ORANGE BLOSSOMS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XX, Issue XXIII, 4 June 1898, Page 710

ORANGE BLOSSOMS.

MR ALLEN TO MISS SEARSON. A very quiet marriage was solemnised in St. Paul’s Pro-Cathedral, Wellington, on Thursday, 19th of May, when Miss Mary (Minnie) A. Searson, second daughter of Mr John Searson, Clerk of the City District Court, Sydney, N.S.W., was united to Mr Stuart Cecil Allen, second son of Mr John Allen, S.M., Blenheim, the officiating minister being the Rev. T. H. Sprott. The bride looked lovely in white silk with ehiffon frills and bunehes of bebe ribbon, the bodice being of silk, and goffered chiffon with a spray of orange blossom. The train was of handsome white broche, trimmed with sprays of orange blossom and white heather. An embroidered tulle veil, held in place with a coronet of orange blossom, and a handsome bouquet of hot house flowers, completed a very chic bridal costume. The bridesmaids were Miss Addie Searson, sister of the bride, Miss Nora Allen, sister of the bridegroom, and Miss Birnie Stevenson, all in simple frocks, and floral ornaments. Mr E. J. A. Stevenson, of the Government Audit Department, performed the duties of the bride’s father, and Mr R. W. Percy attended the bridegroom. After the ceremony the party adjourned to the residence of Mr and Mrs E. J. A. Stevenson, of Murphystreet, where the orthodox speeches and toasts were indulged in, and afternoon tea served out. The bride’s going away dress was of dark green doth trimmed with handsome fur, green hat to match, trimmed with white ostrich plumes and large bows of pale blue silk. The bridegroom’s presents were: — To the bride: A very valuable diamond ring, a gold brooch set with diamonds, and a beautifully chased silver card case. To the bridesmaids: Each a gold brooch, representing a pair of doves fastened together with a chain. The happy pair proceeded to the Hutt by train, where a brief honeymoon will be spent. After that

they will proceed to furnish their residence in Wellington.

mb McKenzie to miss HARDING. On Wednesday afternoon last the wedding of Mr Duncan Alexander McKenzie, youngest son of the Minister for Lands, to Miss Priscilla MajHarding, took place at Khandallah. * The wedding ceremony was performed at the residence of Mr M. P. Cameron, brother-in-law of the bridegroom, the Right Rev. Father Devoy, Vicar General, officiating. The bride, who loked charming in her travelling gown, was given awav by her brother, Mr R. L. Harding, and was attended by Miss Gerty Harding as bridesmaid, Mr Geo. Ross'officiating as best man. The Hon. Mr McKenzie provided a special train from Wellington to Khandallah, for the convenience of the Wellington wedding guests, amongst whom were the Right Hon. the Premier and Mrs Seddon, the Honourables J. MeKenzie, W. HallJones, T. Thompson, W. C. Walker, J. Carroll, J. G. Ward, Mrs and Miss Walker, and Messrs O. Macwhinney, W. Crow, M. Marks, Mr and Mrs A. R. Hislop, Messrs J. C. McKerrow, and F. J. Moult, Mr and Mrs Gray, Mr W. Williams, Mr and Mrs Paton, Mrs T. K. MacDonald, and many others. The train left the Government station at 10.30 p.m., returning during the afternoon.

After the wedding ceremony the guests sat down to a sumptuous wedding breakfast, the health of the bride and bridegroom, proposed in a felicitous speech by the Premier, and responded to by the bridegroom, being drunk in bumpers of champagne. After doing honour to many other toasts, and spending a most enjoyable afternoon, a procession was formed, and headed by the piper, wended its way to the station, where the happy pair left by the 1.40 train to spend the honeymoon in the Manawatu. Before the wedding party dispersed most successful photographic groups

were taken by Mr T. K. MacDonald, and Mr M. P. Cameron. Mr and Mrs Duncan McKenzie were the receipients of many most beautiful presents from all parts of New Zealand.

MR MANNING TO MISS REES. On May 25, at the residence of the bride’s parents. Riverside, Shelly Beach, Auckland, a very bright and dainty wedding was solemnised by the Rev. T. F. Robertson—Mr Arthur Edward Manning, of Hamilton, to Miss Nesta Wynn Rees, second daughter of Mr William Joseph Rees. The drawing-room was made festive for the occasion, and the ceremony took place under an arch of graceful palms and white flowers round the bay window, from the centre of which was suspended a floral horseshoe, the decoration making a worthy setting for the picturesque bridal group. The bride, who was given away by her father, looked very pretty and winsome in a soft white figured China silk trained gown, the bodice was designed with a shirred yoke, edged with a deep frill of Valenciennes lace and a pearl garniture across the yoke, the skirt was draped on front and sides in vandykes with lace. She wore a tulle veil, tiara fashion, on her hair, which fell in soft folds, and she carried an exquisite shower bouquet of choice white flowers. The bridegroom’s gift was a handsome gold ring set in rubies and diamonds. Miss Gwenda Rees was maid of honour. and looked graceful in a cream Sicilian cloth flecked with silk, the bodiee was arranged with lace, and a bright yellow silk square tucked yoke and finished w'ith silk butterfly bows and shoulders and points of yoke, and edged with rucked silk trimming. Her lovely bouquet was composed of yellow chrysanthemums and tiny sunflowers. The bridegroom’s souvenir was a pretty gold bangle with large amethyst.

Mr Wilfred Manning acted as best man. The guests, who were limited

to relatives, were entertained at afternoon tea, after which they wended their way to the library, where good wishes were expressed in silver, gold, and other kinds of household and personal articles. Mr and Mrs Manning left later on for their honeymoon, the bride looking charming in a costume of myrtle green with touches of pale blue. Mrs Rees (bride's mother) wore a handsome peacock blue and black bengaline, bodiee trimmed with rich black silk braiding; Mrs Manning, grey figured silk lustre gown with silver passementerie and lace; Mrs Chapman, blaek gown trimmed with brocade and jet; Miss May Rees looked charming in a brown velveteen dress with full vest and narrow frills on epaulettes of brown eorded silk; Misses Jean and Gladys Rees wore grey shot with green dresses, with green silk shoulder straps and bands covered with eeru lace insertion; Miss Manning, myrtle green gown, Russian bodice with white silk revers; Miss Ivy Manning, navy blue trimmed with white; Mrs Self, pretty Gobelin blue corded silk blouse arranged with pearl passementerie and white silk lace, dark skirt; Mrs T. Robertson, black silk gown, white lace collar and cuffs; Miss Scott, blaek satin blouse, black crepou skirt; Miss Mabel Scott, stylish green cloth costume; Miss M. Scott, green cloth dress with pleated Russian blouse; Mrs W. Manning, blaek satin; Mrs Armstrong, brown doth costume trimmed with brown silk and passementerie; Miss Johnson, violet velvet blouse, dark skirt; Miss Ivy Johnson, green costume trimmed with green silk ; Miss Billington, brown velvet Russian velvet blouse edged with bronze passementerie, brown skirt; Miss Yates, navy costume. shirred cream silk full vest; Miss Evelyn Y'ates, red dress trimmed with black, etc.