WAITING AT CHURCH

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 146, 8 July 1937, Page 8

WAITING AT CHURCH

9^9 Missing Document Delays Hawera Wedding A missing marriage license compietely upset arrangements at a Hawera wedding, and wliilie the bridegroom, tlie parents and friends took part in a i'rantic cliase for the necessary document, the bride, lier attendants and the minister wero forced to wait outside Ihe churcli. Tlio document eompieted, tlio ceremony started au liour late. Apjjlication for a marriage license was made several weeks ago, wken apparently not certain about one or two partieulars required, the pair took tlie form away to complete it. When the form was presented at the courthouso last Friday it was discovered that the bride was not 21 years of age and that the document bore the signature of the bride's mother only, whereas the regulations demand that under such circumstances the consent of both parents must be gained. The license was therefore not grantedThe missing signature was that of tlie bride's father, who had not accompanied his wife from Cambridge to Hawera. A " telegram explaining the circumstances was sent to the bride's fatber, who went to the registrar at Cambridge and eigned the necessary consent. The document was dispatclied '

to Hawera, where it arrived by the morning niail, but it had not been claimed by mid-day. The wedding was to take place at mid-day, when it was expected the vital document would be safeiy in the custody of the bridegroom, but at the appointed hour it had not been. procured. The minister had prepared for the service and shortly after noon the bride and her attendants arrived. Sliortly after inidday two of the parents arrived at tlio courthouse to collect Ihe document. It was tlieu learned that one of tho contracting parties had to be present before tho license could be issued. Wliile the party dashed off to the churcli to get the bridegroom the court officials prepared the document, and upon the appearance of the bridegroom the necessary license was issued. Further complications occurred at 12.15 p.m. when, all being ready for a belated start with the ceremony, it was lound that the organist was missing. Hastily a substitute was found and the ceremony proceeded.