New Zealand's marriage rate was high throughout the 1950s and, after a small decline in the early 1960s, climbed steadily until the early 1970s. This meant that many functions centres, jewellers and dress makers used weddings in their advertising. Murray's Jewellers was no exception! 

The photograph in the slide was a popular wedding style up until the 1970s. Until then, it was common for couples to have wedding photographs taken in a studio instead of the actual wedding venue. 'On location' photography became popular in the 1940s but the studios persisted for a while afterwards. 

No details can be found at the time of writing about Murray's Jewellers but their address suggests they traded in Levin- as does the fact that this slide was found amongst others from the town. This is one of many slides MAVtech has from Murray's Jewellers so they must have either been very popular or wanted to be! 

The first commercial photographer in New Zealand (Isaac Polack) set up shop in Auckland in 1848.  Photography has changed a lot since then with the formal portraits taken by Polack no longer as popular as they once were. But in the 1950s wedding photography was still a lucrative business. Amy Harper, a specialist in weddings, sometimes had bridal limousines in a queue outside of her studio on a Wednesday (one of her busiest days of the week!)

Mister J. Cumming, a Levin photographer, undertook weddings as well. Wedding photography 'on location' became increasingly popular after the Second World War. In England, former army photographers would wait outside of churches ready to offer their services to the happy couple on the off chance they would be interested! But studio based wedding portraits were in demand as well.

Mister Cumming didn't just photograph weddings. In a 1960 Levin Industries Catalogue he advertised his services for commercial and industrial photography (then based in Trafalgar Street), and many photographs taken by him are of local events. The National Library states he was active between 1955-1968. 

The photograph on the slide is hand coloured. This was another service photographers offered, but one which would soon become obsolete as better colour films, papers and printing became available.

Unlike most of MAVtech's cinema advertising slides this one kindly has a date on it! It was issued or screened on the 1st of December 1968. This striking looking slide would have looked fantastic on the big screen where it would have been shown for a few seconds during the end of intermission. 

The 'Te Kowhai Reception Lounge' is no longer with us- a Kete post from 2011 shows bare land where the building used to be. As of March 2023 some third party business directories still show it with one mentioning it was 'set in spacious grounds with glorious native bush' with a capacity to seat 120.

Royal Home Cookery knew how to advertise! This is the second cinema advertising slide advertising this business that we have found in the MAVtech records (the first is also on Kete).

Weddings were big business in the 1950s/1960s when this slide was made. The marriage rate was over thirty people per thousand for these two decades and peaked at around forty three people per thousand in 1970. It's just over ten people per thousand today. 

With many brides and grooms being in their teens and just starting out on their own, having a firm to handle the catering would have been a big help- and Royal Home Cookery was standing by!

A lot of first dates happened in the cinemas- would it be a stretch to say that they were planting the idea early? 

After the Second World War it was common for couples to have a professional photographer at their wedding- prior to this formal pictures were often taken in a studio before and after the ceremony. This changing trend is captured in this slide.

Inscription on reverse reads: “Wedding of Gemima Howan and Augustus Walsh at Foxton around 1894. Samuel Howan, (father of Gemima), on right with beard. He jumped a navy ship and changed his name to Howan from Hambleton. Ran the “Ivy” and “Sunbeam” up the Manawatu River. Homestead (bottom half) is in Howan Street. He (Samuel) was alay preacher with james Duncan – we have a Bible given to him from James Duncan. Augustus Walsh and Gemima Howan. They had 6 children, including George Augustus (born 1899 – died 1978) who was M P of Tauranga for many years (he was the eldest). Gemima’s eldest sister, Mary (1864 – 1943) also married a Walsh (top 2nd from right)

The wedding of Gemima Howan and Augustus Walsh at Foxton c1894. Gemima’s two sisters were bridesmaids. Samuel Howan, the father of Gemima, is the man on the right of the photograph with a very full beard.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

Inscription on reverse reads: “Donated by Mr E White”

An unidentified group at a wedding with this photograph taken in the front of an impressive building.

Sepia, mounted

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Inscribed on back: “F. G. Cole From Morrie and Aggie”. In recent hand “Aunt Agnes & Morrie Cole” and additional note: ” Morris Cole, book keeper Levin Experimental Farm & his bride Miss Agnes Sage, school teacher Beach Rd. School. Donated by her niece, Mrs Osamn, 17 Matai St. (have other photo of Miss Sage in archives)”

Morris Cole and Agnes Sage on their Wedding Day. This is a studio portrait with the couple in day clothes rather than the bride in a traditional wedding dress.

Mr M Cole was a bookeeper at the Levin Experimental Farm, while Miss Agnes Sage was a school teacher at the school in Hokio Beach Road.

B & W, mounted on card

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Studio portrait of bride Elsie Edwards with two flower girls.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

Wedding Portrait of an unidentified group showing the bridal couple and their attendants. The bride wears a long white dress with a high collar, an long sleves which are gathered into a frill. There is pintucking on the skirt of her dress and her veil is held on her head with a spray of blossom. The groom is seated in the center of the photograph and is wearing a three piece suit over a white shirt with a high collar and a bow tie. His groomsmen are dressed similarly. The two bridesmaids are dressed in white dresses of a similar design to the bride’s A pattern of roses shows between the pintucking on their dresses. Both bridesmaids are wearing picture hats. The two flower girls are dressed in white dresses and have large white bonnets on their heads. Their hair is in ringlets. All the female members of the group are carrying bouquets of flowers, and the bride’s bouquet features lillies.

1 B&W photo print, mounted

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Written on back with red ballpoint pen – Otaki 3c Whitcombe / Harvey

Formal photograph of the bride and groom of the Whitcombe / Harvey wedding.

1 B&W photo print

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Written on back with black ballpoint pen – Otaki 4c Rahn [?] Holling

Penciled on back – Otaki Nov 21 1969

A formal group photograph of the Rahn / Holling wedding party, 21 November 1969. The group includes the bride and groom, two bridesmades, two groomsmen and a flower girl.

1 B&W photo print

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Penciled on back – Otaki

Written on back with blue ballpoint pen - BP Thurs Furney / Marher 4c

The wedding party from the Furney / Marher wedding, c 1970. This formal group photo taken outdoors, shows the bride and groom flanked by two bridesmaids, two groomsmen and two flower girls.

1 B&W photo print

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Penciled on back – Otaki May 68

Written on back with black ballpoint pen - BP (Rolle / Kyle) 3c

The bride and groom from the Rolle / Kyle wedding, May 1968.

1 B&W photo print

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Penciled on back – Otaki Nov 23 – Dec 17th approx 1970

Stamped on back with blue ink - Copyright Photo “Nevilles” 17 Temuera St., Otaki. Phone 8508.

An unidentified wedding party outside a church c 1970. The bridge and groom are pictured with four others who are possibly their parents

1 B&W photo print

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Written on back with blue ballpoint pen – Otaki

Penciled on back – Jan – Jun 71

An unidentified wedding party c 1970 – 71. This formal group photo shows the bride and groom along with three bridesmaids and three groomsmen.

1 B&W photo print (slight damage at top of photograph)

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Mounted photo is in a stiff paper cover with: “Billens. Levin.” – embossed bottom right corner of mounting card.

Written inside paper cover with black ink pen: “To Mother & Dad. with best love from Myrtle & Jack.”

Also penciled inside paper cover: “Wedding of J. Bowker to Myrtle Hood. W. Bowker C. Hood in photo.”

Wedding portrait of the marriage of Jack Bowker to Myrtle Hood. The bride is dressed in a white ankle length lace dress with a long embroidered veil. She has a full bouquet of flowers with white ribbons. The groom and the best man are dressed the same in dark three piece suits, with white shirts and bow ties and white gloves. To the left of the bride stands an older man in a three piece suit. Two of the bridesmaids wear identical ankle length dresses and carry bouquets of flowers as does another woman in a different lace dress. The flower girl is also dressed in a lace dress and carried a cane basket of flowers.

1 B&W photo print, mounted

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Mounted on embossed card, with pattern & words – “ART PORTRAITURE” – at top. With – “The Egerton Studio. Miller St. Dannevirke” – embossed in bottom right corner.

Mounted photo placed in embossed stiff paper cover (alligator / crocodil skin pattern) with embossed / patterned tissue paper to protect photo.

Cover & tissue paper fragile & damaged.

The Bride & Groom (unidentified) from the previous photograph (2000.328.0001), pose without their attendants. The bride stands to the right of the photograph and the groom is sitting in a wooden chair.

1 B&W photo print, mounted

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Mounted on embossed board, with – “The Egerton Studio. Miller St. Dannevirke” – embossed in bottom right corner.

Wedding portrait of an unidentified group showing the bridal couple and their attendants. The bride wears a white dress which reaches her ankles and has an overlaid skirt. She has a short veil and is carrying a book with white covers (possibly a Bible). Around he neck is a chain which has a diamond shaped pendant hanging from it, and a bar brooch is at the centre front of her dress. Her outfit is completed with white stockings, shoes and gloves. The groom is dressed in a three piece suit with a white, highcollared shirt with a bow tie, and white gloves, with a spray on his left lapel. His best man is dressed exactly the same. A groomsman stands to the right of the bride and is wearing a two piece suit with cuffed trousers. He has a fob chain across the front of his jacket and a spray on his right lapel. The two flowergirls are dressed in white dresses with a coloured sash around the waist. They have white caps, stockings and shoes, and each carries a staff decorated with ribbons and flowers. There are no Bridesmaids.

1 B&W photo print, mounted

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

The interior of St Mary’s Anglican Church, Levin, decorated for the wedding of Amy Isabel Lancaster and Ernest William John Smith 23 February 1916.

Two B & W prints

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

The wedding of Mr E Smith and Miss Amy Lancaster, 1916. Those appearing in this formal wedding portrait are from left to right:-

Back Row: W G (Bill) Smith, E Lancaster (Father of the Bride), E Smith (Groom), Bert Denton, Will Herd.

Front Row: Eva Groves, May Hawking, Hilda Smith, Amy Lancaster (Bride)

Seated: Flo Gardiner, Jessie Lancaster

Three B & W copies

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Wedding of Christina Bowler and William Richards c.1900. Inscription on reverse reads:

‘Wedding of Christina Bowler and William Richards about 1900. Taken at home of bride’s sister, Mrs Arthur (“Belle”) Lancaster, in Levin, next door to Dentons. Wedding held in house, breakfast in seporator shed at back of house.”

One B & W print.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”