You may remember Florence Savage’s gorgeous Edwardian wedding from a few weeks back, and how chuffed and excited I was to be sharing the first Chic Vintage Bride submitted by a you, the readers and followers of my little blog. Well today, I would like to share with you the wedding of the lovely Lesley Smith’s parents……

On 25 June 1929, Lieutenant Reginald Frederick Arthur (Red) Redman Royal Navy married Molly Wesley Clemesha at St Andrew’s Parish Church, Kingswood, Surrey. My gosh don’t they make quite the gorgeous couple? Red looks terribly dashing in his uniform and Molly just fabulous in her short wedding dress. Young, fresh and utterly modern for the period, the dress was perfect for the 20 year old Molly. You can see a sort of sailor collar, and the pointed inserts at the hem were silver metallic Indian lace. Her look was completed perfectly with a beautiful pearl, peridot & rose quartz Victorian necklace and that juliet cap veil, which Lesley thinks was likely made of Indian darned silk lace as her mother came from Ceylon to get married.

I love the groom‘s uniform and Lesley tells me that it is an undress frock coat (which had lapels, not the stand up collar that the ceremonial frock coat had), with the bullion epaulettes laced to Lieutenant, ceremonial sword belt and cocked hat…… you have to love a groom in uniform!

This wedding, as was often the case in the past, was a real family affair. The pictures were taken by the groom’s father (on his box brownie!) at the reception held in their garden, in nearby Tadworth. Molly’s beautiful Art Deco wedding dress was made by her mother, the two bridesmaids and the sweet little flower girl were the groom’s cousins and the little sailor page was the groom’s younger brother – who Lesley tells me later in the day rolled in the grass in his pristine white sailor suit, incurring his (fierce) mother’s wrath!

Whilst the two bridesmaids are carrying bouquets of sweet peas (can’t you just imagine the scent) to compliment their sweet pea coloured chiffon dresses, Molly’s stunning bouquet was of red roses and fern – and the romantic Red used to give Molly one red rose for every year of their marriage on their anniversary.

So often with my Chic Vintage Brides, faces and names of all but the bride and groom remain a mystery, but not so with the much loved family treasures shared by you! Lesley tells me the best man was also a Naval Lieutenant, and the man standing on Molly’s left, wearing what looks like a policeman’s helmet, was her half-brother, who was an officer in the Royal Artillery. The elegant lady standing between the best man and the groom was the bride’s mother, who was a marvellous dressmaker, Lesley thinks she would have almost certainly made her own outfit as well as the bride’s – what a talented lady!

I love this wedding, not only for its fabulous art deco fashion, but for all the little details and tales Lesley has kindly shared with us. Understandably, these images of her parents are so very precious to Lesley, that she has asked that they not be shared on Social Media. Please adore the photos but respect her wishes as I have.

A big thank-you to Lesley – I hope you’re enjoying your holiday!

Amy

x