Yowza! I’m married! Ms Merah made an honest man of me, as they say, on Saturday the 20th. I’m still giddy, giggly and, er, girdy, but I’ll try my best to present a coherent narrative, and to give credit where credit is most certainly due.
You’ll recall that Ms Merah and I were engaged back on Agricultural Reform Day, and we’d since been planning - sorting the wheat from the considerable chaff that is the wedding industry. We succeeded in skirting the pitfalls that are commercial venues, instead returning to an old favourite which has been invaluable in my past historical study, Villa Alba Museum - which is, you’ll recall, a marvellous example of, nay, a shrine to, the Aesthetic Movement’s role in Australian art. The Villa housed the ceremony, and the reception followed at the Kew Returned Services League - a beautiful old building, as you can see.
How can I even begin to describe the day? Chronologically, I suppose; our first port of call was The Lockworks, where Ms Merah, her attendant Ms Nix and I had our hair duded up to the nines. The ladies looked wonderful, and I daresay even my unruly shag came out looking quite smart. Next, we met my best man, known to FrillyShirt readers as Madam C, and her beau, as well as Ms Merah’s folks and brother. Everyone claimed a door as their dressing room, turning the house into something not entirely unlike a Buster Keaton film. Ms Merah wore a Regency dress in cream silk embroidered with Indian beading, along with a violet-coloured coat, plum-coloured shoes, a crystal necklace and a white orchid in her hair. I personally wore a dark grey single-breasted frock coat, with checked trousers, a deep blue double-breasted waistcoat of my own design, with a paisley’d shirt, peacock-feather tie and suede ankle-boots. Ms Nix wore a deep green rockabilly dress with fur wrap, and Madam C matched in a tail-suit with deep green waistcoat. As we prepared, our delivery arrived from White Moss Florists: bouqet, corsage and boutonnières.
Finally, we finished dressing, making up, knocking on doors and then being gone when the occupant poked their heads out, &c., and were able to hop in the 1925 Studebaker, provided and driven by the charming David of Vintage Fun Hire Cars, and we were able to tootle along to the Villa! I swear, that car is just gorgeous - burgundy and gold outside, patterned and fringed inside, and when people stopped in their tracks to admire it, it was all I could do not to lean out and call “Now, boy! I say, boy! Can you direct us to Tammany Hall?” At the Villa, we met Jessie Broome, of j [studios], our photographer, and Sarah Black, her accompanist for the day, and (to throw further confusion into the affair) a further Sarah, who was learning the trade! We set to work getting some rather nice shots as the guests began to arrive - you can see an early peek at our output here, and I can’t wait to see the rest.
Eventually, everyone was in place in the drawing-room, and we met with noted theologian and dear friend, Dr Merryl Blair, who would be leading us through the ceremony. Ms Merah, Merryl and I had collaborated in writing it, including Lord Byron, William Morris, Walt Whitman, St Paul and I daresay some Blakean influence as well. Oh! And most certainly some Austen, too. Madam C and Ms Merah’s brother Steve recited for us (Whitman’s “The Base of all Metaphysics” and Morris’s “Love is Enough,”) Merryl gave her blessing, and, well… *sniffle* …happy. The hands signed the paper, witnesses witnessed, and you can call me Sir Frederick Tanah-Chook now, if you please!
Some more photos, some quick nourishment and coffee, and then we were off in the car to the RSL. The function rooms there - already very handsome - had been set out with candles and flowers, and another Whitman quote emblazoned in gold on the red walls (thanks to Cool Art Vinyl for that centrepiece.) Finally, we had time to give to our wonderful friends and family who had come to show us their kindness - I really can’t express my appreciation. Our chum Adrian Maiolla mastered our ceremonies, and the Kate Lucas Quartet jazzed our hands. Ah, it’s all something of an ecstatic blur - the food, the wine, the cake!, good company, good music - but, thankfully, I believe all our guests took advantage of Jessie’s photobooth setup, so we’ll be able to admire their truly smashing eveningwear at our leisure.
Again, I must sincerely thank all those who came, or who sent their best wishes. Also, after we staggered home, giggling joyfully, we found that some of the cards had come loose from their gifts; every single gift is appreciated, and we know the source of most, but to help us get our thank-you cards in order, perhaps drop me a line letting me know what you gave in case it’s unclear? And anyone who took pictures, if you’re happy for me to host and share them - watermark them, if you like, so they can’t go walkabout - I’d be well chuffed if you could send them through!
The bride and groom would like to thank their families; Ms Nix and Madam C; Dr Merryl Blair; Berensen Tailors; dressmaker Dorreen Luxford; Sue Gunnersen and the Villa Alba Museum; Kew Returned Sevices League; Jessie and j [studos]; all the Wildilocks team; David and Vintage Fun Hire Cars; Novat Footwear; Vegan Wares; Complete Function Hire; Hudson’s Famous Food & Functions; Adrian Maiolla, the Kate Lucas Quartet; French Lettuce Patisserie; Circa Vintage; Cool Art Vinyl; ThankYou Gift Registry Services; and no doubt more which I’ll add as soon as I remember to! Watch this space.
