A Wedding in February 90 Years ago

Marion Sparkes (later Sims) was born in 1911 in Derbyshire, England to May and Alfred Sparkes. They arrived in Fremantle in 1912 having travelled from Liverpool onboard the SS Belgic. The family moved to the Hollywood area (which was at the time part of the Municipality of Subiaco). 

Marion married Frederick F Sims at St Andrews Presbyterian Church (St Georges Terrace, Perth) on the 3rd of February 1934. The wedding was recorded in all its glory and detail in The Sunday Times on 18 February 1934. 

"At St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church on February 3 a marriage was solemnised between Marion E. Sparks, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sparkes, Hollywood, and Frederick F. Sims, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Sims, Wembley Park. The Rev. G. Tulloch officiated, and the service was choral. Mr Claude Mitchell presided at the organ. The bride entered the church on the arm of her father, gracefully attired in a charming gown of cream French macrame lace reaching to her feet and a shoulder train of finest cream crepe de chine lined with pale blue georgette and a beautifully embroidered veil and a Russian coronet of tulle and orange blossom buds and diamante trimmings, and carried a beautiful sheaf of white roses and lilies and heather. The bridesmaids, Misses David, Waddell, and Cobb, were daintily dressed in hyacinth blue crepe de chine dresses falling to the ankles and with cape and hemline trimmed with sapphire blue velvet ribbon. They wore honey beige hats of organdie lace, trimmed with velvet posies, honey beige gloves and stockings and velvet shoes to tone with the ribbon trimmings on the dresses. They wore chromium plated and blue stone necklets, the gift of the bridegroom, and carried sheaves of apricot roses and gladioli and blue agapanthus lilies. The duties of best man were ably carried out by Mr. Stan Kidd; the groomsmen were Mr. Jim Sparkes and Mr. Jack Pearce. The reception was held at the R.S.L. Institute, where Mrs. Sparkes received in a black French macrame lace frock with touches of pink and grey georgette, with a balibuntal straw with leaves to tone. She carried a lovely bouquet of red roses. About 90 guests sat down to a daintily served breakfast at which Mr Jack Arthur was chairman. The usual toasts were honored (sic), after which an adjournment was made to the dance hall, where an enjoyable evening was spent with dancing and music and games. Mr. Tom Bevan made an efficient M.C; songs were rendered by Miss David, Messrs Rhys Francis, J Blakely and J. Arthur. Mr. Roy Wood was the accompanist. Late in the evening the happy couple left for a motor tour of the south-West, the bride travelling in a beige morocain (?) frock with brown morocain (?) coat and hat and shoes to match."

Marion had made her own wedding dress and she later donated it and the hat she wore on her wedding day to the Subiaco Museum. 

After the wedding Mr and Mrs Sims moved to Tareena Street, Hollywood.