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Weddings are always a wonderful occasion for family and friends.
Readers have been treated with a selection of wedding announcements from years gone by thanks to Marie Nielson from the Dungog Historical Society.
Dungog Chronicle - Saturday, November 7, 1953
Eccleston is to be the home of Mr and Mrs Wilfred Henry Watts, who were married recently at St Anne's Church, Gresford, by Rev BE Geary.
Mrs Watts was formerly Miss Irene June Longbottom, daughter of Mr and Mrs KA Longbottom of Eccleston. The bride chose traditional white for her wedding gown, which featured a sweet-heart neckline, a full gored skirt and train. Stocks, camellias and hyacinth formed the bouquet. The bride was given away by her father.
Blue taffeta, made on similar lines to the bride's frock with a sweetheart neckline and full skirt was worn by the bridesmaid, Miss Nola Longbottom. She carried a bouquet of red stocks and camellias.
The bridegroom, who is the son of Mr and Mrs HJ Watts, of Belgrade, Eccleston, was attended by Mr John Foster.
A lightweight grey woollen frock was worn by the bride's mother, who received the guests at the reception in the School of Arts, East Gresford. She added a shoulder spray of pastel carnations. The bridegroom's mother, who assisted in receiving the guests, chose a teal blue lightweight woollen frock, with a shoulder spray of red camellias.
The bridal couple spent the honeymoon touring Ballina and the North Coast, The bride wore a green gabardine suit, with yellow accessories for travelling.
Dungog Chronicle - Saturday, January 10, 1953
January's social calendar is marked for many local weddings. Taking their New Year marriage resolutions this Saturday will be Miriam Ann, daughter of Mrs M McDonald, Dungog and Mr Kenneth Gordon Trappel, son of Mr & Mrs Herb Trappel, of Clarence Town.
The bride will be attended by her sister Mavis and Mr George Duck will be best man. Rev George Mullin will perform the ceremony at Christ Church at 3pm. The bride will be given away by her brother David.
Dungog Chronicle - Wednesday, February 18, 1953
Parma-violet with navy accessories was chosen by Miss Miriam Ann McDonald for her wedding frock when she married Mr Kenneth Gordon Trappel at Christ Church recently.
She carried a hand-spray of white tiger lilies and charm dahlias.
The bride is the second daughter of Mrs M McDonald, Abelard Street, and the groom is the second son of Mr and Mrs Herb Trappel of Clarence Town.
The couple were married by the Rev GO Mullin and the bride was given away by her brother, David.
Bridesmaid, sister of the bride, Mavis wore orchid mauve with navy accessories and carried a spray of blue delphiniums and pink carnations.
Mr George Duck was best man.
The bride's mother received guests at the Parish Hall, were the reception was held. She chose orchid pick with black accessories, and added a shoulder spray of orchids.
The groom's mother, who assisted in receiving the guests, wore a blue frock with black accessories and also added a should spray of orchids.
Guests were present from Newcastle, Maitland, Kempsey, Cessnock, Clarence Town, Glen William and Dungog. An old friend of the family, Sgt GM Gibson, on leave from service in Japan, was amongst the guests.
The bridal couple, who will live in Clarence Town, spent their honeymoon on a motor tour of the North Coast, going up via the New England Highway to Brisbane and returning down the Pacific Highway.
Dungog Chronicle - Saturday, January 10, 1953
Another Dungog wedding this Saturday is that of Miss Rita Maude Neilson and Mr Warren Darr, at St Andrew's Presbyterian Church at 10.30am.
The bride is a daughter of Mr & Mrs Dunc Neilson of Dusodie. Rev John McFall will officiate at the marriage ceremony.
Dungog Chronicle - Saturday, February 21, 1953
Following the marriage at St Mary's Church, Maitland, at 6.30pm on Tuesday, of Miss Dyras Dark and Mr Geoffrey Crothers, a reception for over 250 guests was held in the generations old historic Reynold home of Duninald at Paterson.
The bride is a daughter of Mr and Mrs George Dark of The Cottage, Dungog, and the groom is a son of Mr and Mrs AB Crothers, of Anambah, Maitland. The Rector of St Mary's. Rev Max Redman officiated at the ceremony. He was assisted by the Rev George Mullin, of Dungog.
A circlet of orange blossom and a finger-tip veil enhanced the simplicity of the bride's gown with it's bouffant skirt of white organdie banded with broderie anglaise and fitting bodied of broderie with a V neckline. She carried gardenias, white orchids and tuber roses.
Matron of Honour was the bride's sister, Mrs Edwin Fowler Smith, of Dungog, and the bridesmaids were Misses Annette Wansey, of Dungog, Wendy Elliott of Sydney, and Margaret Higgins of Curracabark, Gloucester.
Their frocks of snow-spotted apricot pink organdie, had full skirts and pleated bertha collars.
They wore circlets of fresh flowers and carried white tiger lilies and tuber roses. Tiny flower-girls Phillipa Smith, 5, her sister Margaret, 3, and Angela Lashwood, 5, wore sashes of turquoise blue satin and slippers to match with their short white organdie frocks, They too had circlets of fresh flowers on their heads.
Best man was Mr Tony Wansey, of Newcastle, and groomsmen were Messrs John Crothers, Bill Graham, of Maitland, and Dick Boydell, of Gresford.
At Duninald Mr George Dark and Mrs AB Crothers received the guests, who came from Sydney, Newcastle, Maitland, Dungog, Gloucester and other country centres.
Mrs Dark wore a mushroom pink lace frock with a matching satin cloche hat, Mrs Crothers wore a wide pink tulle hat with her black lace frock.
The old home, now owned by Mr and Mrs Peter Reynolds, was entirely suited to the occasion. Bowls of fresh flowers highlighted the large reception room and halls from which the guests moved to the wide verandah bright with coloured fairy lights.
For going away the bride discarded the conventional dress custom and wore a lovely evening gown of shell pink tulle with a pearl studded spray on the strapless bodice. The bride and groom were carried should high by friends to their car.
Miss Alexandria (Bubbles) Fowler Smith, daughter of Mr & Mrs Garfy Smith of Forster, and formally of Dungog, will be married shortly to Mr Robert Coleman of Parramatta.
The marriage will take place at St Mark's Church, Darling Point on April 24th . She will be attended by her sister Mrs Janes Maiden and Miss Joan Pountney of Newcastle. Niece Phillipa, daughter of Mr & Mrs Edwin Fowler Smith and nephew John, son of Mr & Mrs James Maiden of Sydney will be junior attendants.
Head circlets of yellow daisies and daffodil nylon skirts were worn by the matron of honor, Mrs James Maiden and bridesmaid Miss Joan Pountney, when they attended Alexandria Fowler Smith for her marriage with Robert Coleman at St Mark's Church, Darling Point on Friday 24th April.
The bride, who is the youngest daughter of Mr & Mrs GA Fowler Smith, of Forster and formally of Munni, Dungog, wore a full skirted white nylon gown on which were embroidered pearls from her mothers wedding gown. A finger tip veil fell from her tiny Juliet cap.
Three year old James Maiden was page boy and four years old Phillipa Fowler Smith was flower girl. They carried a white cushion each for the bridal couple. The groom is the eldest son of Mr & Mrs RE Coleman of Parramatta. Mrs GA Fowler Smith wore pale pink satin with a matching small hat for the ceremony and reception which was held at "Rancliffe", Edgecliffe.
Dungog guests at the wedding were Mr George Dark, Mr & Mrs Edwin Fowler Smith, Mrs A Abbott, Miss Dorothy Martin, Messrs Jack Abbott, David Aryan and Toby Wansey, Miss Annette Wansey, Jennifer Croll and Dr Frank Croll of Sydney were present. Also Mr & Mrs George Wolstenholme of Maitland , and Mrs L Cowdrey of Newcastle.
Dungog Chronicle - Saturday, August 29, 1953
Miss Betty Harley, of Dungog, will be attended by her sister, Mrs Don Cummings, and cousin, Miss Heather McRae, of Sydney, when she marries Mr Kevin Johnson at Christ Church, Dungog , on Saturday next, 5th September.
Betty is the daughter of Mr and Mrs WV Harley, and Kevin, the son of Mr and Mrs Toby Johnson, all of Dungog. Friends and relatives will journey from Sydney for the wedding which will take place at 5.30pm. Best man and groomsman are Messrs Don Tarran and Max Harley.
The marriage will take place at the Methodist Church at 7 o'clock the Saturday evening of Miss Jean Shelton and Mr Alan Robson.
The bride will be attended by her sister Shirley, and the groom by his brother, Keith. Rev Stuart Summerville will perform the ceremony. On Tuesday evening about 40 relatives and friends tendered a shower tea to Jean and Alan at "Viola", home of Mr & Mrs Ken Shelton. Good wishes were extended to them for future happiness.
Dungog Methodist Church was chosen by Dorothy Jean Shelton, the eldest daughter of Mr Roy Shelton, and the late Mrs Shelton, to Stanley Allan Robson, the third son of the late Mr & Mrs W Robson of Dungog.
The ceremony was performed by Rev S Summerville. The church was beautifully decorated for the occasion in colours of blue, pick and white, by friends of the bride.
The bride, who entered the church on the arm of her father, wore a bouffant dress of tulle over satin skirt and lace top with Peter Pan collar. Her three tiered veil which fell from a Juliet cap of lace was surrounded by lace flowers. She carried a dainty bouquet of Tuber Roses, Frangipanni and Gardenias. She was attended by her sister Shirley, who looked attractive in he blue gown of embroidered organdie with a Princess Elizabeth neckline, with Dutch bonnet to match. She wore a choker of pearls, a gift from the bridegroom. She carried a fan shape bouquet of pink roses and cactus dahlias.
The bridegroom was attended by his brother Keith.
During the signing of the register, Mr Ken Moore rendered "I'll Walk Beside You", to the accompaniment of Mrs Williams.
The reception was held in the Methodist Hall where Mrs Ken Shelton received the guests, wearing a lilac gabardine suit with hat to match and black accessories, adding a shoulder spray of asters to tone. She was assisted by Mrs Keith Robson wearing a black crepe frock trimmed with lace, pick hat with black accessories, adding shoulder spray of pink roses.
The honeymoon was spent touring the North Coast, the bride travelling in a blue wool georgette frock with hat to match and navy accessories.
The happy couple were the recipients of many lovely gifts which included cheques.
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