July 11, 2013

Using articles of interest from the Grande Prairie newspapers dating between 1913 to 1950, this first article is the account of a wedding which appeared in the July 8th, 1937 edition of the Northern Tribune. This seemed a good choice, since the wedding dress described in the write-up is currently on display in The Grande Prairie Museum’s 2013 featured exhibit “The Wedding Dream”.

The complete wedding write-up can be found here.

Popular Clairmont Couple Are United In Marriage

     At 11 o’clock Wednesday morning last week St. Joseph’s Church bells in Grande Prairie pealed happily for the wedding of a well-known-and popular young couple from Clairmont.

      Rev. Father McGuire officiated when Rudolph Croken, son of the late John A. Croken of Ireland, and “Jennie” Tomshak, daughter of Joseph Tomshak, were united in the bonds of holy matrimony.

      The pretty bride was charmingly gowned in a pale pink robe of silk lace and net over a satin foundation, with white accessories, and carried a lovely bouquet of pink and white roses and maidenhair fern.

     Her Bridesmaid, Miss Verna Vavrick of Clairmont, wore white flat crepe with blue trimmings, a blue hat and white accessories.

     Mark Patterson supported the groom.

    The church looked beautiful with its masses of pink and white flowers and graceful ferns. The Little Flower Choir sang the hymns very sweetly, with Shirley Carter as organist. The bride entered the crowded church on the arm of her father to the strains of Mendelssohn’s Wedding March.

    After the impressive ceremony Brother Thomas took a photograph of the wedding group outside the church. Then the bridal party with about fifty of their relatives and friends enjoyed a delicious wedding breakfast at the Palace Cafe before leaving for the reception at the Bride’s parents’ home near Clairmont.

    There twelve women and a chef were kept busy supplying food for some 500 guests. The tremendous table groaned under the weight of turkey, duck, and fowl, of salads, cakes and cookies of every conceivable palatable dish one could wish for.

    In the evening an aeroplane piloted by Jack Lewis, who was accompanied by Allan Clarke, as student at the Flying School, flew low over the grounds and showered peanuts on the guests and presents on the young couple.

    In the evening Clairmont Hall was packed to overflowing at the wedding dance, the Prairie Orchestra supplying the gladsome music…

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