Three Weddings and 2 rings

I have some photos that I might have shared before, of ancestors in wedding dresses.

First, my father's mother (Ada P. Swasey Rogers) wearing her wedding dress while holding her first-born son (not my father.)

She and my grandfather (George Elmore Rogers) were married on June 6, 1905, in her family home, and there's a wonderful newspaper article about the ceremony, the guests, and what everyone wore.
I've copied the wedding announcement here, which you can skip if you're not interested in tedious details from that era.

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

In the presence of relatives and friends

of the contracting parties, Miss Ada Phillips

Swasey and Mr. George E. Rogers,

both of this city, were united in marriage

yesterday afternoon at 5:30 o'clock at the

home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs.

A. J. Swasey, No. 2223 Avenue K. Dr. J. K.

Black, rector, of Grace Episcopal Church,

performed the ceremony. The home was

very prettily decorated with smilax, palms,

ferns and white roses and carnations, the

white and green color scheme being very

closely adhered to. The ceremony was performed

in the front parlor, where before a

bank of Southern similax the bridnl party

stood. Just before the ceremony Miss Anna

Wilklns sang Mendelssohn's "Spring Song"

set to words. The weddingj march, the

bridal - chorus from "Lohengrin," was

played by Prof. Smith, assisted by the

Harpers. Rev. Black met the bridal party

at the altar. The party was led by the

groom and his best man, Mr. Charles

Ogilvy. They were followed by Miss Anna

Lou Rogers, bridesmaid, and Mr. Louis

White, groomsman. Miss Rogers was

gowned in a creation of white mouslin d'soi

with white chantlliy lace, and carried a

shower bouquet of bridesmaid's roses tied

with meline. Miss Stella Swasey, sister of

the bride and maid of honor, came next.

Her gown was mouslln d'soi, trimmed with

chantlliy lace, and she carried a bouquet

of bridesmaid's roses. Lastly came the

bride upon the arm of her father, who gave

her away. Her gown was of point d'sprit,

made over accordion pleated chiffon and

taffeta and was trimmed in real lace. Her

veil of tulle was caught with a spray of

orange blossoms. She carried a shower

bouquet of bride's roses. In her hair she

wore a silver comb which had been worn

by her grandmother, about her neck was a

necklace of pearls. The ceremony of the

Episcopal Church was never more Impressive

than on this occasion, and at its conclusion

the guests gathered about the

young couple and showered them with congratulations.

After the ceremony a reception-was ren-

dered tho guests. Mrs. Swasey's receiving

gown was of white chiffon, trimmed in

bands of white lace. Refreshments of Ice

cream, cakes and punch were served. In

the cake cutting, Mr. Pearson recovered the

ring, which he presented to the maid of

honor, and Miss Laurel Dunn found the

thimble. The cake was cut with a silver

knife, an heirloom, whose usefulness 'dates

back to the time of the" great-grandmother

of the bride. Miss Dunn also caught the

bride's bouquet.

Mr. and Mrs. Rogers left last evening at

7:30 for Denver, where the honeymoon

will be spent. The bride's going away

suit was cloth of gold, champagne color,

with embroidered shirt waist.

The young people received a large number

of presents. They included a large

amount of silverware, china sets, cut glass

pieces and articles, both useful and ornamental.

A number of congratulatory telegrams

were received.

Among those from out of town in attendance

at the wedding wore: Mrs. McCall and

Mrs. King of Houston, aunts of the bride:

Mrs. N. C. Munger and Mrs. W. A. Grant

of San Antonio and Mrs. Sherwood of Houston.

 

* Source: THE GALVESTON DAILY NEWS, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 1906.

The next photo (shared again) is of my mother in her wedding outfit.

1936 is written above the caption of the picture. The date of the wedding was Nov. 21.  It's really hard to read isn't it? So here are the tedious details of the next generation getting married.

Mrs. George E. Rogers Jr., prior to her marriage at 4 o'clock this afternoon in Laurel Heights Methodist Church, was Miss Mataley Mozelle Munhall, daughter of Mrs. Fred Munhall.  The church was decorated with potted palms and tall flower baskets filled with white chrysanthemums and white gladioli.  Rev. Robert E. Goodrich performed the ceremony in the presence of a large gathering of relatives and friends.

Mr. Fred Jones sang "I Love You Truly", being accompanied at the organ by Mrs. E. H. Lovelace. 

The bride was given in marriage by her mother. She wore a becoming tailleur of wine colored wool trimed with a wide collar of fitch fur.  Her off-the-face hat was of wine felt ornamented with a brilliant pin.   She wore a corsage of tea roses.

Mrs. Munhall was in black trimmed with white, and black and white accessories.  Her corsage was of gardenias.

Miss Kitty Beth Christian of Dallas was the maid of honor and only attendant. She wore a green suit with green accessories and a corsage of tea roses.

Chauncey Rogers of Houston was his brother's best man. 

Mr. and Mrs. Rogers left immediately for a motor trip to the coast, the bride traveling in her wedding suit. Upon their return they will be at home at 1201 W. Woodlawn avenue.

A bit of trivia is that my paternal grandparents (who lived in the same city) refused to attend my parent's wedding because there was going to be liquor served at the reception.  They were rather adamant teetotalers, weren't they? But the bride's family put on the party, and they were rather adamant drinkers!  Already the in-laws were at odds!

Next I want to share some rings. I've given these to my eldest son, thinking maybe he or one of his chilrden will have some interest in them. My middle son already had seen them, and my sister sent them to me.  I think the small high school ring may have been my mother's - Jefferson High School was where my parents met in San Antonio. She actually graduated before my father did.

The larger ring was the wedding ring which my mother's step father wore, Frederick Munhall.

The Inscription in the wedding band means "Whom
virtue unites, death will not separate" and was a "motto" with
additional smybolic graphics for 14th & 32nd degree Scottish rite
Freemasonry. However, perhaps due to the popularity of the sect in that
era, many other non-Masons used it in weddding bands, but Fred's being
a 32nd degree Mason, I believe it reflects his following of Freemasonry.  This information is from my sister.

Finally, for the next generation (mine.) I didn't get to attend my elder or younger cousin's weddings, being too far away at the times.  So here's one of them including my grandparents, which I dearly love. But whoever took the photo of the photo, didn't get it in focus enough, so it really doesn't matter which of my cousins it is. Sometime in the 1950s.

In case you're waiting for my wedding pictures, they are being saved for another occasion!