Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1869-07-01
A Quaker Wedding.

ilege of witnessing a Quaker wed
ding. To most of our reader
the following description will PROV,
a revelation
Beneath the mirror, in a front par
lor, a sofa had been placed for thG
bride and groom, and upon either
side were chairs for the best mar
and woman. The friends and rel
atives being assembled, the best
man and woman entered the back
Iparlor, followed by the bridal
lpair. They walked the entire
length of the -parlors, and amid
a profound silence took the seats
designed for them. For about
five minutes, during which a ST.
lent prayer is supposed to have
been offered, no one spoke or
moved. The bride sat like stat
ue, with downcast eyes, but
blushing perceptibly. The whole
scene appeared more like a tab
leau than an ordinary wedding
ceremony. After enduring the
silence as long as seemed desira-
bic, the bridegroom and bride
arose, taking each other by the
right hand, when the bridegroom
said:
"In the presence of the Lord
and these people, l take thee, Amy,
to be my wife, promising, by the
divine assistance, to be unto thee
loving and faithful husband un-
til death doth part us"
Then Amy said the same words
to Eugene, stumbling little at
the word "husband." At the con-
clusion of this part of the cere-
mony the company was again seat
ed, and silence reigned profound.
The bride was dressed after the
ordinary fashion, in a white cash
mere, and train, trimmed with
white satin, pompadour waist, lace
underwaist, vel, orange flowers, etc.
During the silence succeeding
the ceremony, an opportunity was
offered for any of the friends to
address the couple if the spirit
moved. After waiting some time
a quiet, motherly-looking lady
made the following ejaculation:
F'This is indeed a very solemn
ceremony, and we all need the di-
vine assistance in living up to its
requirements"
Another period OF silence, and
the bridegroom arose and kissed
the bride, whereupon the best
man and woman did the same
thing.
At this stage Of the proceedings
the best man, with an assistant,
brought a small table into the room
upon which was q marriage GER
tifcate in the shape of a scroll, a
pen and inkstand, and placed it in
front cf the bridegroom. He
signed his name to the contract, |
and then the bride assumed for |
the first time the name of her
husband. Immediately after the
had been affixed to the |
document, gentleman took the
certificate and read it aloud to the |
company.
The contract having been signed
Ind read, it was now taken to the
oack-parlor, where it remained
throughout the evening, during
which time the signatures of all
who witnessed the marriage were
affixed. The people now pressed
:oward the newly married pair, the
nearest relatives going first, and
others following in their appro-
,riate order. AS the uncles and
other elderly gentlemen relatives
kissed the bride, they slipped g
ifty-dollar bill into her hand as
,art payment for the kiss! I'M
nediately after the congratula-
ions, the dining room was thrown
'pen, and the wedding-supper an
This was much like
hat at any other wedding, only
he bridal party sat at an eleva-
ed table and the bridal cake was
lot cut.
The whole ceremony consumed
Ibout one hour. Between fifty
nd sixty signatures of the reIa-
ives of theSbride and bridegroom
we're appended to the parchment.
This is a good custom, and serves to
all to mind each one present at
he wedding. It is a little curl. !