Gwen and Graeme first met at Vick’s Cabaret at Strathfield. Once Gwen was of age (21 years old), they married in St Anne’s Church (built in 1826) in Ryde.
Gwen wore a white, lace, gown, with appliqued flowers and diamantes, a full skirt, and long sleeves which came to a point down. Along with her mother, Noeline, Gwen created the dress from a circular skirt and fabric from a cut out pattern for the bodice, which was purchased from a fabric store in Sydney (McCann’s?). She wore a white floral hairpiece in her hair, which attached the waist length veil. Gwen carried a bouquet of orchids which had been grown by her dad, Sid. Her hair was set at a hair salon in Ryde and she applied her own makeup.
Bridesmaids Eleanor and Dianne wore midnight blue, sleeveless, straight cut, floor length shift dresses, with long, white gloves.
Graeme wore a black suit and white shirt, with a black bow tie. In his back pocket, he carried a pair of pliers and a screw driver, as was his habit. He was attended by his brother, Ross, and friend Peter.
Ross’s car broke down, and Graeme almost wasn’t able to access his car to drive to the wedding, but luckily, they managed to move Ross’s car and Graeme arrived at the church just in time for the wedding. His mother in law, Noeline, wondered if he wasn’t going to show up.
Gwen walked down the aisle of the church on the arm of her father, Sid. The organ played for the bridal processional, and a choir of some fifteen sang during the signing of the certificates.
After the ceremony, the couple popped in to see Gwen’s grandmother, Stella, who was at the time residing in a nursing home.
The couple then travelled in Graeme’s Mini to the reception, at the highly sought after Kinnora (bookings needed to be made a year in advance). 100 guests celebrated with the couple – 50 from each side of the family. They dined on salad. The bride’s parents paid for the reception, with the groom’s parents paying for the flowers, photography and drinks.
At the end of the reception, the guests lined up to farewell the young couple. Graeme changed his bow tie to a less formal tie, and Gwen changed into a going away dress with a matching jacket and hat. This outfit would come in extremely handy for upcoming weddings of friends and cousins.
Graeme and Gwen had tried to organise a hotel for their wedding night earlier in the year, however, without wearing wedding rings, the couple had been unable to book accommodation. Instead, they travelled to a cosy caravan at Sawtell for their honeymoon.
Congratulations, Mum and Dad on sixty blissful years (21,900 days) of marriage.
