The Farmer's Daughter Wedding Episode

Inger rests on a slant-board as not to wrinkle
Katy's wedding dress.
Source: TV Guide. October 23, 1965.

As she prepared for a long day of filming the long-awaited wedding of Katy Holstrum, Inger felt jittery:

I'm so nervous you'd think it was the real thing. I had a hard time sleeping last night and was at the studio before 6 o'clock this morning. I had nightmares of tearing the dress or dropping coffee on it. I'd certainly like a tranquilizer. But I really think they want me to be nervous.

Director Bob Claver agreed, "We want you to be a trembling bride for the camera."

Inger said that she was surprised that "all of us could be so nervous...I'm disgusted with myself." Upon seeing her stylist and costumer tremble while placing the tiara on her head, Inger joked, "You two are worse than I am. Here, let me help."

Even actor Walter Sande (Papa Holstrum) admitted that rehearsing the walk down the aisle was emotional for him, because of his love for Inger:

Once more and I'm afraid I would have cried. My emotions kept building. This is strange for an actor, but I love that girl so much.

The only actor seemingly unfazed by the affair? Bill Windom appeared cool and completely at ease throughout the filming.

Sleepy Bill during rehearsals.
Source: TV Guide. October 23, 1965.

Inger and Bill chat over hair and makeup at 6 a.m.

The television wedding cost the studio approximately $75,000, including a purchase of 40 bags of rice. Costume designer Joie Hutchinson rightly selected Autumn-appropriate dresses for the maid of honor and bridesmaids since the wedding was set to air in November; however, in July when the episode was filmed the actresses were overly warm in velvet tops, satin skirts, and petal headdresses. 

Inger does a final makeup and hair check.

Inger and Cathleen Nesbitt behind the scenes.

During filming, actress Elizabeth Montgomery walked over from the Bewitched set to congratulate Bill and Inger. Real wedding presents arrived for the fictional bride! Inger received an album of classical flamenco guitar recordings from actor David Lewis, who knew of Inger's interest in guitar. Inger also was gifted the set of engagement-wedding rings she wore in the series.

According to Eddie Foy III's original Day Out of Days schedule for the show, the cast and crew rehearsed for the episode (production #3807) on July 26 before filming for four days from July 27 through July 30, 1965. 

A beautiful bride

Inger seemed excited about the possibilities a marriage might bring to The Farmer's Daughter,  stating: 

I hope we will be able to show that a married couple can be sophisticated—yes, and even sexy. After all, he found her attractive and appealing enough to marry her. Why should we try to hide their love just because they're married?

Inger knew that network television was perhaps still not ready to be too sexy. After all, in the honeymoon episode William Windom's character was allowed to say he asked for double accommodations, but not a double bed. Inger commented:

The use of the word 'bed' was absolutely forbidden. It looked as if the show would have to be abandoned. But he was allowed to substitute 'accommodations' with only a glance at the bed. If the audience wants to read something into the glance, it may.

Inger was also looking forward to donning a new wardrobe in the third season:

Katy wears more sophisticated clothes now and her hair is shorter and more stylish. I think that's only natural. It shows that he has an effect on her.

A shot of the making of the wedding scene.

"To Have and To Hold" was certainly one of the most anticipated and celebrated television events of the season. Yet the network and sponsors' interest in the show appeared to be waning even before the wedding episode aired.  The episode, already heavily promoted to air Monday, November 1, was postponed the week of airing when The Farmer's Daughter was suddenly switched from Mondays to Fridays—reportedly to give Peyton Place a more advantageous time slot. The wedding would air on Friday, November 5. You can watch the full episode on Youtube thanks to the William Windom Tribute Site by playing the embedded video below or clicking here.

There were also reports that Clairol, the show's main sponsor, was ready to pull out at the end of season two, but maintained sponsorship after Screen Gems VP John Mitchell promised to marry the lead characters and uniquely promote the event in season three. That unique promotion took the form of a party hosted by former ambassador, noted socialite, and later television host Perle Mesta.

Inger in a promotional shot from Screen Gems.
Source: Scan from my collection

Host Perle Mesta smiles as Inger feeds William Windom
a slice of wedding cake.
Source: Pittsburgh Press. November 2, 1965.

The studio's last minute switch in airing "To Have and To Hold" four days late caused a bit of a headache for party host Perle Mesta since the party was scheduled to take place in conjunction with the premiere on Monday, November 1. The plan was to screen "To Have and To Hold" and then guests would greet "Mr. and Mrs. Morley" and enjoy a wedding cake. Mesta shrugged off the switch saying the party, which took place in Mesta's penthouse complex overlooking the Washington Monument, was "all just for fun anyway." Over 100 people, including ambassadors and officials, attended the party where they danced, drank pink champagne, and ate wedding cake.

Inger arrived at the party wearing a gold dress, with scooped neckline, covered in white beads. Mesta told reporters that she "nearly dropped over" at Inger's congeniality; Inger requested the guest list before the party, memorized facts about each guest, then showed up able to chat personally with each person.

Although the Holstrum-Morley wedding brought new publicity to the show and is still a beloved television event to viewers today, it proved not enough to save the show long-term. By the end of the third season, the show's plot grew stale for viewers and the network didn't seem willing to revive it. Inger saw the end of the show as an opportunity to re-enter films and enbraced portraying a variety of characters again. You can learn more about The Farmer's Daughter on my TFD page by clicking here.

Finally, I'm including this shot of Inger because I love her profile (even in a bad quality newspaper picture) and it was included in an article about the fictional nuptials.

Inger.
Source: Indianapolis News. February 20, 1965.

Sources: 

Beale, Betty. “Picked Up Tab, Perle Insists.” The Pittsburgh Press. November 14, 1965. 

Lanahan, Frances. Perle Packs Them In-Wedding or No Wedding.” Rapid City Journal. November 5, 1965. 

Leonard, Vince. “Perle Hosts ‘Farmer’s Daughter.’ The Pittsburgh Press. November 2, 1965. 

Lowry, Cynthia. "Farmer's Daughter Wedding a Bit Shaky." Dayton Daily News. August 7, 1965. 

“Perle Rises to Occasion of Make-Believe Vows.” The Wichita Eagle. November 3, 1965.

Thomas, Bob. "Inger Stevens to be Sexy in New 'Farmer's Daughter.'" Hattiesburg American. October 2, 1965. 

Thomas, Bob. "Katy, Morley To Get Married?" The Indianapolis News. February 20, 1965.