Newspaper Article 1934 – Wedding – Renton-Smith

WEDDING

RENTON – SMITH.

A wedding of interest took place at 7.30 p.m. last evening in St. John’s Cathedral, Napier, when the very Rev. Dean Brocklehurst performed the ceremony of marriage between Rachel Gwendoline, third daughter of Mr and Mrs Hector Smith, “Ormlie”, Napier, and Moore Richardson Renton, the son of Mr and Mrs James Dartnell Renton, Heaton street, Christchurch.

The cathedral was beautifully decorated for the occasion by friends of the bride and by Messrs J. A. Anderson and Son.  Tall palms were used effectively, and at each side of the chancel steps a bank of autumn-hued chrysanthemums and dahlias was arranged with pot palms.  Suspended over the steps was a beautiful floral bell to match.  The chancel aisle was bordered in pot ferns and giant dahlias, while on the altar the brass vases held dahlias with an artistic background of autumn foliage.  Large posies of autumn-tinted flowers and foliage decorated the guests’ pews.

The service was fully choral, Mr Percy Tombs presiding at the organ.  As the bride entered the church with her father the hymn “How Welcome was the Call” was sung, and during the service Psalm 23 and “O Perfect Love” were beautifully rendered, and finally Mendelssohn’s Wedding March was played as the party left the Cathedral.

The bride wore a charming gown of parchment panne velvet cut on long fitting lines with a smartly curved hip-line.  The bodice had a softly draping cowl neck-line caught with a diamond and pearl brooch (the gift of her mother), and the sleeves were long and close fitting to the wrist.  The veil of ivory tulle fell from a gathered and fitting cap held in place by a wreath of tiny orange buds in front and the full blossom at the back.  Her shoes were of silver and parchment brocade, and the bouquet carried was of Marechal Neil roses, begonias and carnations in creamy tones arranged with a veiling of maidenhair fern.

Two bridesmaids were in attendance, the Misses Judith Smith (chief), sister of the bride, and Miss Dulcie Fleetwood (Christchurch).  They were gowned alike in honey-coloured ring velvet cut on long slender lines.  The cowl neck-line was caught with a diamente [diamante] clip, and a swathed belt tied in a soft bow finished the waist-line at back.  Each wore a head-dress of honey and green velvet flowers and carried bouquets of roses, carnations and pom-pom dahlias in autumn tones.

Little Hilda Nelson (Whakamaru [Whakamarumaru]), niece of the bride, was a dainty flower girl frocked in primrose satin beaute made ankle length and having a tiny fitting bodice with puff sleeves.  A head-band of primrose and green velvet leaves was worn, and she carried a Victorian posy of carnations and roses.

The duties of best man were carried out by Mr Seymour Belcher and those of groomsman by Mr Ian Smith.

After the ceremony the guests motored to “Ormlie”. They were received in the hall by the parents of bride and bridegroom, then passing on to the drawing-room tastefully decorated with pink and red dahlias and scarlet oak foliage.  Under a lovely wedding bell suspended in the bay window the bridal couple received the congratulations of their friends.  The wedding supper was served in a marquee erected on the lawn and decorated in autumn foliage, dahlias, etc.  All the usual toasts and speeches were made and congratulatory messages read.

On departing for their tour north, Mrs Renton wore a frock of blue angora with white scarf-collar and hat to match.

The presents were numerous and testified to the esteem in which the young couple are held.

Mrs Hector Smith, mother of the bride, wore a frock of mulberry lace with a vestee of pink georgette, the matching coatee having slashed sleeves.  Her felt hat tones, and the bouquet carried was of dahlias and roses.

Mrs Renton, mother of the bride-groom, wore a modish ensemble in black lace with hat to tone, and carried a bouquet of dahlias and roses veiled in fine fern also.

Relatives present included:
Mr and Mrs Leslie Nelson, the latter a sister of the bride.  She wore an ensemble of royal blue lace fashioned with a cape, hat to tone.
Miss Olga Smith, sister of the bride deep coffe lace frock with smart hat.
Mr and Mrs Nelson Smith, Mr and Mrs J. E. Lane, Mr and Mrs Harold Russell and Mrs W. Nelson.

After supper the drawing room was cleared and to music supplied by a string band the guests spent a happy time in dancing.

Palms and flowers for the church and the handsome bouquets came from the Napier nurseries of J. N. Anderson and Son.

– “Eleonore”