Wedding Dress, 1902

The Bowers Museum has a rarely seen, but wonderful textile collection. Among this collection are costumes and accessories from Santa Ana’s early families. Pictured here is the wedding dress of Laura Potter Warner. She was the adopted daughter of George and Margaret Warner, owner of “Warner’s Nursery” in Santa Ana. The dress is part of a wonderful collection that includes photographs of the bride (shown), groom, minister and bridal party. The bride’s hair ribbon, camisole and shoes; a wedding invitation, marriage license, and a newspaper article describing the wedding (transcribed below) are also part of the collection. The wedding took place in Santa Ana on Wednesday, August 19, 1902.
“Warner-Packard”
“A pretty wedding occurred this afternoon at the home of Geo. B. Warner on Hermosa Street in which his daughter Miss Laura Warner and Leroy M. Packard were united in marriage, Rev. Myron Cooley of the Immanuel Baptist Church officiating. The ceremony was performed in a bower of green, and the parlors were tastefully decorated with ferns. The bride was beautiful in a gown of French lawn. A wedding luncheon was served after the ceremony. Mr. and Mrs. Packard left on the afternoon train for a short tour of Southern California points and will be at home in Santa Ana in a week.
The bride is one of Santa Ana’s most talented and popular young ladies and though news of her marriage will come as a surprise to many of her friends, they will unite in wishing her all happiness. Mr. Packard is the son of Prof. W.A. Packard and is well known here as a young man of sterling worth and integrity.”

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