The wedding of the century

The bridal couple with their parents - Ervin and Ina Nolte,
and Ruby and G.L. (Bud) Dryden

The most extensively documented wedding of the previous century wasn't that of Princess Elizabeth to Philip Mountbatten in 1947, of Monaco's Prince Rainer to actress Grace Kelly in 1956, or of Lady Diana Spencer to Prince Charles in 1981.

It was the wedding of Nancy Ann Nolte to my brother, Jerry, on August 4, 1957, sixty years ago this week, which was documented in painstaking detail by the world's most observant reporter, Mrs. Dula Hook, in the August 7, 1957 issue of the Auxvasse (Mo.) Review, my hometown paper. 

Mrs. Hook was the one and only reporter for the weekly, which was typeset and printed by her husband, Clayton, who also printed up all the farm sale bills for the northern half of Callaway County, Mo. Every Wednesday afternoon, the four-page Review, which couldn't have possibly had more than 200 subscribers because there were only 507 people in the town, rolled off the press with excruciatingly detailed stories about every single thing that had happened in and around Auxvasse during the previous week -- every birthday party, every death, every gathering of every club, every wedding, and every social event (including families "calling" on each other on Sunday afternoons and the refreshments they enjoyed -- sometimes Coca-Cola, other times Pepsi or RC). 

It's tempting to scoff at the picayune details Mrs. Hook wrote about in describing Jerry and Nancy's wedding  -- for instance, not only the bride's dress but the fabric covering the buttons on the dress -- but, when you think about it, it's a remarkable and impressive piece of journalism. Had she lived anywhere but Auxvasse, Mrs. Hook, with an eye for details a casual observer would never notice, could have been a reporter for any paper, anywhere. Read her wedding coverage below and see if you have ever seen a story containing this much information. I learned some new words as I typed the story and I bet you will, too.

The one detail Mrs. Hook didn't mention is that the flower girl, five-year-old little Miss Karen Nolte, niece of the bride, got into a fistfight in the front yard of her grandparents' home where the reception was held, with the five-year-old ring bearer, Tommy Dryden. For years my mother kept as a souvenir the white suit I wore that was covered in grass stains and blood. 

But, before you read about the wedding of the century, please join me in wishing Jerry and Nancy a happy 60th anniversary. While they grew up in the same small town, they could have searched the world over and never found anyone as perfectly suited for each other as they were and are. During his career as a military officer, they lived all over the US, in Asia and Europe, raised four accomplished children and, for the last 40 years, have lived in a Dayton suburb.  

Jerry and Nancy, I love, admire and respect you more than you will ever know. And I'm sure I speak for the flower girl when I say I'm sorry about that unfortunate incident at the reception.

Miss Nolte Becomes Bride of Jerry Dryden

Shades of pink predominated at the wedding of Miss Nancy Ann Nolte and Jerry Tate Dryden on Sunday afternoon at the Grand Prairie Baptist Church in Auxvasse. The church pastor, the Rev. Dale Norfolk, officiated at the three o'clock double ring ceremony. Large arrangements of emerald foliage formed the background for the twenty-eight pink altar tapers in tall candelabra.

Mr. and Mrs. Ervin Nolte and Mr. and Mrs. G.L. Dryden, Jr., parents of the couple, were seated in pews marked with large white satin bows.

A half-hour prelude of love songs played by Mrs. J.M. Motley of Fulton preceded the ceremony and she also accompanied the two soloists. Mrs. Motley's selections included "To A Wild Rose" (MacDowell); "Romance" (A. d'Ambrosio, op 9); "Thais" Meditation (J. Massennet); "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (J.S. Bach); "The Rosary" (E. Nevin); "Poem" (Fibich); "Thou Art Like Unto a Flower" ((Rubenstein, arrg. by C. Pigg); "My Heart at Thy Sweet Voice" (from Samson & Delilah by C. Saint-Saens); "White Orchids" Bridal Prelude (J.F. Cooke); "Ave Maria" (Bach-Gounod).

"I Love You Truly" by Bond was sung by Gene Magruder of Auxvasse preceding the ceremony, and Mrs. Harold Nolte of Jefferson City sang "The Lord's Prayer" by Malette as the couple knelt for the benediction.

As the bridal party approached the altar, Mrs. Motley played the Bridal Chorus from "Lohengrin" by Wagner, and used the Wedding March from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by F. Mendelssohn as the recessional.

Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a gown of frost-white Chantilly lace over satin. The modified V neckline was embroidered with tiny seed pearls and iridescent sequins and the fitted bodice was closed down the back with tiny self-covered buttons. The long sleeves that came to a point over the hands also closed with tiny self-covered buttons. The aisle-wide skirt was worn over crinolines and hoops and extended into a medium-length train. Her veil was made in three tiers of French illusion and fastened to a pearl tiara. The bride carried an arrangement of white orchids and agapanthus on a lace covered prayerbook with satin streamers, tied at intervals in lovers' knots.

Preceding the bride down the aisle were four attendants, Miss Faye Anne Hellyer of Mexico, maid of honor, Miss Dixie Ehler of Omaha, Nebr., cousin of the bride, Miss Judy Dryden, sister of the bridegroom, and Miss Janice Bartholow, both of Auxvasse. The four were gowned alike in chalk-white embroidered organdy over blush pink taffeta, with matching mitts. The bodices featured a scalloped neckline and short sleeves. Sashes of pink taffeta were tied in butterfly bows at the back, with streamers falling to the scalloped hems of the terrace-length skirts. They wore picture hats of white organdy over taffeta, and pink slippers. Instead of flowers, each carried an old-fashioned lace-tiered fan.

Pink rose petals were scattered in the bride's path by the flower girl, Little Miss Karen Louise Nolte, niece of the bride, and 5-year-old daughter of Dr and Mrs. Roger E. Nolte of  Rolla, Mo. She wore a terrace-length dress similar to that of the bridesmaids, of white embroidered organdy over a deeper shade of pink, with matching mitts. A pink cummerbund encircled her waist and tied in a bow at back with streamers down the back. Her tiny hat was of white organdy over pink taffeta, and her shoes were pink. Her corsage was of pink carnations.

Tommy Dryden, 5-year-old brother of the bridegroom, was ring bearer. He wore a white suit and carried the rings on a heart-shaped pillow edged with lace and white satin ribbon streamers.

The altar tapers were lighted by Susan and Marilyn Nolte, nieces of the bride and also daughters of Dr. and Mrs. Nolte of Rolla. They wore identical dresses of embroidered white organdy over American Beauty rose faille, with matching mitts. Their hats also were of white embroidered organdy over American Beauty rose faille, and their shoes were pink. Each had a corsage of pink carnations. Their pink lighting candles were decorated with pink flowers and ribbon streamers. After lighting the tapers, they stood during the ceremony on the first step of the altar.

Robert Owens of Gerald, fraternity brother of the bridegroom at Westminster College in Fulton, was best man. Ushers were Gilbert Dryden of High Hill, cousin of the groom, Clayton Mottaz of Columbia, Gary Pasley of Auxvasse, Dr. Roger Nolte of Rolla, Gordon Nolte of Wellsville and Larry Nolte of Auxvasse, brothers of the bride.

Mrs. Ervin Nolte, mother of the bride, wore a navy lace dress with pink accessories and her corsage was a white orchid. Mrs. Dryden, mother of the bridegroom, wore a beige dress with matching accessories and also had a white orchid corsage.

Grandmothers of the bridegroom, Mrs. G.L. Dryden, Sr., of High Hill, and Mrs. J. Burton Tate of Montgomery City, each wore a corsage of pink carnations.

Presiding at the guest book were Mrs. Richard Lubbers of Auxvasse and Miss Jo Ellen Pearl of Mexico. They also accepted gifts at a table covered with a pink cloth. Each wore a corsage of pink carnations.

Pink summer flowers were used on the mantelpiece and throughout the home of Mrs. and Mrs. Ervin Nolte southeast of Auxvasse, where the reception was held immediately following the ceremony.

The bride's table was covered with white lace over pink, and centered with a four-tier wedding cake topped with a miniature bride and groom. The cake was surrounded by ropes of honeysuckle and flanked by pink tapers in crystal holders and pink roses. After the bridal couple cut the first piece of cake, the remainder was cut and served by Mrs. Roger Nolte, sister-in-law of the bride. Presiding at the punch bowls were Miss Mildred Creasy of Mexico and Mrs. Don Hale of Martinsburg. Assisting in serving the guests were Mrs. Gordon Nolte, sister-in-law of the bride, and Miss Doris McPheeters and Mrs. David Smithee of Auxvasse.  Each of those serving had a corsage of pink carnations.

For going away the new Mrs. Dryden wore a white with poudre blue embroidered cotton sheath and a wide pleated poudre blue cummerbund. She wore a white picture hat and white gloves, and her shoes and purse were navy. Her corsage was two white orchids from the bridal bouquet.

She graduated from the Auxvasse High School as salutatorian of the class of 1954.

After a two weeks' wedding trip to Canada, the couple will reside in Mexico where the bride will continue working at the A.P. Green Fire Brick Co. Mr. Dryden will be employed in his father's store, Dryden's Store, in Auxvasse. He received his B.S. degree from Westminster College in Fulton on August 2. His fraternity is Kappa Alpha.

The wedding rehearsal was held at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Grand Prairie Baptist Church, after which the wedding party was entertained at dinner at the home of Mr. Dryden's parents. The hostess was assisted in preparing and serving the dinner by her sister-in-law, Mrs. Ralph Simmons of High Hill, Mo.

Those present in addition to Mr. Dryden and his fiancee, were Dr. and Mrs. Roger Nolte and daughters Susan, Marilyn and Karen, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Nolte, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Nolte, Mr. and Mrs. Ervin Nolte, Miss Dixie Ehler, Miss Faye Ann Hellyer, Miss Mary Frances Duffen, Miss Jean Ann Wilks, Clayton Mottaz, Robert Owens, Gilbert Dryden, Miss Janice Bartholow, Gary Pasley, Gene Magruder, Larry Nolte, Miss Judy Dryden and Tommy Dryden.