The Baltimore County union., 1881-12-10
MARRIAGE BELLS.
Fashions Matrimonial Dictates-B Before
tho Wedding and After.

h1AhhlAoE bEl4Lo.
Fashions Matrimonial Dictates-B Before
tho Wedding and After.
Hayysr's Basar. in a recent iSsue. says The
reception of an engaged girl by the family of her
future husband should be most cordial. aud no
time should be lost in giving her warm welcome.
I, IL the moment of all others when she will feel
such welcome most gratefully, and when any
neglect will be certain TO give her the keeEett un-
happiness.
invite both the family of the expectant bride and
herself To . dinner as soon after the formal an
nouneement of the engagement as possible. The
two families should meet and should make iriend-
ship at once. This 1. important.
II u % these near relatives that the probable
date Of the wedding DAY 10 drst whispered, in time
Go allow of much consultation and preparation in
the selection Of wedding gifts. In opulent fami-
lies each has sometimes given the young couple
silver dinner service and much silver besides, aud
the of the brides fathers house looked like
n jewelers. shop when the presents were shown
All the magnificent ornaments for the chimney
piece, handsome clock and lamps, fans in large
quantities, spoons, forks by the hundred. and Of
late years the fine gilt ornaments. furniture. cam
els hair shawls. braceetsall. all piled up In
most admired confusion. And when the invita-
tions out, then come in the outer world
with their more hastily procured gifts rare speci-
meus Of china, little paintings, ornaments for the
pcrsun-ail are in order.
A present u most generally packed where IL 10
bought and sent with the giver's card from the
shop TO the bride directly. She should always
acknowledge It's arrival by personal note written
by herself. A young bride once gave mortal Of
fence by not thus acknowledging her gifts. She
said that she had so many that she could not find
time to write the notes, which was naturally con.
sidered boastfal and most ungraeious.
Gifts which owe their value to the personal taste
tmA. II H.
ly complimentary. A piece of embroidery. q
painting. water-eoior, are most hattering gifts,
as they betoken q long and predetermined interest
No friend should be deferred from sending .
small present-one not representing money value
because other and richer people can send more
expensive one. 0ften the little gift remains As
most endearing aud useful souvenir.
As for showing the wedding { fts. that IL thing
which must be ieit 20 individual taste. Some peO-
pie disapprove Of IL, and consider II ostentaOus;
Others have q large room devoted TO the display of
the presents and IL is certainly amusing To exam
inc them.
THE nETnorHEp.
As for the eOndue, Of the betro;hed pair during
their engagement, cur American mamnas are apt
20 be somewhat more ienient IL their views Of the
liberty 90 be allowed than are the English. With
the latter. 40 lady IL allowed u dine alone with
her faHcs; there must be servant behind. No
young lady must visit in the family Of her yiaHes.
unless he has . mother TO receive her. Nor Is she
allowed 20 60 TO the thcater aiose with him. or 90
travel under HE escort, 10 stop at the same hotel
TO relax one of those rigid rules which severe
ehaperon would enforce. aud IL must be allowed
that this severe and careful attention to appear
ances Is in the best taste.
As for the engagement ring. modern fashion
preseribes diamond solitaire. which can range in
price from $?5O to q. 900. The matter of prcsen.
tation IL . secret between the engaged pair.
Evening weddings do not diaer from day wed
Atu~. sasgoff.ll~ that the brtdasrunfa
wears evening dress, that IL, dresses and
white cravat, black pantaloons and vest
fthe wedding 10 AT home, the space where the
bridal party is 60 stand 10 usually marked of by
q ribbon. and the clergyman comes down in his
robes before the bridal pair; they face him, and
he faces the company. liassocks arc prepared for
them 10 kneei upon. After the ceremony the eier
gyman retires and the bridal party take his place.
standing TO receive their friends congratulations
Should there be dancing nj wedding, u is prop
lrst bridesmaid. IL is not however, very custom
AIRY for bride 10 dance, OF for dan ing to occur
at an evening wedding.
After the bridal pair return from their we'd
ding tour, the bridesmaids each give them din
ber or q party, or show attention. IL they are
Il so situated that they can do 90. The members of
the two families also give dinner TO the young
Il couple.
II u now q very convenient and pleasant custom
Tor the bride 10 announce with her wedding cards
two morereeeptcn days. during the winter after
her marriage. on which her friends ssa call afen
her. The certainty Of finding bride nc home 10
| very pleasing. On these occasions she does not
her wedding dress. but receives as u she had
| entered society as one Of its mcmbers. The we'd
ding trappings are all put away, and she wears .
| dark silk, which may be a. handsome as she
chooses As for wearing her wedding dress 10 balls
er dinners after her marriage. II is perfectly pro-
per 10 do u she divests hsrssli Of her veil and her
orange blossoms.
The bride should be very attentive and eoneiia.
tory 10 ali her husbands friends They will look
with interest upon her from the moment they hear
Of the engagement and Il Il In the worst taste for
her 10 show indifference 20 them.
Quiet weddngs, either In church or al the house,
are very much preferred BY some families. In.
deed, the French. from whom We have learned
many-and might learn more-iessons Of grace
and good taste. do infinitely perfer them.
FoR outEr WEDDING
the bride dresses In travelling dress and bonnet,
and departs for her wedding tour. II is the Gus
tom In England for the bride and groom TO drive
| Of In their own carriage. which u dressed with
white ribbons, the coach man and groom wearing
whits boaquets. and favors adorning the horses
ears, and for them 20 take months honeymoon.
There also the bride (if she be Hannah de koths-
child or the Barouness Burdett- Couttsl gives her
bridesmaids very elegant presents as iocket or Q
bracelet, while the groom gives the best man .
| scarf pin or some gin. The American custom is
not 90 universal. However, either bride or groom
gives something 10 the bridesmaid and . scarf-pin
10 each usher. Thus wedding becomes very
expensive and elaborate affair, which quiet and
economical people are sometimes obliged To avoid
After the marriage Invitations are issued the
lady does not appear In public.
The period Of eard-ieaying after . wedding is
| not yet definitely fixed. Some authorities say ten
days, but that In q crowded city and with an i'm.
mense acquaintancc would be quite impossible.
IL only Invited to the church many ladies con-
slider that they perform their whole duty BY leav-
| ing card some time during the winter, and in-
elading the young couple 10 their subsequent In
vitations. Very rigorous people call, how-
ever within ten days, aud u invited 10 the house
the call is more imperative, and should be made
/ soon after the wedding.
hat if . young couple do not send their future
address, but snly invite one % church wedding,
i L. . Ia kmor