Newspaper Article 1921 – Nelson-Smith

NELSON – SMITH.

St. Matthew’s Church, Hastings, beautifully decorated for the occasion, was the scene of an exceedingly pretty and most interesting marriage this afternoon, when Rev. Canon Arthur Williams, assisted by Rev. A. P. Clark (Taradale), united in wedlock Miss Gretchen Mary Smith, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hector J. Smith, of “Ormlie,” Korokipo, with Mr. William Leslie Nelson, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Nelson, of Whakamarumaru.

As the bride entered the church, on the arm of her father, she looked charming in cream georgette, trimmed with hand-worked chrysanthemums, wearing a gold girdle, with veil and orange blossoms and carrying a handsome bouquet of chrysanthemums, pink carnations and cyclomen [cyclamen]. She was attended as bridesmaids by Misses Olga, Rachel and Judith Smith (her sisters), and Miss Dorothy Nelson (sister of the bridegroom), all daintily attired in shell pink georgette trimmed with a broad band of fillet lace, and carrying lovely bouquets of pale pink flowers. Each wore a gold bar brooch set in pearls, gifts from the bridegroom.

Mr. Eric Nelson (brother of the bridegroom) discharged the duties of the best man.

The bride’s mother was dressed in dove grey crepe-de-chine and black hat with feathers, wearing white fox furs and carrying a bouquet of pale pink sweet peas whilst the bridegroom’s mother was attired in a fawn gaberdine costume, with hat to match and carrying a bouquet of chrysanthemums. During the service the choir sang the hymns “How welcome was the Call” and “O Perfect Love” and at the conclusion of the ceremony, the bride on the arm of her husband filed down the aisle with the wedding party to the organ strains of Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March”

A reception was subsequently held at “Ormlie,” the bride’s home, where a large assemblage of guests were received by the bride’s mother. The toast of the bride and bridegroom was enthusiastically pledged, and the young couple received the hearty congratulations of their many friends, as well as their sincere wishes for every happiness and prosperity in the new life they had entered upon.

Later Mr. and Mrs. Nelson left by motor car for Wanganui [Whanganui] on their honeymoon, amidst renewed good wishes for their long life and happiness, the bride wearing as a going-away dress, a royal blue frock, trimmed with white satin and wearing a fur coat.

Both the bride and bridegroom’s families are intimately known through Hawke’s Bay and indeed, through the Dominion, as prominent settlers, whilst the contracting parties themselves are very  popular in the Hastings-Napier districts, as well as through the province, so that the entire community will join in wishing Mr. W. L. Nelson and his winsome bride health, happiness, and prosperity in a long wedded life.

The bridegroom presented his bride with a gold brooch set in large pearls and the bride gave her husband a handsome silver cigarette case. There were a large number of other beautiful gifts received by the young couple.