Historic wedding gown exhibition at St Matthew's

187 Federal Street, AUCKLAND

9 July 2003

PRESS RELEASE

Historic wedding gown exhibition to be held at St Matthew-in-the-City

Our wedding day and the birth of our first child are probably the two most memorable days in our lives.

For hundreds of New Zealand couples, ceremonies marking these special moments in life have been held at St Matthew-in-the-City, the largest stone church in Auckland’s city centre.

To celebrate the role St Matthew’s has played in these moments over the last 100 years, an exhibition of wedding and christening gowns will be held in the church from October 9-16, 2003.

The exhibition, called “MOMENTS IN TIME: Memories in White”, will feature wedding and christening gowns from throughout the last century, as well as a range of celebrities’ dresses and modern designers’ gowns.

“We are very interested in hearing from women who have been married at St Matthew’s over the last few decades,” says Event Manager, Jasmin Kemp, whose previous work includes managing the popular Girl’s Day Out 2002 event in Auckland.

“We would like to display a good cross-section of gowns. If you still have your mother’s or grandmother’s wedding dress tucked away somewhere, we would love to hear from you.”

“We would also like to display the christening gowns of some well known guys,” says Ms. Kemp. “So, if there are any mothers of All Black’s out there who could share their son’s cutest little outfit, please call me!”

The event is eagerly anticipated by the Vicar of St Matthew’s, Ian Lawton, who regularly marries couples from all backgrounds in the historic church, with the support of his congregation.

The event will also see the launch of the “Friends of St Matthew’s”, a network of people interested in the building and community involvement of the historic church as it marks the centenary of its completion in 2005, and beyond.

“St Matthew’s is a spiritual home for all Aucklanders,” says Friends of St Matthew’s chairperson, former Auckland Mayor Christine Fletcher. “The part it has played in the civic life of this city is especially significant.”

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