The first weddings in Wairarapa were those performed by the first Christian missionaries in the area

The first weddings in Wairarapa were those performed by the first Christian missionaries in the area. Their diaries record how they persuaded their newly converted Maori parishioners to live apart from their traditional spouses until newly baptised, they then could be officially married.

The first wedding to take place in Masterton was the 1854 wedding of Emma Dixon and William Adams. William was the first white man to live on the site of Masterton, his residency stemming from his occupation as a shepherd for Richard Collins' Te Ore Ore Station. His bride, Emma, was the daughter of Michael Dixon, the pair being part of the first party of white settlers to arrive in Masterton, on 21 May 1854. They were clearly quickly attracted to each other as the Rev T.B. Hutton married them in a simple ceremony on 1August 1854. Theirs was a successful marriage, and the couple went on to have 16 children.

Ronaldson crucifix. One of the earliest missionaries, Rev William Ronaldson, was anxious to impress on his newly-weds the sanctity of the wedding ceremony, and the religious commitment they had undertaken. To this end he presented a special ivory crucifix to each of the first twelve brides he performed wedding ceremonies for. These remain treasured mementos in Wairarapa families.

By the early 1900s, weddings were becoming larger affairs, as the second and third generation of Masterton settlers were marrying. The advent of cheaper photographic methods meant that families were also able to afford a set of wedding photogaphs.

In 1912, Amy Jones, daughter of Edward Jones and grand-daughterof Henry Jones, a1850s settler, married William Rogers at the Kuripuni Methodist Church her family was closely associated with. The newspaper of the time reported that she wore a 'dainty dress of creme radiata, trimmed with silk facing and insertion,and wore the orthodox veil and orange blossoms.

By the 1920s, fashion was having an influence on wedding styles, and in this photograph from the Truscott/Devenport family collection, a more modern style is clearly evident. The bride and her assistants are much shorter dresses and the formality evident in the earlier photographs has been replaced by a more up-to-date style. The ‘orthodox veil and orange blossoms’ have also been dispensed with.

During the 1940s, weddings changed again, and were trimmed to meet war conditions. When Leading Aircraftman Alexander Histon married Jocelyn Pellew the bride wore a ‘charming low-waisted gown of embossed shadow satin. Her veil of embroidered ivory tulle was held with a coronet of violet lilies and she held a bouquet of cream chrysanthemums, roses and freesias. Her bridesmaids wore frocks of cream sprigged satin and flower girl Elizabeth Judd wore a frock of cream georgette trimmed with lace.

During the 1940s and 1950s, wedding receptions were regularly held in the Masterton Park Kiosk, also known as the Coronation Hall. Gladys Reid, better known under her maiden name, Gladys Butcher, often catered these weddings. Her three tiered wedding cakes, often ornately decorated, were featured on many bridal tables.

During the 1950s and early 1960s, fashion returned in the style of bridal dresses. A more romantic effect was aimed for and photographer such as Kenneth Alexander used soft lighting and classical décor to accent the romantic emphasis.

As the 1960s progressed and young women adopted a less formal style of dress, some brides chose less traditional styles for themselves and their attendants. In this Graeme Ayson studio photograph from the late 1960s these changes are well illustrated.