A Most Private Wedding

Western Argus 24th March 1903 Boulder

Connelly and Way Wedding 1903

Connelly and Way Wedding 1903

The Marriage of Arthur Waldo Connelly to Mariona Way 1903 Boulder Western Australia

A wedding that occasioned much interest in social circles took place on March 4 between Dr. Arthur Waldo Connelly, youngest son of the late Mr. T. J. Connelly. of Bendigo, Victoria,
and Miss Marion Way, youngest daughter of the late Dr. E. Willis Way of Adelaide, South Australia. The wedding was very private, the guests being limited to relatives, although a
number of friends assembled at the church to witness the ceremony, which was performed at St. Matthew’s Church, Boulder City, by the Rev. R. H. Moore, B.A. Miss Way entered
the church on the arm of her brother in-law, Dr. H. Irwin, who gave her away. She was followed by two tiny bridesmaids, her nieces, who walked up the aisle hand in hand. The bride-groom was attended by Mr. Selwyn Goldstein, who acted as best man.s-l400
The bride looked charming, and dainty in a very beautiful gown of white crepe de chine, over glace silk. The skirt was made with a hip yoke of silk guipure applique; from the
yoke it was tucked horizontally with strappings of the silk applique inserted. From the tucking it fell in a deep flounce demi train, finely kilted shaped frill, finished with a heading
of ruched silk. The bodice was pouched and tucked, with insertions of the silk applique going round it, the sleeves being tucked to the elbow, and then full. The yoke and undersleeves were of tucked chiffon, edged with applique, transparent collar. Instead of the customary wreath and veil she wore a bridal hat of white satin straw,with lace insertion, white plumes fastened with diamond buckles, and cluster of white satin ribbon resting on hair. She also wore a handsome diamond and pearl pendant, the gift of the bridegroom, and carried, instead of a bouquet, an ivory prayer book that had been carried by her mother on the occasion of her marriage. The diminutive bridesmaids looked particularly sweet in dainty white India muslin frocks, trimmed with Valencienne lace, finely tucked to below the waist, then finished to bottom of’ skirt with tiny frills; white silk sashes.
They wore quaint little Dutch bonnets of silver straw with thickly bunched daisies and white baby ribbon, forming a trimming round the face, and very long wide white silk strings tied in large bows under their chins. Their gifts from the bridegroom were fine gold neck chains with turquoise and pearl star pendants. Mrs. Irwin (the bride’s sister) had a very elegant costume of cream voile, trimmed with Irish point lace, and black velvet  ribbon.
St Matthews Boulder

St Matthews Boulder

The skirt was made with a circular shaped band of the lace edged with velvet and
bands of gathered silk ribbon, shaped frill at. foot of skirt, with three.bands of velvet. This was worn over glace silk underskirt. -The bodice had a bolero, edged with the Irish point, and was drawn to fit into band of velvet. The circular collar was of the Irish lace. and the full vest of rich silk spotted net tucked and trinimed with be-be ribbon velvet; puffed under
sleeves to match vest. With this was worn an exceedingly stylish Gainsborough hat of pink satin straw, the edge bound with ruby velvet, partly lined with pink chiffon, under the turn up brim a large rosette of ruby velvet with diamond ornament in centre and ruby plumes falling softly to back of hat. The other side of hat trimmed on brim the same. Mrs. Vernon Harvey (another sister) was dressed in a handsome gown of ‘black silk voile, the overskirt being finely tucked and edged with black silk applique with two shaped flounces at foot, also finely tucked. Bodice tucked all over with full pouche of crepe de chine, a circular collar of stitched glace silk with trimming of herringb.one and edged with applique; high transparent collar. Her hat was a black and white. Toredore straw, trimmed with tucked black chiffon, black wings, and bow of black velvet. Mrs. Sydney Weston was attired in a smart frock of heliotrope French muslin, the skirt composed of tiny frills edged with lace to the knee.
Bodice tucked with a V-shaped insertion of Paris lace. Black crinoline straw hat, trimmed with satin ribbon and diamond buckles. Mrs. Herbert Weston wore maize luster tucked, and trimmed with insertion and maize ribbons. Straw hat with black velvet. After the ceremony the wedding party drove to Dr. Irwin’s, where the wedding breakfast was held. The customary speeches and congratulatory toasts were made. Dr. and Mrs. Connelly left by the express en route for Busselton, where the honeymoon will be spent. Mrs. Connelly’s travelling dress was very handsome and uncommon. It was a pale pink watered voile over glace silk, the silk skirt having three tiny, finely kilted, frills at the foot. The overskirt of voile was plain, finished at the bottom with maize colored lace, edged witch fringe the skirt having a shawl-like effect, with which she wore a large black picture hat.

This article was followed by four columns of the smallest detail of each and every present received and the name of the person who gave it. For a private wedding the detail in this article is amazing but very common for the time. Im sure many of the terms used area mystery to all but those who are familiar with fashion and sewing.
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My name is Moya Sharp, I live in Kalgoorlie Western Australia and have worked most of my adult life in the history/museum industry. I have been passionate about history for as long as I can remember and in particular the history of my adopted home the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Through my website I am committed to providing as many records and photographs free to any one who is interested in the family and local history of the region.

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Comments

  1. I enjoyed reading this article and was amused at the detailed descriptions of the attire. I was married at St Mathews church too, such a lovely church.

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