A 104-year-old wedding dress, once worn by bride Gladys Spriggs in 1920 at Trinity Methodist Church when she married James Drummond, took center stage once again over the weekend.
The historic gown, owned by Gladys who is the elder sister of former Napier mayor Ron Spriggs, made its latest appearance at the Napier Nuptials Wedding Dress Show. This event was part of Napier’s 150-year celebrations and was held at Taradale Town Hall.
Organized by Ronda Chrystal, Gladys’ niece, the show featured 14 dresses from various decades, modeled by students from Napier Girls’ High School (NGHS). Chrystal was inspired by her family’s extensive collection of wedding dresses and their deep roots in Napier spanning five generations.
Chrystal shared that her grandmother used to wear the dress every wedding anniversary, reflecting the family’s fondness for celebrations and elaborate attire. Gladys’ gown, being the oldest in the collection at 104 years, was a highlight of the show, admired for its timeless beauty.
Among the dresses showcased were several from former NGHS students, prompting Chrystal to involve current Year 9 and 10 students as models. Due to the smaller sizes of the vintage dresses, Chrystal found that younger students were the perfect fit.
The event attracted original brides and their bridesmaids, some of whom were surprised by how closely the current models resembled them when they wore the dresses on their own wedding days. One particularly notable dress was worn at three separate weddings within the same family in 1945, 1946, and again in 2000.
Chrystal also displayed her own wedding dress, adding a personal touch to the event which celebrated both the history of Napier and the enduring beauty of these cherished wedding gowns.
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