On Thursday 21 August 2014, Heritage at Te Takere ran a fund-raiser event featuring wedding dresses from various dates.

Becs is now showing Sheila McNabb's gown from 1974.

It was a second marriage.

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  It is a classic princess line made from patterned cream brocade.
  
  
  
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  Nottingham lace features in a panel down the front.
  
  
  
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  Long lace covered sleeves are flared at the wrist.
  
  

We now have Jill wearing Barbara Timms's 1969 empire line gown of cream Swiss mattise crepe.

• Originally it had a full length cathedral train outlined with La Roma silk guipure lace but this has since been removed.
  
• Her hand spray was of orchids and luckily Mary Mackay has made a similar one for tonight.

What did one wear to a winter wedding in the late 70's and 80's?

Dot is wearing a grape coloured wool jersey suit from the House of Raymond.

• It was a 3 piece with a mini skirt included.
  
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  We chose to show the trouser suit which became very popular.
  
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  The jacket is double breasted and has deep pockets with the flaps top stitched.
  
  
• Dot has chosen a pink blouse and hat.

The suit kindly loaned by Iris White.

We have Riley wearing Andrea Love, nee McNabb's dress from 1987.

• Lace motifs are woven into a lattice patterned tulle which is over a satin petticoat.
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  The bodice has a high lace edged neckline with pearl buttons and is highlighted by a two layered frill of lace.
  
  
  
• Long sleeves are buttoned at the cuffs.
  
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  The skirt and train are edged with three frills in lace and organza with satin trim.
  
  
  
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  The headgear is a satin covered hat with a frill of organza and small artificial flowers to one side.
  
  
  
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  A short soft veil is attatched.
  
  

This gown, from 1973, belongs to Suzanne Dixon and is being worn by her daughter Larissa.

• It is a straight cut gown of daisy guipure lace over crepe.
  
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  The long sleeves are chiffon caught in at the wrists with deep guipure lace cuffs.
  
  
  
• The round neckline has daisies peeking over the edge.
  
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  Originally it had a long chiffon train falling from the shoulders.
  
  
  
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  An edging of daisies went from shoulder to shoulder around the edges of the train.
  
  
  
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  It also had a very long veil of fine net with scallop stitching around the edge and peach tinted artificial flowers in the head dress.
  
  

Here is Gloy wearing her wedding gown originally from 1957 and updated in 1980.

• Her original dress was all lace with a big collar trimmed in satin.
  
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  The expensive lace is similar to that worn by Kate Middleton when she married William.
  
  
  
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  A new bodice was made from Chiffon and featured the lace on a front panel and at the cuffs.
  
  
  
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  The original skirt was opened down the front and a permanently pleated panel of chiffon was inserted.
  
  
  
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  The cut edge had a matching lace edging added.
  
  
  
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  The short veil is Gloy's original one falling from a small cap she covered with the dress lace and edged with small daisy motifs with a pearl bead at the centre.
  
  

Kathryn is wearing a 1991 dress borrowed from Vivienne Chapman, nee Lyons.

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  The ivory satin dress has the bodice and sleeves lavishly adorned with sequins and pearls.
  
  
• The skirt has a deep frill edged in lace.
  
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  The back is gathered at the waist to fall into the train which is also trimmed with lace.
  
  
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  The headgear also features pearls.
  

We now feature a wedding dress from the Phillipines modelled by Colleen.

It belongs to to Celle Gore who married in 2000.

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  The two piece ensemble was made by a friend and has exquisite beadwork on the top which does up down the back with pearl buttons.
  
  
  
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  The straight skirt is split at the back.
  
  
  
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  The full detachable train hooks on at the back waistline.
  
  
  
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  The shoes are also beaded in sequins and pearls.
  
  

The brides tonight were escorted by three of the library staff.

Shown with Ema as bride - Left and Right: Ramon and Ria were dressed by the Levin Little Theatre and (middle) Steve who is wearing his father of the bride suit.

From the 1970 wedding of Ann Fletcher,

Georgia wears the bridesmaid gown in a wine crepe.

• The bodice is pintucked the same as the bride and has the same guipure lace.

Jill is first in Barbara Timm's dress worn at her sister's wedding in 1967.

• The bottle green crepe is fully lined with a V panel down the front in guipure lace.
• A small material rose is at the centre front.
• The corded waistline is tied at the back.
  
  

Ema wears Sharon Crosbie's gown from 1976. It was a winter wedding - it is a Vogue pattern - but beautifully made by the wardrobe people at Avalon TV centre where Sharon worked then.

Sharon was compering the parade for us and commented:

"It is a fine wool georgette and terribly plain - but simple. Gives you a funny feeling doesn't it - all that water under the bridge ..."

Here Gae is modeling Megan Blewitt's dress from 2000.

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  It is a straight strapless dress in satin with a large detachable train which was taken from her mother's wedding dress.
  
  
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  She has a very pale blue wrap.
  
  

Barbara is accompanying her daughter in a silky satin outfit that she wore for the wedding.

Cathryn is wearing the bridesmaids dress which is a two piece in silk.

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  The skirt is straight with thin strapped top and a red wrap.
  
  

We now have Louise Duncan in her Auckland designed and made dress from 2011.

• Colleen Cowell from Bridal Boutique did the hand finishing with Swarovski crystals.
• The material is organza with a boned corset.
• The bodice is pintucked with a halter neck and has very detailed beading.
• It is laced at the back.
• The skirt is ruched and falls into a full train with ruching and crystals.

The bride's mother , Frankie, accompanies her in a three piece silk suit in burnished gold.

• The laced over jacket has crystal beading.
• The lower skirt is ruffled.

This lovely 1988 dress which has been borrowed from the bride's mother. It is modelled by Lyn.

• The material is a very heavy ivory satin with lace overlay on the bodice.
  
• The short puffed sleeves end in lace with fine pearl buttons at the cuffs.
  
• These buttons also feature down the back of the bodice.
  
• The full gathered skirt ends with layers of frills.
  
• Lace motifs around the skirt have been painstakingly cut from the lace featured on the bodice and sewn on.
  
• A circlet of artificial flowers hold a very fine veil which is scalloped at the edge.
  
• Each scallop has a grouping of very small pearls attatched.

We now have Louise Duncan in her Auckland designed and made dress from 2011.

• Colleen Cowell from Bridal Boutique did the hand finishing with Swarovski crystals.
• The material is organza with a boned corset.
• The bodice is pintucked with a halter neck and has very detailed beading.
• It is laced at the back.
• The skirt is ruched and falls into a full train with ruching and crystals.

The bride's mother , Frankie, accompanies her in a three piece silk suit in burnished gold.

• The laced over jacket has crystal beading.
• The lower skirt is ruffled.

We now have Louise Duncan in her Auckland designed and made dress from 2011.

• Colleen Cowell from Bridal Boutique did the hand finishing with Swarovski crystals.
• The material is organza with a boned corset.
• The bodice is pintucked with a halter neck and has very detailed beading.
• It is laced at the back.
• The skirt is ruched and falls into a full train with ruching and crystals.

The bride's mother , Frankie, accompanies her in a three piece silk suit in burnished gold.

• The laced over jacket has crystal beading.
• The lower skirt is ruffled.

A bride who can still wear her own wedding dress is Kathryn Mark who married Denis in 1983 at Levin.

• The material is crepe with a satin underskirt.
• The high collar features organza frilling which is also around the yoke.
• This frilling is embellished with lace and pearls and also is added to the cuffs and around the train.
• Kathryn is wearing her own veil and carrying her original artificial bouquet.
  
  

A wedding dress with a Country and Western theme is now being modelled by Sarah.

Amy Carey and her husband Neil were both Cossie Club line dancers so Amy incorporated a little Country and western into her gown.

• The ensemble consists of a dainty crepe and lace dress with a silver patterned brocade coat over it which is laced front and back and down the sleeves.
• White boots complete the outfit.
• Amy wore a veil for the marriage ceremony but exchanged it for a hat in the evening when they joined their friends at the Cossie for a Hoedown.

Everyone had a great night.

This lovely 1948 gown, belonging to Nola Fullarton, was worn by Georgia.

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  The material is moonlight satin lightly gathered in the front but fuller at the back to fall into the train.
  
  
  
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  The neckline and upper skirt features lace from her aunt's wedding dress from 1923.
  
  
  
• The hipline is wired to hold the dress out.
  
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  The sleeves are ruched on the underside.
  
  
  
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  The centre back has a small gathering of material like a small bustle.
  
  

In June 1927 Bernard Parsons married Janet Horne at the Century Hall which was where Write Price is now.

Their granddaughter Stephanie is wearing her delicate chiffon dress.

• It has deep lace at the skirt edging which had silver threads that have now tarnished a little.
  
• It also features a lace panel inset and gold braiding down the front.
  
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  The headgear is original but the tulle has been replaced.
  
  
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  Stephanie is wearing the bride's locket and engagement ring
  
  

This lovely 1988 dress which has been borrowed from the bride's mother. It is modelled by Lyn.

• The material is a very heavy ivory satin with lace overlay on the bodice.
  
• The short puffed sleeves end in lace with fine pearl buttons at the cuffs.
  
• These buttons also feature down the back of the bodice.
  
• The full gathered skirt ends with layers of frills.
  
• Lace motifs around the skirt have been painstakingly cut from the lace featured on the bodice and sewn on.
  
• A circlet of artificial flowers hold a very fine veil which is scalloped at the edge.
  
• Each scallop has a grouping of very small pearls attatched.

The final wedding gown just on 100 years old [check???] and modelled by Helen Hawkins. It was worn by Ida Maude Kerslake when she married Harold James Lancaster on 24th July 1918 at Palmerston North. The dress was donated to the Little Theatre in 2006 by her daughter Jean Rolston and kindly loaned for tonights parade.

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  The gown was probably made by the bride's father who was a tailor.
  
  
  
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  The material is gaberdine with a lace bodice insert and lace cuffs finished with a satin bow.
  
  
  
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  There is very fine hand embroidery in delicate pink and mauve on the lapels, cuffs and bodice darts.
  
  
  
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  The bobbles front and back are in ecru crochet.
  
  
  
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  The original shoes made in England are also being worn.
  
  
  
• They are of a very soft kid with silver buckles.

We now present a wedding group with a medieval theme.

Ashling is wearing her Aunt's dress in a taffeta like patterned material which is lined with satin.

• The bodice is boned and these are covered with satin strips.
• The skirt finishes in a fishtail.
• She wears a dried circlet on her head with dark red roses.
• Laced gloves complete the outfit.

Daniel is in the groom's suit which is brown with a waistcoat to match the bride.

• His shirt is dark blue with a granddad collar.

Brooke the flower girl wears a bodice matching the bride with a gold layered organza skirt.

• She has a circlet of dark red roses on her head and carries a horseshoe for the bride.
  
  

Deborah is wearing Alyson Wright's princess line dress of cream satin.

• The neckline is accentuated with beaded embroidery which is also on the leg of mutton styled sleeves.
• The bodice back has a deep V with a lot of detail in beadwork held together with a central brooch.
• The gathered train also features more beading.

When Alyson wore this dress she was already legally married.

• She and her husband were married very quickly at her parent's home before he was sent overseas with the army.
• The bridegroom wanted the army to look after her while he was away, hence the quick marriage.
• That was in July 1994.
• A year later they wanted to have their big wedding and refused an offer of money instead from the bride's parents. A "Celebration of Marriage" was arranged for May 1995 which they held at Te Kowhai where they exchanged greenstone rings.
• This celebration was complete with 3 bridesmaids, flower girl, best man and 2 groomsmen.
• The late Barbara Hager officiated at both celebrations.
  
  

Deborah is wearing Alyson Wright's princess line dress of cream satin.

• The neckline is accentuated with beaded embroidery which is also on the leg of mutton styled sleeves.
• The bodice back has a deep V with a lot of detail in beadwork held together with a central brooch.
• The gathered train also features more beading.

When Alyson wore this dress she was already legally married.

• She and her husband were married very quickly at her parent's home before he was sent overseas with the army.
• The bridegroom wanted the army to look after her while he was away, hence the quick marriage.
• That was in July 1994.
• A year later they wanted to have their big wedding and refused an offer of money instead from the bride's parents. A "Celebration of Marriage" was arranged for May 1995 which they held at Te Kowhai where they exchanged greenstone rings.
• This celebration was complete with 3 bridesmaids, flower girl, best man and 2 groomsmen.
• The late Barbara Hager officiated at both celebrations.

Another photo of Sarah wearing a beautiful dress which carries some sadness.

• It was first worn in Australia by Sheila McNabb at her wedding in 1982.
• Trgically she died a year later.
• Her sister Mikala married a year later in New Zealand and wore this dress so she could feel that her sister was part of her day.
• The dress is of a very fine lace over satin.
• It has a high collar with an organza frill at the neckline and cuffs.
• The bodice has ribbon and lace detailing.
• The skirt is layered ending in a train studded with diamantes.
• The fitted headgear has lace trim studded with the diamantes which are also sprinkled over the tulle.

For something different and colourful we now have a 2002 Indian wedding.

Traditional wedding celebrations are usually held over three days and the bride wears different outfits.

• Tonight we have Roshani, who married in New Zealand, wearing her Indian kiwiana sari in pure white silk with red and gold thread.
• A sari requires 5 and a half metres of material.
• Her friend is wearing a traditional sari. Both girls have henna spread over their hands and bangles on their arms.
• They have bindis on their foreheads with matching necklaces and earrings.