Readers have been treated with a selection of wedding announcements from years gone by thanks to Marie Nielson from the Dungog Historical Society.

Dungog Chronicle Friday 19th June, 1914

A very pretty wedding was celebrated by the Rev Mr McGowan in the Methodist Church, on Wednesday afternoon last, when Gladys May Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs W Brown, of Dungog, was joined in matrimony to Albert Stuart Burrage.

The bride, who was given away by her father, looked charming in a dress of cream satin trimmed with tunic of silk lace, swansdown and pearls.

She wore a wreath and veil and carried a bouquet of jonquil, lilies and fern, made by Mrs A Brown.

Her gold chain and pendant was the bridegroom's gift.

Miss Linda Brown, sister of the bride, was bridesmaid, and wore a white embroidered voile dress and a lace hat touched with pink, she carried a bouquet of white flowers and pink carnations. Her gift was a gold bangle. Mr Arthur Brown, brother of the bride, acted as best man. After the ceremony a reception was held at the residence of the bride's parents.

The young couple left by the afternoon train for Nowra, where the honeymoon will be spent.

The bride's travelling dress being a navy tailor made coat and skirt, with velvet toque to match.

Dungog Chronicle 20th November, 1923

Riverview, Monkerai , the residence of the bride's parents, was prettily decorated with flowers and foliage on the 7th inst, when Miss Alice Martin, daughter of Mr & Mrs George Martin, was united in Holy Matrimony to Stanley Noble, youngest son of Mr & Mrs Donald Noble, also of Monkerai.

Streamers of the red and black, the colours of the famous 7th Light Horse regiment, to which the bridegroom belonged, were profusely used in the decorating scheme.

The effect of the colours amongst the flowers and greenery was excellent.

The seventh took part in the magnificent charge at Beersheba, when Allenby began his historic turning movement in Palestine, and our Australian Diggers galloped right over the Turkish trenches and made a clean sweep if the Turkish position.

Not often in the history of warfare has a feat of this character been accomplished.

The bridegroom, a boy in his teens, was in the midst of this charge.

Mr Harry Smith was best man, and Miss Ethel Martin was bridesmaid. Rev Canon Knox performed the solemn ceremony.

The bride wore a pretty frock of ivory crepe de chene decorated with pearls and hand-made flowers and embroidered with beads. She wore the bridegroom's gift, a gold wristlet watch, also the usual wreath and veil of real orange blossoms.

The bridesmaid was dressed in pale pink, and wore the bridegroom's present, a gold bangle. The bride's going away dress was a navy coat and skirt. At the wedding breakfast the usual toasts were honored. Mr John Martin drove the happy couple to Ward's River en route to Sydney and the South Coast where the honeymoon is to be spent. - Contributed.

Dungog Chronicle Tuesday, 26 July 1910

On Wednesday 13th July, 1910, a very pretty wedding was celebrated in the Congregational Church, the contracting parties being Mr WJ Leake, eldest son of Mrs MJ Leake, of Bonnington, and Miss Alice Hopson, eldest daughter of Mrs S Hopson, of Greenbank, Eccleston.

The church was nicely decorated for the occasion by lady friends of the bride.

The ceremony was performed by the Rev R B Pocock. The bride, who was given away by her brother, wore a charming gown with wreath and veil. The bridesmaids were Misses Ada Hopson and Miss Leake, Mr KH Jarrett and F Hopson were best men.

The ceremony was partly choral, the organist, Miss C Hill playing the Bridal March, as an opening voluntary, the congregation joined in the singing of the hymn How Welcome Was The Call, and after the ceremony the happy couple left the church to the strains of the Wedding March.

Immediately after the ceremony, the Rector presented to the bride, on behalf of the church, a handsome hanging lamp (the gift that failed to come to hand in time for the social), Mr Leake suitably responded for his wife.

The reception was held at the residence of the bride's mother, where many friends assembled to do honor to the young couple.

The toasts were few, short, and to the point; The Bride and Bridegroom; Bridesmaids; and The Parents, comprised the list.

After the reception, Mr and Mrs Leake left for their honeymoon, which they intend to spend in touring the North Coast.

The presents were numerous and beautiful.

Dungog Chronicle Friday 4th February, 1910

The marriage of Mr Arthur Neilson son of Mr William Neilson, of Bandon Grove, to Miss Ivy Mary Bosworth, youngest daughter of Mr BT Bosworth, of Fosterton, took place on Wednesday 26th January, at the residence of the bride's parents.

The nuptial ceremony was performed by the Rev DM Benjamin, and was attended by the relatives only of the contracting parties and a few of their intimate friends.

The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a dress of cream silk voile, trimmed with tucked lace and silk insertion, and orange blossoms, she also wore a hat trimmed with chiffon and lilies of the valley, and a gold brooch, the gift of the bridegroom.

The bridesmaid was Miss Eva Maud Neilson, sister of the bridegroom, who was dressed in cream silk muslin, and wore a gold brooch, the gift of the bridegroom. Both the bride and bridesmaid carried bouquets of choice flowers.

The best man was Mr William F Bosworth.

At the wedding breakfast the usual toasts were honoured.

The young couple left for their home at Bandon Grove, where we sincerely hope that health, happiness and prosperity will attend them.

Read more - Weddings of Yesteryear: Part 1