A few hours of nostalgia was shared by an admiring audience at St. James' Church, Dundas as about 50 wedding fashions, dating from 1884 to 2007 were modelled by ladies of the congregation.

Stunning wedding gowns, mother of the bride and bridesmaids dresses, on loan largely from members of the congregation, received looks of approval as they stirred memories of the era in which they were originally worn.

Although many of the original brides and mothers of the bride had outgrown their dresses over the years, five of the ladies of the parish were able to wear their own ensembles.

Just as lovely

Lorna Janitz, Beth Capper, Sara Chappel, Margaret Koblyk and Audrey Nicol looked just as lovely as they walked the aisles during, Bridal Memories as they did when they originally wore their dresses.

Members of the audience were delighted to see a daughter modelling her mother's gown, being escorted by her father. Similarly, as the engaged couple of model, Courtney Evers and escort Bill Mous, ministry assistant at St. James, walked down the aisle together several times, the fashion commentator for the event, Lynn Morrow, quipped that this couple was practising for their upcoming wedding in July.

The oldest gown displayed was worn by Grace Petry when she married Abraham Hugill in 1884. The dress was kindly loaned and displayed by the Dundas Museum.

Piano and organ music was played throughout the show by Douglas Brownlee, director of Music at St, James' Church, and Paul Chappel, composer and hymn writer. Sara Chappel opened the event by singing Ave Maria.

To complete a most pleasant occasion, afternoon tea was served.

Directed by Susan Linn and Audrey Nicol, the goal of Bridal Memories was to have fun, show off beautiful wedding apparel and raise some funds for greening St. James.

After the show, it was clear that the goal had been accomplished.