The Wedding Letter

Editor's note: Apparently, this letter is what Glenn's dad turned into the newspaper for the story that carried the wedding picture. More later...

22 May 1945
England

My Dear parents –
I hope those affidavits are on the way because I think I'll need them quite soon. I guess you know what I mean.

Altho it’s a little delayed, I know, here’s the information about the wedding A group picture of the bride and groom plus the naval officers in attendance will come as soon as I can get it. I asked for one suitable for newspaper cut ahead of the regular order, I’ll send it as soon as possible – may be nearly two weeks.

Wedding:
The bride wore a white lace and satin gown, with orange blossoms in her hair and lashings of white tulle veiling. She carried a shower bouquet of white lilies of the valley; crimson rose buds and red carnations with a mist of asparagus fern.

Her maid of honor – Miss Roana Billett of Highfield, So’ton was floral silk, with navy blue accessories and wore a large spray of lily of the valley.

The bride’s mother wore navy blue with a silver fox fur and a spray of lily of the valley and pink carnations. The bride was given in marriage by her father who wore dark brown and wore a white carnation buttonhole. The bridegroom and best man were in Naval (blue) uniform.

Travel difficulties prevented most of the bride’s relatives from attending, tho two aunts from London were present. Thirty other guests were present including Naval officer friends of the groom and the fiancé of the maid of honor, Lt. Arvel Gruefel, U.S. Army – adding a splash of uniform to the gathering.

The ceremony was performed by the Rev. H. Leslie Clarke at the Church of the Ascension, Bitterne Park, So’ton, at 10:00 o’clock on May 1st. It was a cold morning but the sun was brilliant.

The church was pretty – decorated with masses of flowering shrubs, including guild rose, pink double cherry blossom and (hydrangea).
The usual wedding march was replaced by “Trumpet Voluntry” – (at the bride’s request) and played by Mr. W. Brattle, organist and choir-master of the church. Other music included Shubert’s “Serenade” and Brahms “Lullaby.”

Among the hymns were “Oh Perfect Love” (don’t remember any of the others)
Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March” was exit. The reception was at the Castle Inn (Hotel) in Midanbury.

The cake was two tiered beautifully iced – surprisingly “pre-war” – both in looks and taste (miraculously procured – usually iced cakes are a memory in England these days). There apparently was plenty of food and drink for all – and all seemed to have a fine time (!).

The Honeymoon, as you know, was in Bournemouth – a seaside resort on the South Coast of old L’Angleterre!

The end of the 7-day leave was V-E Day (8th) that night the old 506 and old Cogswell was churning toward France – such a life.
All that info is bolony – but you can have what you want of it. Sorry it wasn’t sooner but we just couldn’t seem to get time to sit down and figure it all out.

There may be some rather fast developments on coming home so please rush those affidavits if you haven’t sent them.

Lots of love –

Jean & Glenn

P.S. Jean just received your letter, Dad – It didn’t go airmail because of “insufficient postage.” Should have been 8 cents I guess.