Today is my Memere & Pepere's 70th wedding anniversary & they were together for 5 years before they were married, for a total of 75 years of togetherness. They met in 1935 while Memere was on a date ice skating with another boy! Memere asked her date to introduce her to his friend & he did, quite reluctantly. He tried to trick Memere by telling her he was Italian so she would not like him {as she was French & needed to marry a suitable French boy, of course}. Pepere helped her take off her ice skates & they parted ways. She went home & asked one of her sisters if they knew him, which they did & told her he worked at the local market. She went down to see him the next day {how forward, Memere!}. They dated, then Pepere went off to college in Boston, but came home every weekend to see Memere in Somersworth, New Hampshire.
My mother found their wedding announcement & it stated that they had a "pretty wedding" & she made "an attractive bride." It continued to describe her dress in great detail & stated she had a bouquet of lily-of-the-valley & gardenias. What struck me was the fact that they were married at 7 on a Saturday morning. 7 in the morning? Looking that fabulous!? At their anniversary celebration this past Sunday we asked her why they got married so early. Memere stated it was because she did not want anyone to see her & Pepere said, "I just did what she told me to do!" Love it.
Their wedding reception followed at Memere's family home where "refreshments were served" as the announcement states. See, eating cake for breakfast has always been an acceptable practice!
After their wedding they went on a honeymoon to New York City {by way of boat, it looks!}. They have always been quite the fashionable couple & still are today. My Pepere revealed at our wedding on September 18th, that he had been wearing the same suit to each of his grandchildren's weddings {7 spanning 19 years} & he wore it to their celebration on Sunday.
I consider myself so lucky to have my Memere & Pepere here today at ages 95 & 96. While I will probalby not live to be with Rich for 75 years {that would put me at 98 & Rich at 102!!}, they are incredible role models for us as newlyweds & my entire family, & I am so thankful for that.
Happy 70th Wedding Anniversary, Memere & Pepere!
That is unbelievably sweet!! 7am though... makeup artists and hairdressers might not like the start time for that!
Posted by: Kate/MagnoliaRouge | October 12, 2010 at 05:59 PM
Just browse my twitter page (@estheticelement) and saw your beautiful article on your mom and dad's wedding. It is my 14th wedding anniversary also this day. It was a delight to know that someone had exchange their vows 70 years ago on the same day.
Keep love alive!
Posted by: Grace | October 12, 2010 at 05:59 PM
such a sweet post. congrats to them and thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Jessica Lynn | October 12, 2010 at 10:01 PM
Wow! Congratulations to them! Their wedding photos are amazing.
Posted by: Elaine | October 12, 2010 at 10:46 PM
wow. beautiful story. would love to see a current photo of them.
congrats on your own wedding. pam
Posted by: pam | October 13, 2010 at 12:54 PM
Beautiful!! Love endures. Here's to love like that!
Posted by: gina | October 15, 2010 at 06:34 PM
What a sweet post- I ABSOLUTELLYYYYYY love this post! love old pictures, love the history!
Posted by: crafty Girl | November 16, 2010 at 08:13 AM