Wedding Wednesday - Bowman & DeLong

From the June 21st, 1901 issue of the Lexington Herald:

DELONG-BOWMAN

The marriage of Miss Katherine L. DeLong and Mr. A. Smith Bowman was celebrated Thursday evening at the residence of the bride's mother, Mrs. Edmund S. DeLong, on North Limestone street, with Rev. Edwin Muller, of the First Presbyterian Church, officiating. The hall was arranged with palms and ferns. The two parlors were a mass of tropical plants and roses, and burning among them were weight veiled candles. In the chandeliers white candles also burned, and swinging between the doors were large baskets of sword ferns. The back parlor was in a bridal attire of white. Here white lilies were banked against the mantels and from the corners at the end of the room palms and ferns rose to the ceiling in a pyramidal effect.

For some time before the ceremony strains from Saxton's orchestra, placed on the back piazza, were heard and as Lohengrin's bridal chorus was played the bridal party entered. From the hall came Dr. Carrick and Mr. Thomas Lewis, who passed into the front parlor with white satin streamers. At the center of the room they stopped, and from there Mr. George Weeks and Mr. Clifford Patterson passed through the parlors with the ribbons to the ends of the pyramid, forming an aisle. Then came Miss Belle DeLong, the sister of the bride, as maid of honor. She wore a gown of white satin covered with white tulle. From her left shoulder to the hem of her gown was a garland of pink roses. Her hair was adorned with a single rosebud, and she carried a large bouquet of the same flower.

She was followed by the bride on the arm of her brother, Mr. James Lucas DeLong. Her wedding gown of white satin and tulle was covered with a white Renaissance lace overdress. The bertha of lace was caught with a bunch of orange blossoms, with smaller bunches and sprays falling in grace lines to the end of the gown and about the long court train. Her tulle veil was caught to her hair with a diamond sunburst, a gift of the groom, and she carried a shower bouquet of white roses and lilies of the valley tied with long satin streamers. The groom and his best man, Mr. Horace Bowman, of Danville, entered from the back piazza and met them at the altar of greens. During the ceremony, "Call me thine own" was played. The tableau was one not soon to be forgotten.

After congratulations supper was served. The bride's table was entirely in white and green, and was placed in the summer parlor. In the center was a large mound of white roses and smilax, surrounded by a circle of silver candlesticks holding white tapers and shaded with silver shades. Massive candelabra with white candles were placed at the four ends of the table. At each place was the name card, hand painted in orange blossoms, with the name and monogram DELB written in gold. Seated with the bride and groom were Miss Belle DeLong and Mr. Horace Bowman, Miss Daisy DeLong and Mr. Thomas Lewis, Miss Susie Satterwhite of Louisville and Dr. Carrick, Miss Virginia Lee of Danville and Mr. George Weeks, Miss Margaret Duncan and Mr. Clifford Patterson, Miss Sarah Bullock and Mr. Joseph LeCompte.

In the dining room was a large center table surrounded by smaller ones, where other guests were served. Each was decorated in pink roses and smilax A supper of numerous courses was served, the ices being designed as white roses with sprays of green leaves. Many happy toasts were offered to the young couple.

Mr. and Mrs. Bowman left on the late train for a wedding trip, of several weeks and on their return will be with Mrs. Edmund DeLong until further plans are materialized.

Others present besides those named at the bridal table were Mr. and Mrs. Robert Jacobs, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Creel of Danville; Mr. and Mrs. William DeLong, of Danville; Mr. and Mrs. George Wilson, Mrs. Mary Bowman, of Danville; Mrs. Cassell, sister of the groom, and the Misses Cassell of Dallas, Texas; Major Robert Bullock, Miss Anna Didlake, Dr. and Mrs. John William Scott, Mr. and Mrs. G. A. DeLong, Mr. G. A. DeLong, Jr., Mrs. Mary Lucas, Mrs. J. Curry Tebbitts, of Pittsburg, Pa.; Miss Fanny Lucas, Mrs. Facker, of Danville; Mrs. Moore, of Harrodsburg, sister of the groom, and Mr. and Mrs. James Lucas DeLong.

On a side table in the room where the bridal party were seated was the wedding cake. Its base was beautified with marguerites and from its center arose a crystal vase of white roses. Silver cords attached to the sides connected with the emblems of fate - the dime, the ring, the needle and the thimble.

Mr. and Mrs. Bowman left on the late train for a wedding trip of several weeks and on their return will be with Mrs. Edmund DeLong until further plans are materialized.

[Blogger's note:  I found out upon further research that Abram & Katherine Bowman moved to Virginia, where he produced a bourbon under the name of Virginia Gentlemen. Since bourbon can only be called such if its distilled in Kentucky, I'm not sure how he managed that. The brand is now defunct.]


Copyright 2010, ACK for Gene Notes

Wedding Wednesday - Double

From the December 20th, 1906 Lexington (Kentucky) Herald I found this little gem. The couple I was interested in was Clara Sellers and Arthur DeLong.

DOUBLE WEDDING.

The double wedding of two attractive sisters, Miss Henrietta Sellers to Mr. Lawrence Jasper Mitchell and Miss Clara Sellers to Mr. Arthur Ami DeLong was celebrated yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock at the East Hickman Baptist Church, the Rev. Mr. A. R. Willet officiating. It was a beautiful wedding in all details and the attractive little church was crowded with friends for the impressive ceremony. Mrs. Allan McDowell, of Nicholasville, who presided at the organ played a beautiful program of music during the moments of waiting and Lohengrin's bridal chorus and Mendelssohn's wedding march for the entrance and departure of the bridal party. From the windows to the center chandeliers in the church were garlands of smilax forming a pretty picture overhead; the altar was banked with palms and ferns and where the bridal couples stood for the ceremony, hung a beautiful white wedding bell. First came the bridesmaids up the right aisle, Miss Martha Baker, of Nicholasville and Miss Clara Sellers of Versailles, followed by Miss Helen Baker, of Nicholasville and Miss Madge Reynolds of Missouri. They wore stylish tailor suits of broadcloth and picture hats and coming slowly behind them were the two charming brides. They wore beautiful gowns of blue chiffon broadcloth with large blue picture hats and as they neared the altar, they were joined by the bridegrooms who entered the left aisle followed by the groomsmen, Messrs Sidney DeLong, John Clarke, Melvin Knight and Wallace Sellers, of Lexington. The picture formed was a beautiful and impressive one as the four young people stood to take the marriage vows and as the responses were made "Hearts and Flowers" was softly played.

The ceremony was followed by congratulations and the bridal party was then driven to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Mitchell near Nicholasville, the parents of one of the bridegrooms, where they were entertained with a beautiful dinner. The evening was happily spent drinking to the health of the popular couples and an elegant dinner of several courses was served. The lovely brides are two of the county's most attractive accomplished girls. They are daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Sellers and have always been social favorites. The bridegrooms are prosperous young farmers and are both very popular. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell will go immediately to housekeeping on a pretty farm on Union Mills Road and Mr. and Mrs. DeLong will keep house at his attractive country place on the Tates Creek Road. They were remembered with many handsome gifts and their host of friends are extending to them their best wishes and congratulations.

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Copyright 2010, ACK for Gene Notes