Family Treasures, Traditions Add Distinction To Merrick-Parsons Wedding Ceremony

Local Girl Weds Kalamazoo Man At Home

Couple Leaves On Motor Trip To Northern Michigan

Family treasures, family traditions, a quiet little home garden on bright June day, combined to make a delightful occasion of the wedding yesterday afternoon of Miss Alice Mary Merrick, daughter of Mrs. Howard B. Merrick and the late Prof. Merrick, to Jonathan Parsons VII of Kalamazoo.

Beneath a spreading apple tree, in the Merrick garden on Church St., a white prie dieu with satin kneeling cushion was placed upon a Chinese jewel flower rug, the gift of Mrs. Merrick to the couple, duplicating her wedding gift to the bride’s sister. In two tall gray-brown urns, delphinium, ivory peonies and a few Dorothy Perkins roses, repeated in lovely harmony the flower tones of the choice rug. An aisle was formed of white ropes attached to tall white standards of similar flowers, leading to the simulated altar from the stone path from the house, bordered with forget-me-nots, delphinium and coreopsis.

Dr. Brashares Officiates

Dr. Charles W. Brashares of the First Methodist church, read the service, preceding which Miss Ruth Anne Ryder of East Lansing, coloratura soprano, sang “O Promise Me” and “I Love You Truly.” She was accompanied by Miss Ruth Osgerby of Kalamazoo, a cousin of Mr. Parsons, who played also the traditional wedding marches on a melodeon, a family heirloom. Miss Osgerby wore a bolero jacket model of delphinium blue organza with tucked godets in the wide skirt, and Miss Ryder’s frock was a printed chiffon in browns and pinks.

Miss Merrick, who wore her mother’s wedding gown, was met at the altar by Mrs. Merrick, who gave her in marriage. The dress of pointe d’esprit was worn over ivory satin and voluminous lace-trimmed petticoats that the bride’s mother wore at her own wedding. The mousquetaire sleeves, extending over the wrists, had rows of shirring extending lengthwise to make a puffed effect. The skirt of many yards, was shirred from the waist to below the hips, and the sleeves, the simple square neckline, and the skirt were edged with a ruching of net.

A quaintly-designed locket of gold with a diamond set in platinum, the gift of the bridegroom, hung on a gold chain in the low square neckline, and the long tulle veil was held by a Dutch bonnet cap of Venetian pillow lace. Johanna Hill roses, jasime, swansonia and lilies of the valley fashioned the arm bouquet which Miss Merrick carried and which contained a going-away corsage of similar flowers.

Served By Sister

In May, 1934, a tea at the Merrick home announced the engagements of Miss Merrick and her sister, Ruth. The latter, now Mrs. Joseph Menihan, served as the matron of honor yesterday. She wore her own wedding robes, fashioned in severe princess style, of ivory Chinese crepe with panels of hand embroidery the length of the gown in the front and back, where it extended into a short train. Her arm bouquet was made of peach-colored snapdragons, yellow and white irises, creamy Hibbard roses and delphinium.

Mrs. Merrick chose for the occasion of her daughter’s wedding a white chiffon with spaced floral design in pastel shades. It was an Empire style redingote with a V-shaped neck and short train worn over taffeta. Mrs. Parsons, mother of the bridegroom, wore white chiffon with a choir boy collar that had small green velvet appliqued flowers matching her sash and slippers. Both wore gardenias and lilies of the valley.

Edward Harding Parsons, brother of the bridegroom, assisted him as best man, and the ushers were Marshall Rutz and Fred W. Adams of Kalamazoo, Dwight P. Danhew of Albany, N. Y., and George W. Stroebe of Riverside, Calif.

250 Guests Invited

About 250 guests were bidden to the wedding and the reception which followed. The tea teable, covered with a white cloth made of handspun, hand-woven linen which the bride’s great great great grandmother made in Vermont for a sheet in her wedding chest. Inserts of Chinese filet lace and hand embroidery embellished the cloth. A bowl of ivory peonies with gypsophilia centered the table and was flanked by crystal candelabra holding lighted ivory tapers. A crystal and silver service was used, and the friends who poured were Mrs. Lucius L. Clark, Mrs. Edward H. Kraus and Mrs. Clement Gill of Ann Arbor and Mrs. E. W. Ryder of Lansing.

The couple left to motor to Sault Ste. Marie and the Tahquamenon country, and will be back in Ann Arbor about July 8 to spend two weeks with Mrs. Merrick before going to their home in Kalamazoo.

For traveling, the bride wore a pongee silk cape suit with a blouse of white voile made with a peplum and square neck that had wide tucks across the front. Bands of peasant embroidery brought from Bulgaria by the bride’s parents formed the belt and outlined the inset sleeves. A white felt hat, crocheted gloves, and a Chinese grass linen purse embroidered with poppies completed the costume.

Among the gifts were exact duplicates of two family wedding gifts to the bride’s sister. They were a set of carved cocoanut shell finger bowls lined with pewter, and a beautifully-carved semi-circular table of red ironwood bought for the wedding gifts by their mother and father in China.

Supper Follows Rehearsal

A buffet supper was given Tuesday night by Mrs. Merrick at her home, after the rehearsal. The guests at the supper, in addition to the bridal party, included Mr. Menihan, also the sister of the bride’s father, Mrs. Alvin Tomlinson and Mr. Tomlinson of Newtown, Pa. and Mrs. Parsons, mother of the bridegroom. They will be house guests of Mrs. Merrick for a few days.

Both young people are University graduates, Mr. Parsons receiving his master’s degree in 1934, following his graduation from Kalamazoo college. He is teaching in Kalamazoo.

His bride attended University of Lausanne in Switzerland for a year, and received her diploma from the University. She is a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority and of the junior branch of the American Association of University Women.