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As It Was: Guests Gather in 1894 for Formal Wedding

On Sept. 4, 1894, one hundred guests gathered for a double-wedding at the Guerin farm, near Port Orford, Ore.  The nuptials were for Harry Guerin to Ella Bigelow and Tom Guerin to Anna Tichenor.

The brides’ gowns were trimmed with a satin stripe, wide lace, and ribbon, special-ordered from San Francisco, and orange blossoms, full-length veils, white gloves, and slippers.

They held the ceremony on the front porch, surrounded by a magnificent climbing rose.  A red carpet spread over a thick layer of straw, and long cedar boughs twined together to make an overhead canopy.

Guests enjoyed a sumptuous feast with bride’s cake, groom’s cake and bountiful garden produce.  Party favors contained bonbons, fancy paper hats, and fortune-telling verses.

At dusk, the four newlyweds departed on their honeymoons in a carriage with two double seats, drawn by two horses.  Friends and family threw old shoes after them.  They would discover when they reached their destination that mischievous bridesmaids had stuffed rice into their luggage. 

The guests stayed behind on the Guerin farm, dancing through the night until daylight.

Source: Bigelow, Dora. "The Double Wedding." Curry County Echoes, Nov. 1985.

Laurel earned a Bachelor’s degree in Geography from Humboldt State. Her research efforts as a volunteer for the Curry Historical Society produced numerous newsletter articles and exhibits and earned her a reputation as a seasoned local history buff. Laurel is the author of "Renderings from the Gold Beach Pioneer Cemetery", a 50-page booklet containing a walking tour and snippets about the lives and times of folks buried there. She is also a contributing writer to Oregon Coast Magazine.