The sun., 1881-04-10
NOW TO GET MARRIED NOWADAYS.


The modern New York wedding is model
led on the English style Of doing thinRs. The
attendant cavaliers entering the room or church
arm In arm ia entirely broken up. and tho
gentlemen ushers. who seat the company and
church. are compelled to enter hrst without the
soace Of a feminine hand on the coat sleeve.
a bride elect begins. sometimes three months
before her wedding day, to invite her brlde-
maids. for there, are dresses to be made and
gifts selected. The groom chooses his best
man. ana his ushers. Of whom there are gen
orally six. These. gentlemen receive from him
cravats and scarf pins, and the groom ire-
bride often gives each Of her bridemaids OF
whom there are also, generally six, some small
token OF her regard but not, as formerly her
dress. Bouquets are always provided by the
bride for her bridomaids
The church must be engaged for a fortnight
ahead, to avoid the gloomy catastrophe OF meet
ing funeral coming out. which has happened.
and which is, OF course. depressing. The
clergyman aud organist both need time to get
themselves In order; and the florist. who Is to
decorate the altar with fresh cut flowers and
growing plants. also needs time; he also should
When the happy day arrives tho head usher
goes to the church an hour before the time to
aisle. reseryinR pews enough for the family
and particular friends and to see, in fact that
all details are attended to.
The ushers should be in attendance early. to
seat people In convenient places. and good
manners and careful attentions. particularly to
elderly people. make lifelong friends for these
young gentlemen at the weddings where they
oficlate. When the bride's mother arrives the
white cord is dropped. and she is taken to the
front seat; all the family friends take their
places near her in adjoining pews.
Then the clergy come IN and take their places
at the altar. followed by the groom and his best
man. who have been safely guarded in the yes
try room. The groom looks down the aisle to
watch Tor his coming bride The organ strikes
ushcrs are seen entering the church door. They
come In slowly. two and two. followed by the
bridemaids: who bear bouquets OF one color.
arm., very pretty and becoming fashion Is
throwing II back at the altar; but this Is mat
ter OF taste.
The ushers part company. going to the right
and lett. and remain standing on the lower step
OF the altar. The bridemails also move to the
right and left. next the altar. rail. leaving u
bride Is Isl taken i by the hSnd by the groom. who
receives her from her father as she mounts the
The service then proceeds. the organ playing
very softly until the prayer, when the music
stops, and all Join in the familiar words. Then
lates the bride and the young people turn to
leave the church. followed by all the brde-
maids and ushers in reverse order.
Maids are in waiting in the vestibule to cloak
the tide and her attendants as they come out
from this pageant into the cold and dangerous
air. This is & great exposure, and often leads
to trouble; our. churches all need larger vesti-
bules. The bride and groom return to The house
Of the former. followed as quickly as possible
by the brdemaids aud stand to receive their
friends under a floral bell or floral arch. or
some other pretty device. The bridemHids are
arranged on either side. and the ushers (whose
place is no sinecure) bring up the guests in
order to present to the happy pair. The brides
mother. vacatinR the place OF hostess Tor the
nonce. stands ut the other end OF tho room to
talk to her friends. and to also receive their con-
gratulations. or course her own family are al
lowed to kiss the bride first.
The bride remains at her post an hour and a
half. then leaves the room TO ascend and dress
for her bridal tour. She comes down in tho quiet
dress fitted for travelling in this country lwnere
the bright blue velvets and shiny silks which are
used in England for bridal trips are not allowed
probably owing to the TACT that our railway
trains are more public and less clean than those
OF the British ise) and bids nor friends good
by. Getting into the carriage. followed by the
groom. the young pair are driven OIL under q
shower oil rice and slippers. which are thrown
after them for luck.
OF rich and popular brides are wondrous line
and costly. are frequently shown. In New
them on large table or series OF tables. and
the silver and gold and diamond ornaments,
the sets OF silver. the laces. the china, and the
gilt ornaments for parlor. the Dresden toilet
table sots. the fans, and the clocks and lamps,
are freely criticised. plain locking. wat'hini
man In a dark suit stands near tho diamonds
this il a detective in plain clothes who is attend
ing to the safety OF these yaluables for thieves
break through and steal, sometimes even clad
in purple and tne linen. Some families object
to the display OF the presents. and the brides
intimate friends alone are allowed the pleasure
OF beholding them.
The bride writes n note over her own hand
always. T. thank the sender OF each git
In tho DAYS Ot DctrOtnal tho young lover must
ask papa" Of course for his daughters hand.
rs scun es the young lady has allowed him to
believe that she will say yes"
II he IS iavoraOly received he gives MS Udnces
I've have no synonyme tOr this word in EnElisn)
diamond solitaire engagement ring, paying
for /, anywhere from 800 o 81 TOO. I his seems
to be Indispensable. although ii is % be regret
ted that tho CXprnsveness OF mo lorn pelrothAls
ard weddings is koeUing many young men
from wedding the girls whom theyJOy5.
Some very opulent grooms Rre adopting the
English fashion of gyiag three gypsy rings
instead OF the diamond SOLITAIRE, which are
hoops of diamonds, rubles. and sapphires;
rf ESQ form beautiful ornament Iof the third
finger OF q pretty hand.
The Wedding ring is still the old. strong. pure
circlet OF virgin gold with The posy within. and
the initials, of bride and groom. the date. and
anything e!se which the parties choose.
The manner OF announcing engagements
seems to be frequently this: the groom steps
into his club, and tells an intimate friend the
lady writes to her intimate friends. and her
| mamma has the day before Informed all the
| grandparents. the aunts. and cousins. II then
| flies on the wings OF The wind; 1t IL caught up
by jenkins II appears IN the newspapers. Ina
| young couple give it final endorsement by
| walking arm! in arm in Fifth avenue.
Weddings in the evening are IN the same
| ort,er US the morning wedding. with the sing 10
difference that In the morning the gentlemen
| while in the evening they are. OF coucso. in
| dress suits OF solemn black, with white neektie,
and. in fact. full evening dross. The bride
makes no difference in her dress; be II morning
| or evening she Is in full dress. with lace. dia'
| monds. and flowers.
For a wedding at home. which il so much
| preferred by some people. the most convenient
| place for the clergyman to stand 10 arranged by
| the lady OF the house. and cushions are ialu
| down for the bride and groom 10 kneel upon
| Tho Clergyman stands facing the company
| whils tho pair TO be married stand with thelr
! backs to the guests. Alter the ceremony the
! clergyman retires and the bridal pair tako his
place.
The .avorite fashion for sprius weddings is tc
| dress thu Dridomalds in short WASTED muslin
| frocks long gloves. and poke bOnnots.
For widow or an elderly person bonnet a
her wedding il dc rigu1iu'. and a veil out OF the
| question. Many elderly brides wear dark vel
| vet or silk costumes nud bonncts 10 church-art
| married. so to speak. in travelling costume
| Such brides dispense with bridenalds.
| TLero is sunptuarv Law against appearing
/ at u wedding in mourning. ii tho brides
! mother is q widow she should lay aside her car
! and veil on that occasion. In England the 'er,
| uucompromisng color bright red ls consderel
| wedding mourning. thai is, the brids,s mother
or sisters. II in deepest mourning, VIII wear th'
! color Of n JHcCGCmiEot rose To the wedding ant
| still he supposed 10 be paying the true respec
| TO the departed.
| 4 bride shonld never 10 married In black OIL
nut on n black travelling costume.
| Tho ceremonial OF church weddings at I'M
| Catholic and Episcopal communlons is TO b'
commendei "a ii compes both parties to take
public vow and promise which cannot % llght
is broken. For this reason many q! tue clerg!
OF other denominations are using tns heantlu
ritual OF the English Episcopal Church Ever!
| pAlr however, can, oil COURSE, choose Tor them
selves their own church, and tho etiquette mus
vary "A little to suit tho occasion. Long exor
diums from tho clergyman are no longer