Wedding at Woodlands

From “The Southern Cross” newspaper Published Weekly.  Invercargill, April 10^th, 1915

McLeay - Wyeth

On Tuesday, 6th inst, at the Woodlands Presbyterian Church, Miss Amy Wyeth, third daughter of Mr and Ms C. Wyeth, was married to Mr J.McLeay, formerly of Gore and Invercargill, and now of Christchurch.  The ceremony was conducted by a former minister of the church, Rev E.Bissett assisted by the present minister, the Rev G.H.Jupp.  The church was very prettily decorated with white flowers and ferns, and a huge bell was suspended over the bride's head.  As the bride entered the church on her father's arm, the bridal hymn, "How welcome was the call" was sung.  The wedding dress was exceedingly dainty, and the bride looked very pretty indeed.  She wore a handsome lace robe over duchesse satin beautifully embroidered, the bodice being very simple, and finished off with a single row of seed pearls; a court train of duchesse satin lined with palest pink descended from the shoulders, the veil being arranged in cap fashion, with orange blossom forming a coronet, and a lovely shower bouquet completed a most charming toilette.

The chief bridesmaid, Miss Nora Wyeth, wore a pretty frock of pale reseda green crepe de chine, trimmed with tiny frills and touches of pink and tiny pink rosebuds, Juliet cap of green, frill of white lace, and wide bows across the back, bouquet of pink flowers.  The other bridesmaid, Miss Essie Wyeth, wore a dainty pale pink frock of crepe, wide black velvet belt, white muslin Juliet cap with black velvet band and frill of lace, and also carried a pretty bouquet.  The brides train was held by a tiny tot, Miss Inez Dunsford her frock being of white ninon, pages cap of satin, and dainty Juliet cap of muslin and lace.  Mr W. Tretheway of Gore, acted as best man, and Mr Chas. Phillips was groomsman.  Mrs Milroy presided at the organ, and tastefully played the wedding march from "Lohengrin" as the bridal party left the church.

After the wedding ceremony the guests repaired to the public hall, where a sumptuous breakfast awaited them.  It was served by the granddaughters of Mr and Mrs Wyeth.  Their hearts were in the work, and their readiness and skill would have done credit to a corps of professional waitresses.  The tables were tastefully laid, and flowers and flags made a bright and pretty setting to the feast.  After the company had enjoyed the good things, liquid and solid, with which the tables were laden, the chairman (the Rev. Mr Bissett) read a sheaf of telegrams conveying good wishes to the young couple.  A short toast list was then honoured, that of "The King" being enthusiastically drunk.

The chairman, in giving "The Bride and Bridegroom," said that some might wonder, why he and not the resident minister, should have carried out the ceremony.  They all loved and respected the Rev. Mr Jupp, but he had been asked to act in accordance with an engagement made before he left Woodlands, and Miss Wyeth (now Mrs McLeay), unlike the Kaiser, had kept her word, although it was not a written promise.  He need hardly say that it gave him the greatest pleasure to be with them on such a happy occasion, and felt that he was expressing the feeling of all who knew the Wyeth family and Mr McLeay when he wished that gentleman and his bride long life and happiness.  He trusted that the blessing of God would rest upon them and theirs.  The people of the district would miss the bride very much indeed, for she never spared herself when concerts were organised for the Belgium fund or any other worthy cause.  Her services as a singer were always readily and cheerfully given, and no doubt she would continue her good work in Christchurch.  The toast was heartily honoured and was briefly acknowledged by Mr McLeay.

The toast of "The Bride's Parents" was in the competent hands of Mr J. G. McPherson (Bluff) formerly stationmaster at Woodlands.  He was delighted to be present, and equally pleased to be asked to propose the health of two such homely and hospitable people as Mr and Mrs Wyeth.  They all knew the reputation that the worthy couple had built up during their residence of 47 years in Woodlands, and they all knew the good work- that Mrs Wyeth had done as a friend and neighbour in times of sickness and distress.  As for Mr Wyeth, he had in early youth taken, up arms against the Maoris in the North Island, and the liking for the military seemed to run in the family, judging from the presence among them of a soldier of the King.-(Laughter).  He trusted that Mr and Mrs Wyeth had many years before them yet, and would live to see all the remaining, members of their family as happily settled in life as the others had been.

Mr Wyeth thanked the company for the manner in which they had honoured the toast.

Mr B. Bain (Avenal) gave “The Bridegroom's People," and speaking, from, a knowledge of Mr McLeay from childhood; bore emphatic testimony to his good qualities as a young man.

Mr Rodgers, an uncle of, the bridegroom, replied.  He was a stranger to the district, and was delighted to see how his nephew had been treated. 

Mr .J. R. Milroy (Wyndham) proposed "The Bridesmaids" in happy terms, and Mr Tretheway responded.  The Rev. Mr Jupp submitted 'The Chairman," which was heartily received and duly acknowledged.

At intervals songs were contributed by Mrs McPherson and Messrs Milroy and J. Wyeth, the accompaniments being played by Mrs Milroy and Miss Hannan.

'The wedding party and a number of friends then returned to the house, from whence they left per taxi cab for Invercargill, leaving next day for Christchurch, the bridegroom taking care to remove a pair of mud-stained old shoes which had been dangling from the back of the vehicle.

The bride's going away dress was of navy blue with collar and girdle of black silk, black velvet hat, with white ostrich plume and set of furs (the bridegroom's gift), the bride's gift to the bridegroom being set of sleeve-links, while the bridesmaids received pretty brooches.

The happy couple left after the reception in a taxi amid showers of confetti and rice. They are going to Christchurch, where their future home is to be. The wedding gifts, were very numerous and useful, among them being, a handsome silver tea and coffee service and oak tray suitably inscribed, presented by the Woodlands ladies at an afternoon tea given in honour of the bride the Thursday afternoon previous to her marriage, Mrs Robertson acting as hostess and Mrs Hannan making the presentation; while on Monday last Mrs S. McDonald, on behalf of the Mabel Bush people, presented Miss Wyeth with a silver entree dish, accompanied by the good wishes of the people of that district, and their grateful thanks for Miss Wyeth's past services in singing on many occasions.

Amongst the many guests present were Mr. and Mrs J. Wyeth, Mr and Mrs Chas. Wyeth, jun., Mrs Phillips, Mr and Mrs G. Dewe, Mrs E. Dewe, Mr and Mrs Hannan, Mr and Mrs Milroy (Wyndham), Mr and Mrs McPherson (Bluff), Mr and Mrs Lamont (Edendale), Mr and Mrs Jas. Lamont, Mr and Mrs Read, Mr and Mrs Leith, Mrs Schmidt, Mr and Mrs Linklater, Rev, Mr Jupp, and Mrs Jupp, Rev, Mr Bissett, Mr and Mrs D. Calder, Miss E. Milne, Mr and Mrs Robertson, Misses Hannan, Phillipps, Dewe, Campbell, Hughes, Mr B. Bain (Avenal), Mrs and Miss Cheyne (Avenal), Mrs H. Smith (Gladstone), Miss Bain, Mr Oswald Stead, a son of Mr Jno. Stead, Invercargill, who is on holiday leave from Trentham and whose presence in uniform served, to remind the company of the great war now raging.