ORANGE BLOSSOMS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume X, Issue 28, 15 July 1893, Page 666

ORANGE BLOSSOMS.

WHITEHEAP—RATHBONE. 4 FEW hints from a recent English wedding may be /-A interesting to those young ladies who contemplate embarking on the matrimonial sea. The marriage took place at Sefton Park Presbyterian Church of Miss Ethel M. Rathbone, second daughter of Aiderman P. H. Rathbone, of Greenbank Cottage, Mossley Hill, and sister of Mr Wilfrid Rathbone, of Auckland, to Mr Rowland Whitehead, second son of Sir James Whitehead, Bart., M. P., a former Lord Mayor of London. The marriage ceremony was performed by the Rev. J. Watson, and there was a crowded and fashionable congregation.

The bride succeeded in introducing one or two new features into the monotony of a fashionable marriage. The church was decorated with palms, and the gallery was reserved for the members of a working girls’ club, in which the bride has been interested for some years. Miss Rathbone intimated to these girls that she would not accept a wedding-present from them. But, in gratitude for her many kindnesses, they sent various little articles of their own manufacture.

The bride entered the church whilst Robert Browning’s wedding hymn was being sung to beautiful music. She was dressed in white satin and wore a tulle veil with a tiara of orange blossoms. A beautiful gold and pearl necklace copied from an old Etruscan design, the gift, of the bridegroom, was round her neck. Her eight bridesmaids were attired in the most delicate sea-green silk relieved by a slight white line running through, and soft green silk sashes. The dresses were trimmed with chiffon. They carried pink carnation bouquets, and wore gold and pearl brooches, the gift of the bridegroom. Their hats were large white straw trimmed with a big bow of green silk ribbon. These dresses were made with round yokes of chiffon, which when removed, would form beautiful evening gowns. Nothing is such a burden as a high silk dress, too smart for day wear, and not smart enough for night. They were very fashionable and yet useful.

After the service a garden party took place at the bride’s father’s residence. A special feature of the reception was the performance of a cantata, specially composed by Mr Edward Watson, adapting the words of Longfellow’s * Wedding Feast of Hiawatha,’ * The Song of Chibiabos.’ The wedding cake was also a feature, the torm and decorations being from a Greek design specially prepared. Instead of having the usual hideous artificial flower arrangement on the top, a beautiful figure in Greek drapery, Ift. 4in. in height, supported a beautiful opal glass vase filled with fresh orange flowers, and myrtle aud lilies. The bride's travelling dress was one of the new Paris homespun materials—a soft mixed fawn and blue and trimmed with a narrow band of brown velvet and a very narrow line of braid embroidery. The bodice was cut with a square yoke of the velvet and bordered by a narrow line of the embroidery and fastened with a velvet belt also edged with the same trimming. Another dress, which might interest those who wished to be economical, was made also in Paris of black silk cripe. This dress was made with new berthe or broad frill on the shoulders, and allowed of a change in the sash and sleeves. The black silk and jet belt could be replaced by one of the most delicate pink ciepe, and pink ciepe sleeves could be substituted for the black, thus making two entirely different toilettes, one suitable to a doleful and the other to a cheerful occasion. The little nieces of the bride vigorously strewed the aisle with flowers as she passed down the church.

BLACK — STALLARD. A quiet but very interesting wedding took place at Bisbopsdale Chapel, Nelson, on the 3rd inst., when Mr Sydney A. Buxton Black, youngest son of Mr William Black was united in the holy bonds of matrimony to Miss Constance Adele Stallard, second daughter of the late Mr William Stallard, a very old resident of Nelson. Nelson is the bride’s birthplace, and as she is so well and popularly known, a great amount of interest was taken in the proceedings by friends and residents in the place, in Wellington and elsewhere. The day was beautifully fine, and there was a good attendance in the church. The Bishop of Nelson performed the ceremony, and Miss Hilda Louise Stallard, the bride’s sister, and little Ruby Vause, niece of the bride, were the bridesmaids. Mr Arthur Giblin acquitted himself well as the bridegroom’s best man and the bride’s mother gave her daughter away. Being a quiet wedding, none but the relatives were invited. The bride was tastefully attired in a very becoming grey tweed costume, large • picture ’ hat of grey velvet with feathers. The chief bridesmaid wore a neat brown tweed costume, hat en suite ; the little ‘ Dot ’ wearing a suit of grey trimmed with white fur. The bridesmaids’ presents from the bridegroom consisted of a gold bangle with the figures 1893 prettily engraved thereupon. The bride and bridegroom received numerous and handsome presents and hosts of congratulations. After the ceremony, the bride and bridegroom having emerged from heavy showers of rice and slippers, proceeded to Foxbill to spend their honeymoon. In the evening the bride’s mother entertained a number of guests, when dancing was indulged in most spiritedly until an early hour in the morning.