Texada Seniors’ Council put on a High Tea and Bridal Fashion Show recently to raise money for its scholarship fund.
Waiters in crisp white shirts and smart dark pants awaited patrons as they filed into the transformed community hall that featured a bridal arch of silk flowers and pink ribbons. Seating for over 100 was provided at tables set with lilac cloths and pink ribbon streamers set off in the centre with miniature three-tiered wedding cakes. Some guests arrived in their own wedding outfits while others wore formal attire in keeping with the high tea theme.
It was a challenge for the event coordinator, Doriana Kiland, to find enough men willing to dress up for a “tea,” much less eager to act as waiters for the occasion. In the end, 12 handsome men agreed and had a wonderful time interacting with the guests at their table. No one spilled tea and they all received a round of applause and many cat calls when they were recognized for their contribution to the day.
Gowns worn in the show came from both current and former residents of the island and covered each decade from the 1940s to present day. Of the 18 dresses featured, only three of the original brides were able to fit into and model their own outfits. That left coordinator Joanell Clarke the task of finding bodies to put into the remaining 15 dresses. It was like Prince Charming using the glass slipper to find Cinderella. Many of the wedding dresses were so small that Clarke had to get 12- to 14-year-olds to wear them. Five minutes before showtime the final dress was fitted to its model.
As each model came through the arch, a photo of the original bride at her wedding was flashed up on the wide screen at the end of the hall. Ken Barton, a member of Texada Island Heritage Society, had put together a slide show of all the weddings with music accompanying each. The model walked down the aisle and when she came to the end the original bride joined her and walked back up the aisle to the arch again.
While the models walked down the aisle, a story about the dress, the wedding and/or how the couple met was read. The gowns covered a variety of styles from the simplest to the most formal. The oldest gown belonged to the mother of resident Joyce Rodseth. It was given to Joyce’s mother by her employer’s wife during World War II when money was scarce. The woman had worn the dress of burgundy lace to Buckingham Palace and Joyce modelled it for the show. In keeping with the period of the original wedding, Joyce’s partner, Russ Sparks joined her in an army tunic of the era borrowed from Texada museum. The show concluded with the senior bride of the show, Phyllis Soles, being escorted by RCMP Constable Kory Hendricks.
The event was the talk of the island for weeks afterward and the council was able to double the amount it had put aside for scholarships due to the money brought in through admissions, a silent auction and sale of the centrepieces. Over 60 volunteers and sponsors contributed to the success of the event—truly a community endeavour.
