Despite the wintry weather, a very pretty wedding was celebrated at St. Andrew's Church on the 3rd instant when Miss Ada Alice Eckford, the elder twin daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A.M. Eckford, was married to Commander F. H. Elderton, D.S.O., Royal Indian Marines, Principal Transport Officer, the British contingent, China Field Force, third son of the late Captain E. H. P. Elderton, 26th Cameronians and Royal Meath Militia.
Punctually at 2 o'clock the bride entered the church, leaning on the arm of her father. She looked sweetly pretty in a beautiful dress of white satin, trimmed with chiffon and pearls, with transparent: yoke and sleeves of exquisite embroidered chiffon. The court train, which was more than four yards in length, was of magnificent brocaded white satin, trimmed with chiffon and pearls, and caught back with a spray of orange blossoms. The veil was of Brussels net, beautifully embroidered at the corners. She wore a diamond brooch and heavy led bangle, the presen! groom, and a pearl locket presented by the **hest man," and carried a shower bouquet composed of white chrysanthemums. The bride was attended by her two younger sisters, the Misses Edith and Dorothy Eckford, who were dressed in white gauze over silk underskirts, with embroidered chiffon yokes and sleeves and large pale-blue silk hats; they wore gold chains and pearl and diamond lockets, the gifts of the bridegroom, and carried baskets of white chrysanthemums.
The bridegroom was attended by Lieut. Headlam as best man, and they both wore the full-dress uniform of the Royal Indian Marines. The service was conducted by the Rev. A. E. Hume, assisted by a choir of friends of the bride. The organ was beautifully played by Miss Norris, of the C. I. M. School, who rendered selections before the arrival of the bride and the Wedditig March when the happy couple left the charch. The hymns chosen were "Love divine," "Rest in the Lord" and "Oh, perfect love.
After the ceremony Mr. and Mrs. Eckford held a reception at their house, where the wedding presents, which were both numerous and costly, were displayed: It shows much for the popularity of the bride and her family that, despite the snow and cold, the European population of Chefoo and district came from far and near to wish the newly-married couple joy. Looking at the dresses of the ladies, one could hardly realise the distance from London and Paris. Perhaps the most noticeable was a beautiful black satin worn by the bride's mother which was trimmed with pale-blue mirror velvet and black net, embroidered with blue flowers; she also wore a black velvet. toque, turned up at the side with pale-blue feathers, and a magnificent sable cloak.
At 4.30 pam. the happy pair left for Japan amidst the usual showers of good wishes and rice. The bride's going-awa; dress was of fine olive-green cloth, the bodice trimmed with white satin and turquoise velvet, and toque of turquoise and dark green velvet.
4th December.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.