Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-07-02
Weddings in London.

more frequently issued In printed notes
than on cards. They are issued from
ten days to fortnight before the cere-
mony, and usually run as follows: "Sir
Joha and Lady Green request the
honor of Lord and Lady Ms presence
at st. Georges, Hanover Square, on
Thursday, March 18th, ut eleven o'clock,
and afterward at 12O Grosvenor Gar
ders." Sometimes the hour OF the
breakfast is specified. When such is
the case 1t implies that the guests are
not expected to drive straight to the
house from the church, but to present
themselves about twenty minutes be.
fore the hour named. 1t is, of course,
obligatory that an invitation to a we'd
ding should be answered at once. as
people naturally wish to knew the
number of guests they may expect.
The guests all assemble at the church
and there await the bride, the BRIDE
maids waiting in the porch, and falling
into their places behind her. The bride
arrives in the carriage''with her mother,
and her father receives her at the door,
gives her his right arm, and leads her
up to the altar-or, in the case of
choral or High Church wedding. to the
center Of the church, where the first
part of the service is performed, and
where the bridegroom, attended by his
best man, awaits her. The brides eld-
est brother, or some other near relative
should also be in waiting at the door to
escort her mother.
The number of bridemaids varies &C.
cording to taste; the bride chooses what
costume they shall wear, generally indi-
eating where it is to be procured, SO as
to insure uniformity, but she does not
present them with their dresses, gloves,
or any other part of their equipment.
Tho bridegroom provides the bride and
bridesmaids with their bouquets. which
are sent to them in the morning. He
also presents each bridemaid with o
souvenir, such as locket, porte bon
heur ring, brooch, or fan. These are
sent to them the day before and are
worn at the wedding. The bridegroom
is attended by one friend as best man,
whose duty it is to hold his hat and
gloves, pay the fees. see that the car
riage is ready, and in short take all
trouble off his hands.
Some care should be taken in proper.
ly matching the bridemaids as to height,
and they should clearly understand be-
forehand in what order they are to fol-
low the bride up tho church. When
the procession stops, they spread out
behind her in semi-circle; the head
bridemaid-her sister if she has one,
if not the bridegroom's sister or some
near relative-takes her bouquet and
gloves. The father or other relative
who gives the bride away stands on her
left hand, aud at the inquiry, Who
gives this woman to be married to this
man ?" he places her right hand in that
OF the clergyman. It is, of course, the
nearest relatives who stand close round
the bridal party; it would be very bad
taste for mere acquaintance to usurp
their places.
As soon as the ceremony is concluded,
the newly married couple, with the
clergy and the nearest relatives, djourn
to the vestry to sign the registrar, the
bride signing in her maiden name, and
it Is there that the bride and bridegroom
receive the congratulations of the near
est relatives. If favors are given, they
are distributed, generally by the bride
maids, while the wedding party is in
the vestry. They are more usually
given than not, but still there is nothing
remarkable in their being omitted.
Ladies' favors are generally spray of
jessamine or myrtle, with silver leaves
and white satin:ribbon; the gentleman's,
o spray OF oak leaves and aeorns, with
silver and green leaves, without ribbon.
The bridemaids' favors are generally
slightly more ornamental, and often
have spray of forget-me. 1t is
the duty of the best man to see that the
carriage is at the door, and to inform
the bridegroom; the newly married
pair then walk arm-in-arm down the
church, followed by the bridemaids, in
the same order as before, and drive off
first. It does not matter in what order
the rest of the party follow them.
When the wedding is in the after.
noon, the guests 60 straight to the
house, and the refreshments provided
are such as are given at large after
noon reception, with the addition, of
course, of the wedding cake. When
the wedding is in the evening, all the
guests attend in evening dress, and
after the ceremony drive straight to
the house, where there is either an
evening party and sitting-down sup
per, or dance and an ordinary ball
supper, a wedding cake being, of course,
essential in both cases. On reaching
the house the bride throws up her veil,
and receives the congratulations of her
friends and acquaintance. In the in
terval between the return from church
and the breakfast the inspection OF the
wedding presents gives employment to
the guests. They are displayed on
tables in the drawing room, with the
names Of the donors written legibly on
cards beside them. Some care is
requisite to arrange them properly;
they should not be too crowded, and
they should be assifed-jewelry on
one table, plate on another, china on
third, and so on. It is very usual to
have an afternoon party two days be-
fore the wedding to exhibit the pres
ents; and to this many are invited who
are not asked to the. ceremony itself;
the trousseau, too, is then generally ex-
hibited. This party is not necessary,
but very frequent. Itmay be observed
that groomsmen are not usual in good
T.. l.