Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-01-29
Wedding Ettquette-Nice Points
for the Ladies'.

Tor the Ladies.
ssDemorest's Monthly" thus solves some
of the conundrums which make pretty
heads ache:
The etiquette of a wedding differs some
what in cities from that observed in thu
country, and it is with the former that we
are now concerned. The invitations are
generally sent out about ten days before
and run as follows:
''Mr. and Mrs F. request the plea
sure of Nj. and Mrs. BIS company al
Trinity church on Wednesday, January II
at O'Clock.
70 this an answer should, of course, be
returned. On the wedding morning The
bridegroom sends the bride the wedding
bouquet; he also sends bouquet to each
of the BRIDES maids. These young ladies
are bound to be at the church in good time
and await the bride at the church door. Hell
father also awaits her there Meanwhile
the bridegroom has, of course, arrived, ac,
companied by his "best man, and taken
up his position in the chancel. Occasion.
ally in the country there are groonsmen-
that is to say, young man for each brides
maid-but this practice is unheard of in
good society. The church having filled
with the invited guests, the bride arrives
with her mother (for whom some gentle
man-either her son OF some great friend
should be waiting), and at once proceeds
to the altar on her fathers farm, and fol-
lowed by her bridesmaids two and two.
care being taken to match them as to
height as nearly as may be. Arrived in
the chancel they should spread out in
semi-circle behind the bride, the chief
bridemaid (who is either the brides
elder sister, If she have one, OF the
bridegroom's) taking charge of the gloves,
handkerchief and bouquet At the con-
clusion OF the ceremony the newly mar
ried couple, Will their parents and imlne-
diate relatives, adjourn to the vestry, sign
the register and receive the congratulations
of their nearest connections. This done,
they emerge into the church and depart
first, the bridesmaids following to the
church door. The BRIDES father escorts
the bridegroom's mother, and his father
the mother of the bride. Very frequently
the guests do not go at once to the house,
but arrive there shortly before the hour
named for the breakfast, and spent the in
terval until it is announced in examining
the presents, which are tastefully laid on
tables in the drawing-room, with the names
of the donors on a card beside each. When
breakfast is announced the bride and BRIDE
groom lead the way, followed by the bride
gloom's mother on the arm of the BRIDES
father, and the BRIDES mother on that of
the brdegroom's father. 1t is now most
unusual to have a sitting down breakfast
A long buffet is provided, as at ball sup
per, but it is becoming the custom to have
few small round tables to accommodate
eight persons. AT one end of these the new
Unmarried couple and their parents sit, of
ten joined by the couples of highest rank
present. The custom of many Oh long
speeches is happily past. The gentleman
of highest position, OF nearest relation,
proposes in as few words as possible the
health of the neWly-married couple; the
bridegroom as briefly responds. The bride
rises, and the knife having been placed in
the cake, cuts the first slice, and then re-
tires to change her dress. The company
finish their breakfast and return to the
drawing room, and in short time the bride
reappears to make her adieux Very often
she divides the bridal boquet among her
bridesmaids. On departure the task of
throwing the white satin slipper belongs to
the Chest man, AS soon as the people
have departed the guests at once disperse.
The custom of sending either cake or cards
is now quite out of fashion.
n When widow remarries, the etiquette
differs somewhat. The invitations are is
sued in her name, but the breakfast is Civ
en- by some near relative or great friend.
The ceremony is usually somewhat quiet
one. There areno trademarks and no ia
vors, and the BRIDES dress is generally
silver gray-never White-and she wears a
bonnet. A question often asked is, ssHoW
does a widow, married a second time, az
range about the old ring?'' Tastes differ.
/ Some wear it on the little finger Of the
| left hand, with memorial ring as q
keeper ,others wear it suspended bya chain
| from the neck, and others lay it carefully
away among their cherished treasures. But
the most usual course is to retain it on the
proper finger, placing the new one over it,
Jos. w. Holden, mayor Of Raleigh N. c.,
died yesterday. He was So years of age.
He was Speaker Of the State House of Rep
reaentatives in 1868.
| Arch. Tolley, of Bedford county, Va,
last week killed bear in the Blue Ridge
weighing 500 pounds. This makes 2O3 hears