MARRIAGE OF MR. H. D. VAVASOUR TO MISS REDWOOD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7965, 8 September 1887, Page 4

MARRIAGE OF MR. H. D. VAVASOUR TO MISS REDWOOD.

[FROM " MARLBOBOTJGH EXPRESS."] From an early hoar ' on Thursday, September Ist, the town of Blenheim was astir with carriages, ■ and conveyances, all making ready for the ceremony that was to take place at ■ the Roman Catholic Church at half-past 12 o'clock. Long before that time' a large conoourso of people assembled around the Church gates, and nearly every seat in the Church waß occupied by invited guests. The bridegroom, "Mr. H. D. Vavasour, of Flaxbonrne, (formerly of Taronaki), who belongs to? one x>f the oldest Anglo-Nor-man Roman Catholic families in Yorkshire, has alwayß'been a great favourite in this district ; whilst the bride,., Miss Bertha Eleanor Mary Redwood, eldest daughter of Mr^Thomas Redwood, of Barleigh,-nnd niece of ' Archbishop Redwood, has' co many friends. ..throughout" Marlborough that it waalittlo^io bo wondered atthere were so many persons anxions to witness her marriage. ' , - , The Church, . which hae lately been lined and varnished, and the windows done in imitation stained glads, looked very neat,' although no floral decorations were indulged in ; ,but .the brilliancy of the ladies'' dresses amply .compensated for any deficiency-of Ihe kind. • • At twenty-five rninutea jpast twelve o'clock the bride, leaning on. her father's arm, entered tho churchy ani preceded by flower-girls, and followed by her bridesmaids, all -looking ; very pretty, marched up to : the altar, wjth the bridegroom and bride's' mother following . A few' minutes" afterwards Archbishop Redwood, preceded by Bishop Luck,. of Auckland, and accompanied by their Private Secretaries, Revs. Fathers Patterson and Egan, entered the church, and with boya .carrying croziers and cucifix marched up, to the altar. The Bishop. having taken bis seat on the Eupiscopal Throne, and assumed his sacred robbe, delivered an impressive discourse on the Bttoredness of the marriage ceremony. He urged upon them to Jove one another,' and prayed that the choicest and most copious blessings of ,God mightdescend upon them, that they might hand down heirlooms to the Catholic Churchy which had been the distinguishing marks of the great Vavasour family,who from the time 1 of William the Conqueror, when they>,came over and settled in England, had preserved the faith which they had brought with' them. In the 16th century, this ancient Catholic Yorkshire family had housed and fed the outcast' Catholic clergy, who had been thrust out upon the woi Id, for which 'blessings had been bestowed npon them.' ■ THB MABRIAGB CEREMONY. At the conclusion of the Archbishop's impressive discourse, the bride and bridegroom knelt at the altar- rail, and - made the responses in an audible tone, the marriage being solemnised by Archbishop Redwood. Having resumed his seat on the Throne, Mass was celebrated by the Rev. Father Lewis, and at the' consecra-, tion of. the Sacred Host the bride and bridegroom went up to. the altar and partook of the sacrament, 'and when Mass was finished they again proceeded to.the altar to receive-the -blessings of the celebrant. At the conclusion of the Mass, the Benediction, was pronounced by Archbishop Redwood, and the congregation gradually dispersed. In 'or short time the bride and bridegroom drove off to Burleigb, amid the feiveat and loudly expressed wisheß of perhaps the largest gathering ever assembled at a marriage in Marlborongh. It would be difficult to particularise who were present, bat it may be stated that in addition to the large number of relatives and friends of the bride and bridegroom there were representatives of all the banking, mercantile, legal, medical, pastoral, farming, and agricultural sections of the community, town and country being about equally represented. Mr. Martin A. Lhoek ably presided at the organ, and Mr. J. B. Gadgeon.acted as conductor. Dnring the ceremony the following selections were nicely rendered by the choir, the lady soloists . being very efficient:— "Kyrie," Weber, ii G;,«O! Salutaris," solu, Mrs. Mark ; " Sanctus," Mozart's Twelfth Mass ; "Benediotus," Weber, in G ; "Agnus Dei " and " Dona Nobis," Mozart'B First Mass ; " Wedding March," Mendelssohn. The " Benedictus " (quartette) was .rendered by Minß 'Mark, Mrs. j. Ward, Messrs. Lucas and Gudgeon ; and the "Agnes Dei" was sweetly sung by Miss' Mark. Mendelssohn's "March of the Priests "_■ was played by Mr. J. P. Lucob as the 'Archbishop entered the church, -"■ ' . • , TBE, DRESSES. The brideVdress was composed of rich ere ine.ducboase satin and lace. The long square Court train was made of the former, the edge being defined by a small kilting of Batin. On one side of tbe front was a large box pleat, the remainder was formed of beautiful Eldel ftreis lace, skilf ally draped on the left side find fastened with a Bpray of orange blossom and white lilac, which extended partly across the front. The bodice was pointed, with a full front of lace, the sleeves being finished with cuffs and lace, npo^each was a tiny bouquet of orange blossoms. Her wreath was orange blossom and white lilac, the tulle veil of the same shade as the dress, and embroidered at the corners with flowers. The bridesmaids were four in number, Misses May and -Nellie Redwood (sister of the bride), Miss Olive Redwood (cousin of the bride), and Miss Isabel Broad. They wora pretty dresses of pale , blue nun's veiling and ecrue lace ; the fronts were full and draped high on .one side ; the bodices short and pointed, with full fronts of lace draped on the left side. The tasteful little bonnets were of pale blue crepe, with knots of daffodil ribbon. They each wore gold and peal brooches, the gift of the bridegroom, and carried a large posy of daffodils, tied with broad ribbon of the name shade.- ' ■ -

The eight little ■ flower girls formed a moßt picturesque gronp. They were Misses Zoe, Kathleen, Neasie, and Dora Redwood (sisters of the bride), Misses Sissy Redwood, Blanch, Ella, and Essie Waddy (cousins of the bride). They wore dresses of creme nan's veiling, with fall bodices and sleeves, flounced skirts edged 'with , lace, and broad, pale bine Indian Bashes. The Sate Greenaway mob caps of creme net and lace were particularly becoming to their little wearers. The long mittens and stockings matched the cashes. They carried small baskets tied with bows of pale blue ribbon, and filled -with spring flowers. The little pages, Masters Harry and Percy Redwood (brothers of the bride) wore cream serge sailor suits, with broad navy blue plash collars, finished with three rows of silver braid. Large white Bailor hats, with wide blue ribbon bands, inscrioed with the words, " Good lack," navy blue stockings and low shoes. The bride's mother wore a handsome dress of dark heliotrope satin, combiuod with a paler shade of brocade. The back was long and plain. On the right was a broad panel of the brocade, the front draped and caught on the left side with Bilk cords. I'er bonnet was of two shades of heliotropi to match the ureas, with plumes and tulle strings of the paler ehade.

The bride's travelling dress was of navy blue cashmere, with panels of " chessboard " plash of the same shads. The hat was high navy blue straw, with grey swings.