Forty two years ago, on 10 May 1969, Bill and I were married. We had only known each other for six months and many of our friends said, "It won't last." I think we have proved them wrong.
 |
| On the way to the reception. Someone plonked a present into Bill's arms. |
Bill and I met in Papua/New Guinea, where we were working at the time. We thought it would be unfair to Bill's parents to be married in my home town, Sydney and we thought it would be unfair to my parents if we married in Bill's country of Switzerland. So we decided to get married in P/NG with our friends. Now I think that was a bit cruel, especially as my brother paid for my parents to fly to Pt Moresby for the marriage. Now I feel bad that Bill's parents weren't able to come.
We didn't have a church wedding. We were married in the District Office by the District Officer of Pt Moresby. P/NG was governed by Australia in those days. We had a small private ceremony followed by a reception in "The Purple Parrot Restaurant" We booked out the whole restaurant.
This was the sixties in the tropics so I wore a mini dress, can you believe that? Poor Bill wore a suit and was sweltering in the heat. The photographer was a dud and we haven't any decent photos of our marriage. However, we have 42 years of happy memories.
We are going out to dinner tonight.
Happy Anniversary to you both. 42 years of great memories certainly proves the naysayers wrong! Enjoy the next 42!!
ReplyDeleteHappy anniversary with your 42 years of happines. You looked great in your minidress, at least it was white. I married in 1970 and no bride wanted to wear white or a bridel-dress. My father was disappointed I went for a pink trouser suit. But that's how we were in the sixties. We all did things different from our parents. Have a nice evening both.
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary, Diane! I wish you and Bill many more years of happiness. I like the cute mini dress and Bill looks handsome.
ReplyDeleteAhaaaaaaaaah! Shucks or should I say OMG!
ReplyDeleteMini-skirt and Black stockings!
Well you did it, and lasted, and happy ever after! Two great daughters, both very successful, who bloody well doubted the two of you in your decision to be married???? Two wonderful son-in-laws and one great grandkid, so far!
Delightful home, great garden, one very good lemon tree, one red BMW, plenty of trips - Aussie and overseas, WHAT more could you ask for???
Congratulations on 42 years.
Love
Colin (HB)
Happy Anniversary to you both - I hope you have a wonderful dinner together and 42 years of happy memories is truly a treasure!
ReplyDeleteYou both look so happy and that is what counts. xx
I was married in the early 70s and my wedding dress was short and above the knee too. Happy anniversary.
ReplyDeleteLook at those gorgeous pins!!! Congratulations to you both! xxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteYou certainly did prove them wrong ... by bucket-loads!
ReplyDeleteYou both look gorgeous - and happy.
A very Happy Anniversary and enjoy your evening.
Happy Anniversary and honestly I think that picture is just fine! I love the dress and that you came to a compromise about where to get married. Have a lovely dinner and many MANY more.
ReplyDeleteNo one knows your heart like you do. My grandparents were about to celebrate their 50th when he was killed from the car accident. Everyone said the same about them. In fact, they eloped and my great-grandmother went to bed crying with a headache. She later told him what an incredible son-in-law he had been. Congrats you two lovebirds!
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary you two. Gosh I hope it lasts ;>)~~~
ReplyDeleteYou looked stunning in the mini-dress and your daughters look so much like you!
Cheers.
Congratulations on your 42nd anniversary. I'm glad you and Bill proved your friends wrong. Betsy and I were also married six months after we met.
ReplyDeleteHappy anniversary indeed! I love your mini-dress. It is absolutely perfect for the 60s.
ReplyDelete— K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
Happy wedding anniversary, what a cute couple ! We also married in 1969 in October ! I think we are rather exceptions. I only knew Mr. G for an evening and then we lived (secretely of course) together before we married ! See, that proves that time doesn't mean anything if you find the right person !
ReplyDeleteHI Diane, Congrats on 42 yrs... It certainly DID last!!!!!! WOW!!!!
ReplyDeleteLove that picture.. What a cutie couple. Love your mini-skirt/dress... Show off 'dem legs, lady!!!!!!!ha
Hope you get 42 more together!!!
Hugs,
Betsy
Diane,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations and happy anniversary!
Hope your special day is wonderful.
Marsha
i heard the same thing when I married my husband 26 years ago, i was divorced, his wife had died at age 42 and we knew each other 3 months, it is still working. my first marriage that everyone said would work, did not. cute dress.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! This just made me so happy to look at..you both are simply adorable! Bill looks like a actor from the Rat Pack (think Sinatra,Dean Martin and the like)an you look like a Vogue model..simply the sign/style of the time beautifully done!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great photo to have as a reminder of the 42 years when this whole thing started..as say on the plaques.."All because two people fell in love..."
Simply brilliant! Happy Happy Anniversary to you both :-)
Hope you have a wonderful time tonight. Wait. Maybe it's tomorrow and your tonight is all over with. In any event, Happy Anniversary. I loved this picture. It flashed me back to the 60's real fast. And that dress is adorable.
ReplyDeleteAnd I forgot to say . . . . the resemblence between that photo of you and your daughters is amazing!
ReplyDeleteHappy anniversary! - just goes to show doesn't it that other people don't know what is in your heart.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to you! LT and I will have been married for 39 years in July. There are still a couple of family members shaking their heads and solemnly saying under their breath, "It'll never last..." hehehehe You were a beautiful bride and the mini skirt is adorable. Our photographer was terrible, too, and we have no decent photos.
ReplyDeleteOh, you two looked adorable together! I think your miniskirt wedding dress was just perfect for the time and place. It is always hard to know what to do when families don't live near each other, but I think you did the best you could in that situation. Happy 42nd Anniversary to you and Bill!
ReplyDeleteBelated Congratulations on 42 years of wedded bliss! I am late in coming over, as we've been completely tied up for the past couple of days. What a sweet couple you two made then and still are, now! And how great that you proved all those naysayers wrong with their predictions. Just goes to show...when it's right, nothing can get in the way :) A lovely, lovely story of a happily married couple still enjoying each other and the wonderful life they created :)
ReplyDeleteBig hug to you both and my very best wishes for many more years of happiness, good health and making even more priceless memories! xoxo
Happy Anniversary one day late. It's a lovely photo.
ReplyDeleteFrom me, too. Happy anniversary to the both of you.
ReplyDeleteUh-oh, Diane, I got my math wrong in my comment on your later post. Anyway, congratulations again on MANY years of happiness and love. Never say never, hey! You looked stunning in that white mini. And so tanned. You are both still a very debonair couple and may you have many more happy years together. Bless you both. Jo
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes! I remember the mini dress! Congratulations on 42 years. My sister warned me off when I became engaged and we have recently celebrated 45 years. By the way, her marriage, sadly, ended in divorce. Nancy
ReplyDeleteWhat a great photo and what a great story! It lasts if you want it to last, and you did:) Best wishes for the following anniversaries!
ReplyDeleteI love the wedding dress! My girlfriend got married in San Diego about the same time and she wore a dress very similar to yours. Mine was long. My mother insisted. (Now I'm glad!)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on proving all the nay sayers wrong and cheers for all the happy memories!
i meant to tell you about my mother on this post. she was 17 my dad was 29, on her 18th birthday they were married and 2 weeks later he turned 30, everyone who knew them, especailly her parents said It will never last. It did last until she died 45 years later and would have lasted longer if she had not died at 63 which was a big surprise since daddy was so mucholder that she was
ReplyDeleteMini skirts, certainly showed your slim sexy legs.
ReplyDeleteCongrats!!!!you two certainly worked hard. 6 months and you married for 42 years.
Congratulations to you both! Like Lucy, I can really see your daughters'resemblance to you from this photo. Isn't it amazing how that works?
ReplyDeleteI think you were very stylish for the era! Such happy smiles.
ReplyDeleteGreat story...I love the mini
ReplyDelete