest daughter of Mr George Brett. Gore) to Mr Chus. H. J. Clare, of GrectihiMs and Invercargill's harbourmaster. The ceremony was performed by Archdeacon StOCker, of Invercargill. The bride- was given away by her father, and was attended 1 y her sisters. Misses A. E. and 11. Brett, as bridesmaids. Mr Stanley Clare, brother of the bridegroom, acted as best man. The bride and bridesmaids were attir«d in dainty white costumes, and carried ha-ndsome shower louquets, the girts of Miss Spence. The bridegroom's gift to the bride was a lovely gold muff chain, and to the bridesmaids pretty gold brooches. Owing to a recent bereavement in Mr Brett's family, only the near relatives of the bride and bridegroom were present. Mr and Mrs Clare spend a short honeymoon in the Lakes district. The bride was the recipient of numerous handsome and valuable presents, including several cheques and drafts for considerable sums from relatives in the Old Country.