This wedding dress and hat were worn by Loretta Ruttan (neé Marshall) upon her marriage to Harold Arthur Ruttan on Howe Island in 1943. Loretta was the second eldest daughter of Charles and Henrietta Ruttan, who lived and worked at Nokomis Lodge and Farm. Her father Charles was originally farm manager of Nokomis, owned by American millionaire W.H. Nichols, and was later gifted the farm estate as a token of appreciation for his years of dedicated work. The dress itself was hand-made by Blanche Byrne (neé Marshall), Loretta’s eldest sister. Unfortunately, Blanche was diagnosed with breast cancer and died that same year.