As many of you know, my own nuptials are fast approaching, and as with every family the excitement is high, but I am the first grandchild to be married and the first of the generation in the extended family, so there's been much dusting off of memories and nostalgic rifling through wardrobes.
My Grandma was a very stylish lady in her day, in fact up right until she got sick 10 years ago. She loved beautiful clothes and was always immaculately turned out. Her love of jewellery is legendary among our extended family, and it helped that my grandfather was an avid collector, and madly in love with her. He was also a very dapper gentleman who loved his style. So it was great fun to find their wedding portraits among the archives at home and discover that their wedding was also the subject of a feature in Tatler.
So today we have a real wedding with a difference, something I thought made an interesting contrast. It's the equivalent of our real wedding feature - we've transcribed the write up from the Tatler about my grandparent's wedding in May 1950. And as you will see, the style of feature is very different (no detail shots here, more's the pity) but in essence it's the same - the celebration of a couple in love making their vows together. I wonder if any of the readers back then were inspired by Grandma's gown or the bridesmaids' dresses...
DR. BRYAN ALTON AND DR. TEMPANY WED.
An April bride was Dr. Winifred Tempany, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Edward Tempany of Leeds whose marriage to Dr. Bryan Alton of Dublin took place at the University Church , St. Stephens Green. It was appropriate that the wedding should have taken place there as both the bride and bridegroom are graduates of the National University. Dr. Tempany was evacuated to Dublin at the beginning of the war, and since graduating University College she has been on the staff of Temple St. Childrens Hospital.
The Rev. Francis Joy, S.J. the bride's uncle performed the ceremony and he was assisted by his brother, the Rev John Joy, S.J. The Nuptial Mass with Papal Blessing was celebrated by Rt. Rev Monsignor Mc Ardle.
The bride wore a Jeanne Lafourie satin lame gown with a full train and carried a bouquet of white roses and lily-of-the-valley. Her veil of Carrickmacross lace made by the nuns of St Louis Convent was arranged over a headdress of French tulle and pearls. The bridal attendants were Dr. Josephine Tempany and Miss Patricia Tempany, whose frocks of turquoise silk chiffon were worn with headdresses of a slightly deeper shade. They carried horse-shoe bouquets of dark red roses. Dr. Brendan Coakley was best man and the groomsman was Mr. Joseph Masterson.
Following the wedding a reception was held at the Aula Maxima, St. Stephens Green. Both the lounge and the hall itself where the reception was held were banked with flowers, all of which had been grown at Belfield. A huge triangle of flowers were arranged as a background to the cake which was very beautifully iced. The guests were recieved by Dr. and Mrs. Edward Tempany, the latter looking well in a turquoise wool georgette two-piece with silver fox fur cape. Others present were Professeor Henry Moore who was telling friends that his wife is holidaying in America, Misses Joy, Senator and Mrs. Barniville and their daughter, June; Mrs. May Alton, the groom's mother; (owing to illness his uncle Dr. Alton, Provost of Trinity College , was unable to be present); Mr.Noel Burke, Mr. Martin Winston, Mrs. Arthur Cox looking very nice in black; Dr. and Mrs. E.T. Freeman; Dr. and Mrs Masterson ; Mr. Andrew Devane, who is brother-in-law of film actress Kathleen Ryan; Dr. Leo Lynch and his wife in a charming mustard ensemble with a really lovely mustard hat trimmed with pastel colour roses; Miss Joan Boland in a beige ensemble; Mr. and Mrs. John Shanley; Dr. and Mrs. R.A. Reynolds; and Mr. and Mrs A. B. Clerly.
The honeymoon is being spent on the Continent and going away the bride wore a sea-mist blue ensemble with brown accessories.
