The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-04-26
Suptial Etiquette.

Tho Old-time fancy Tor distributing
wedding favor. is again in vogue; direct
" after The ceremony and while the new
Unmarried pair, with the more immediate
relatives, are signing the register, the
bridesmaids dispense them. The gifts de-
signed for the lady guests consist Of small
bOws OF white satin ribbon tying little
sprays Of jessamine; those for the gentle
men are spray of ak-leaves and acorns
without ribbons, while the bridesmaids
favofs have some distinctive mark, such
as q spray Of forget et-me-not. Their bou.
quets are the gift Of the bridegroom and
are sent before the ceremony with the
locket or other souvenir which he pre-
sents 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 England
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. AL arrangements US to fees,
etc., are confltied to the best man; while
the chief bridesmaids duty is t. take the
BRIDES bouquet and gloves whe. the serv-
ice begins.
The interval between the arrival of the
guests at the house and the breakfast is
generally employed In an inspection Of
the wedding presents, which afe s'read
out for examination on a variety of taeles
-one 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 dOner.
WaddfuD kroo b focfo oro v,nxv offau
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 ap-
prupriated to the relatives of the BRIDE
groom and the principal guests. FIRE.
quentlv, however, the old custom Of a
sitting-down breakfast is adhered to, and /,
if it is, the wedding cake is placed in the
center of the table and the bride and
bridegroom lead the way to the dining
room, the brides father follows with the
bridegroom'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
opposite 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 confned-when there are any at all
to the health of the bride and bridegroom,
proposed in few words-the fewer the
better-by the gentlemen of the highest
rank present. The bridegroom in return
ing 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 be well
dispensed with. The bride puts the knife
into the cake which has been cut before
the drinking of the healths, and it is ex-
pected that every one will eat a small
piece for good luck"
When the bride comes into the drawing
room in her travelling dress to say good
by, white satin slippers and rice are
thrown. the best man and bridesmaids dis
pensing 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.
When widow marries the wedding
differs in several points. There are neither
bridesmaids nor favors, and the lady is
debarred wearing white, bridal veil, OF
orange flowers; indeed, she must wear 9
bonnet, according to English etiquette. II
a young lady, however, marries widower
there is no difference made between the
arrangements for her wedding and those
described .-English Paper.