The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-05-19
How To Be Married in Style.

The old-time fancy for distributing
wedding favors is again in vogue; direct
ly after the ceremony and while the
newt -married. pair, with the more i'm
mediate relatives, are signing the regis
ter, the bridesmaids dispense them. The
gifts designed for the lady guests consist
of small bows of white satin ribbon tying
little sprays of jessamine; those for the
gentlemen are a spray of oak leaves and
acorns, without ribbon, while the brides
maids favors have some distinctive mark,
such as spray of forget-me not. Their
bouquets are the gift of the bridegroom,
and are sent before the ceremony, with
the locket or other souvenir which he
presents them. He also furnishes the
bride with her flowers for the occasion.
When the service takes place in church
the ceremony is generally performed en-
tirely at the communion rails; but in high
churches the actual ceremony, in En-
gland particularly, takes place in the
body of the church, and the bridal party,
preceded by the officiating clergy, moves
on into the chancel for the subsequent
portion of the service. All arrange
ments as to fees, ETC., are confded to the
best man; while the chief bridesmaids
duty is to take the brides bouquet and
gloves when the service begins.
The interval between the arrival of the
guests at the house and the breakfast is
generally employed by an inspection of
the wedding presents, which are. spread
out for examination on variety of tables
lone for plate, another for jewelry, one
for china, one for glass ornaments, etc,
each gift being accompanied by slip of
paper, bearing the name of the donor.
Wedding breakfasts are now often ar
ranged on the plan of ball supper, with
several round tables and a long buffet.
where the majority of the company take
their lunch standing, the tables being
appropriated to the relatives of the bride
groom and principal guests. Frequently,
however, the custom of sitting down
breakfast is adhered to, and it there is a
wedding cake it is placed in the center
of the table and the bride and BRIDE
groom take places opposite to it. In the
former plan the cake is placed in the
center Of the buffet. When breakfast is
announced the bride and bridegroom
lead the way to the dining-room; the
brides father follows with the bride
groom's mother, and seats himself next
to his daughter; the bridegroom's father
comes next with the brides mother, and
places her beside the bridegroom Very
frequently the bridesmaids all sit oppo-
site to the bride, accompanied by the
gentlemen who have been desired by the
hostess to take them down. the best man
invariably taking the chief bridesmaid
Speeches are now confined when there
are any at ALTO the health of the bride
and bridegroom, proposed in few words
THE fewer the better-by the gentlemen
of the highest rank present. The BRIDE
groom, in returning thanks, sometimes
proposes the health of the bridesmaids,
for whom the best man briefly responds
There should be no other toasts, and even
these may we'll be dispensed with. The
bride puts a knife into the cake-which
has been cut before the drinking of the
healths, and it is expected that every
one will eat a small piece for good
''luck.p a4& tH "
When the bride comes into the draw
ing-room, in her travelling dress, to say
good-by, white satin slippers and rice are
thrown, the best man and bridesmaids
dispensing the former, while the latter is
showered upon the departing pair ex
clusively by matrons. The fashion Of
sending cards and cake has gone entirely
out of style. r.. ..... ..a .s,.
When a widow marries the wedding
differs in several points. There are
neither bridesmaids nor favors, and the
lady is debarred wearing white, a bridal
veil or orange flowers, indeed, she must
wear bonnet, according to English ETH
quette.3 If young lady, however, mar
ries widower, there is no difference
made between the arrangements for her
wedding and those described. ~ ".
World. ..... ... I,
Es- 81 - 20 ~ .