Autumn flowers filled the Church of the Holy Spirit for the marriage of Miss Clara Marsh McLeod, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter H. McLeod of this city, and Horton C. Rorick, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ceilan H. Rorick of Toledo, Ohio, solemnized in an 8 o’clock candlelight ceremony Saturday evening.
Rev. Thomas W. Bennett read the Episcopal service before an altar decorated in a gold and white floral theme of chrysanthemums, pompoms and asters against a background of ferns and vines. White tapers in double-branch candelabra lighted the altar and candles in floor stands marked the line of the aisles.
Mrs. DeLoss Smith of Missoula, at the organ, played the processional and recessional and provided a program of nuptial selections preceding the ceremony.
Taking their places with the bridegroom were his best man and cousin, Marvin H. Rorick of Perrysburg, Ohio, and the eight groomsmen, George P. MacNichol, III, Sinclair Walbridge, Jr., and James J. Robison, all of Toledo; another cousin, H.R. Prudden of Perrysburg; Guy C. Bates, Media, Pa., Joseph S. Sample, Lake Forest, Ill.; David Gibson, Pittsburgh, Pa.; and the bride’s brother, Walter H. McLeod, Jr., of this city. The groom and his attendants were in formal evening attire.
The bride was escorted down the white-carpeted aisle and given in marriage by her father. Preceding her were the flower girl, little Miss Mary Sharon Mulroney, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Mulroney and niece of the bride; the maid of honor, Miss Wolcott Rorick, Toledo, sister of the bridegroom, and the five bridesmaids, Miss Jean Richards, a cousin from Washington, D.C.; Mrs. W.H. McLeod, Jr., Missoula; Miss Lillian Chambers and Mrs. Ridgely Chambers, both of New York City, and Mrs. Guy C. Bates of Media, Pa.
The bride’s gown of ivory satin was cut along simple lines and feature a fitted bodice with sweetheart neckline, long sleeves tapered to points over the wrists and tiny self-covered buttons at the wrists and down the back to the tiny waist. Her full swag drape skirt fell into a long train. She wore a full-length veil of illusion which was caught into a bandeau style headdress adorned with seed pearls. White orchids formed her bridal bouquet.
The bride’s attendants were costumed identically, the maid of honor in nile green and the bridesmaids in gold. Their gowns were fashioned with draped bertha, bouffant skirt and bustle back with which they wore long mitts and small halo hats of the same material. Miss Rorick’s bouquet was of yellow roses and the bridesmaids carried Talisman roses.
The flower girl wore a Kate Greenway style full-length dress in a maize shade, a crown of flowers in her hair and carried an old-fashioned bouquet.
The bride’s mother was gowned in floor-length gold crepe trimmed with gold sequins and lace. Her headdress was a matching gold Juliet cap and her shoulder corsage was of white orchards. Mrs. Rorick’s gown of brown and chartreuse was complemented by a halo hat of chartreuse sequins and a corsage of green orchids.
Three hundred guests attended the wedding reception in the Governor’s and Mayfair rooms of Hotel Florence after the ceremony. The serving table, appointed in silver and white, held white tapers in silver candelabra and an antique silver punchbowl which has been in the McLeod family for over fifty years. Centering the table was a huge white wedding cake encircled at the base with white carnations. Two sets of pillars separated the five tiers which were decorated with roses and silver leaves. Miss Mary Mista served the cake and Miss Mary V. Harris was in charge of the guest book. Punch was served by Wilbur Robb. Incidental music and music for dancing during the reception hours was played by Al Chenevert at the organ and Mrs. J.T. Walford at the piano. Assisting about the rooms were Mrs. Thomas Mulroney, Mrs. E.C. Mulroney, Mrs. C.W. Leaphart, Mrs. John J. Lucy, Mrs. Paul Gillespie, Mrs. A.T. Hibbard, Mrs. DeLoss Smith and Mrs. J.E. Busey.
Out-of-town guests who came for the nuptials in addition to the bridegroom’s parents and members of the bridal party included James Bentley, grandfather of the groom; Mrs. Joseph Sample, who came with her husband from Lake Forest, Ill,; Mr. and Mrs. D.D. Richard and daughters, Jean and Annie, Washington, D.C.; Mr. and Mrs. Harry Keith, Kalispell; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hibbard and Mr. and Mrs. A.T. Hibbard, Helena, and Mrs. J.C. Corette, Butte.
Covers were laid for 36 at a pre-nuptial dinner for the out-of-town guests, members of the bridal party and immediate families Thursday night at Hotel Florence. Lighted tapers, gladioluses and fall flowers were used on the table. Incidental music was played during the dinner and for the reception which preceded the dinner honor. Dancing followed.
Mr. and Mrs. Rorick have departed on a brief honeymoon trip and upon their return will go to New York City where Mr. Rorick will enter the school of law at Columbia University. They will be at home at 234 West Fourteenth Street, New York City.
For travel the bride chose a brown suit which she wore with matching suede accessories and hat trimmed with pink roses and feathers.
Source: The Missoulian, September 14, 1947.
Carol Ann Hilton 