karenulijohn

Had Harvey lived, we would be celebrating our 52nd wedding anniversary today, August 13, 2018.  Recounting the events of the days leading up to and including our wedding day will, I hope, bring him closer in my memory and be a balm for my grieving spirit.  

Harvey and I went to obtain a marriage certificate, but found that we needed my parents’ signature giving their permission.  Hard to believe that in the 1960’s, a woman had to have her father’s permission to marry.  On the application itself, Harvey is listed as “Bachelor” and I am listed as “Spinster.”  I took umbrage with that label, but the registrar was condescending and firm.  I was labeled a spinster at age 18!

My mother and I went shopping for my dress at Harrods.  I liked the first one I tried on, but tried a few others just to make the day worthwhile.  The dress was made with slub satin, had 3/4 length sleeves, and a chapel length train.  The neckline was embroidered with hundreds of tiny seed pearls.  I carried a small, white Bible with a spray of orchids across the top.  

We were to be married at the Kings Weigh House Church in Duke Street, Mayfair, W1 by the United States Navy Chaplain, Commander Moye.  Because the Navy Chapel could not perform legal marriages under British law, we needed to be married first at the Registry Office.  So, our first marriage took place at 9:30 AM at Caxton Hall on August 13th.  I wore the dress I wore for my high school graduation, and we used my Mother’s platinum wedding band during the ceremony.  Mom and Dad were our only witnesses.  Several days before, Harvey suggested that we have the civil ceremony on Friday the 12th, and then he and I could just meet everyone at the church at 2:30 PM on Saturday.  Needless to say, that idea was struck down emphatically by my Dad! 

My brother, George and his soon to be wife, Donna arrived from Grove City, PA where they were both attending college.  Donna would be my Maid of Honor and George would be a groomsman.  None of Harvey’s family was able to attend, so all of our friends from the church, business, school, etc just spread out across the whole sanctuary.  We were all friends after all.

August 13, 1966 was a beautiful day in London.  The sun was shining brightly and the temperature rose into the high 70’s.  My dad and I rode the three blocks to the church in a Rolls Royce Limousine, during which time my Dad asked me one final time if I was sure I wanted to do this.  Oh, I was sure all right!!  When I saw Harvey, he looked very dapper in his Cutaway Morning Coat.  Oh Yes, I was sure!  The ceremony itself was over too quickly; I’m not sure I remember a whole lot about it.  I remember that the organist “goofed” playing several bars of the wedding march.  He had given me a hard time about using the “hesitation step.”  Photographs followed.  One of my favorite photos is of Harvey and me in the back of the Rolls…we just looked so happy…smiles all around.

The reception was held at the Carlton Tower Suite in Chelsea.  It was a lovely cocktail party with lots of champagne.  I got a little “tipsy” but, I did not embarrass myself.  The wedding cake was made by the American chef at the Columbia Club which was the Navy Officers’ Club.  British wedding cake is usually a rather dense fruit cake with fondant icing.  I wanted white cake with white icing.  Yummy!

We left the reception at about 5:30 PM in our Sunbeam Alpine, loaded down with my trousseau, and we headed for the Dorincourt Hotel in Surrey.  It was a lovely old stately home that had been converted.  Unfortunately, I can’t find any photographs of it on the internet today.  We dined on Lobster Newburg and more champagne.  Harvey was convinced that no one could tell we were newlyweds.  But, the hotel management did know, and they played a real trick on us which featured a “Teasmade.”   I know we would be laughing about it together today too, if only he were here!