Newspaper Article 1939 – Evening Wedding in Hastings

A Beautiful Evening Wedding In Hastings

Brocade Bridal Gown Of Silver French Metal Tissue

McCarthy – Tong

Six Bridesmaids In Rainbow Frocks Of Broderie Anglais

A pretty wedding of wide interest in New Zealand sporting circles took place last evening, when two popular Hawke’s Bay athletes, Rona Iris, only daughter of Mr and Mrs C. O. Tong, Avenue Road, Hastings, and Leslie James, eldest son of Mrs M. A. McCarthy and the late Mr P. McCarthy, Waipukurau, were married in St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Hastings.

The ceremony was performed by the Rev. W. T. Drake, and Mr C. B. Spinney officiated at the organ. The church was attractively decorated with palms and pot plants intermingled with lilies, lilac and guilder roses.

The bride entered the church with her father, wearing a beautiful trained gown of silver brocaded French metal tissue. The gown was fashioned with long Parisian sleeves which were full at the shoulders and came to points over the hands. The front of the corsage was finished at the square neckline with a pretty openwork scroll and had a semi-bolero. The fitting skirt flared from the hips and flowed gracefully at the back to form a long rounded train. Brocaded shoes were worn. The beautiful hand embroidered tulle veil was arranged under a top knot of cream orchids and the point of the veil, which was worn over the face as the bride entered the church, was, thrown back over the orchid top knot after the ceremony. The bride carried a bouquet of exquisite cream orchids, pink rosebuds and waterlilies.

Beautiful Frocking

The bride was attended by the Misses Doreen Swain, wearing a green gown, Nola Fraser (cousin) in pink, Nola Henderson (cousin) in blue, Norma Angove (Napier) in mauve, Betty Hodgkinson (cousin), in apricot, Joan Smyrk (cousin), Waipukurau, in lemon. Their gowns of broderie Anglais over taffeta were fashioned alike, with short puff sleeves, a princess neckline, softly gathered corsage and fully flared skirt. Each maid wore a rainbow belt of green, pink, blue, mauve, apricot and lemon velvet ribbon finished at the back with small bows and long streamers which fell to the hemline. Lace mittens and satin shoes to tone with their frocks were worn and their top knots were of bright hued natural flowers. The white picture hats filled with flowers, which were carried by the ’maids over their arms, added a charming touch to the pretty retinue.

The best man was the bridegroom’s brother, Mr S. McCarthy. The groomsmen were Messrs S. Tong (brother of the bride), L. Williams (Waipukurau), C. Heslop (Wairoa), B. Hodgkinson (cousin of the bride) and H. Milton. The ushers were Messrs P. F. Sharpley and T. Hodgkinson.

After the ceremony a reception was held in the Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ tea-rooms. The tables were decorated in the rainbow hues worn by the bride’s attendants, the chief table decoration being the large four-tiered wedding cake which was decorated with silver wedding bells.

Handsome Cake

Around the cake were black silhouette figures of the bride and bridegroom which had been carved by Mr Frank Sharpley. On one side Miss Tong was shown going over a hurdle and on the other side of the cake was a figure of Miss Tong with a basket-ball, facing a goal post. On the third side of the cake Mr McCarthy was depicted with a cricket bat, and on the fourth side was a figure of Mr McCarthy kicking a football towards the goal posts.

The chief toast-master was the Rev. W. T. Drake.

The guests were received by Mr and Mrs C. O. Tong and Mrs M. A. McCarthy.

Mrs Tong (the bride’s mother), wore a pretty long-sleeved gown of smoke-drift grey lace which was buttoned to the waist and fashioned with a bolero effect. A gold clasp and chain finished the neckline and brown accessories were worn. Her chic brown chip straw toque was finished with a top knot of two toned brown cire ribbon and she carried a bouquet in autumn tonings.

Mrs McCarthy (mother of the bridegroom) wore a navy French satin backed crepe ensemble and a smart navy baku straw hat trimmed with navy and white and finished with a veil. She carried a bouquet in red tonings.

After the reception the guests were entertained at a jolly dance which was held in the Barrie Studio.

When the young couple left for their honeymoon the bride was wearing a pretty Java gold wool rep ensemble which had a sunray gored skirt and a long sleeved embroidered jacket with an upstanding collar. Suez accessories were worn and her chic Suez straw pan-cake hat was finished with a silver buckle and a long sheer veil. She also wore a silver fox furs, a gift from the bridegroom.