Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1881-05-05


The modern New York wedding is
5aQdeled on the English style Of doing
things The old American fashion Of
The bridesmaids With attendant cava-
'Iefs entering the room or church arm
~ arm ~ entirely broken up, and the
gentleman ushers, who seat the compa-
nF and who manage the business Of the
wedding IN the church, are compelled
n enter first, without the solace Of
feminine hand on the coat sleeve.
4 bride elect begins, sometimes three
innnihs before her wedding day, to in
Il heF bridemaids. Tor there are dress
sss selacte<. The
groom chooses his best man, and his
ushers.. OF whom there are generally six.
These gentlemen receive from him era
watts and scarf pins, and the groom fire.
qnentIy gives each bridemaid locket.
The bride often gives each OF her BRIDE
maids, Of whom there are also general
lv six, some small token OF her regard:
but not, a. formerly her dress Bou-
quets are always provided by the bride
FOR her trademarks.
The church must be engaged for fort
night ahead to avoid the gloomy catas-
ltrophe Of meeting funeral coming out.
which has happened, and which il, of
course, depressing. The clergyman and
organist both need time to get them
selves in order; and the florist, who Is
10 decorate the altar with fresh cut
flowers and growing plants, also needs
time; he also should have plenty Of
warning.
When the happy day arrives the head
usher goes TO .he church an hour before
the time 10 see that a white cord is
stretched across the aisle, reserving
pews enough for the family and partic-
ular friends, and 10 see, IN fact, that all
details are attended to-
The ushers should be ~ attendance
early to seat people in convenient
places, and good manners and careful
attentions, particularly 10 elderly PEG.
pic, make lifelong friends for these
young gentlemen at the weddings where
they oiiiciale. When the brides moth.
cr arrives the white cord is dropped.
aud 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 bes, man, who have
been safely guarded in the veslry room.
The groom looks down the aisle 70
Wsteh lot BIZ coming bride The organ
strikes up the wedding march as The
first couple Of ushers are seen entering
the church door. They come in slow.
", two and two, followed by the bride
maids, who bear bouquets OF one col
or
Then the BRIDE enters, leaning on her
fathers arm. A very pretty and be.
coming fashion is Tor the bride 10 wear
her veil over her face, throwing it
back al the altar; but this is matter OF
taste.
The ushers part company going 20 the
right and left, and remain standing on
the lower step Of the altar, The BRIDE
mslds also move 10 the right and left,
next the altar rail. leaving a space for
the couple who are TO be married. The
bride is taken BY The hand by the groom,
" no receives her from her father as she
mounts the first step.
The service then proceeds. the organ
playing very softly uniil the pray
err when the music stops, and all JOIN
IN the familiar words. Then the bless
ing is given, the clergyman congraiu-
iates the bride, aud the young people
turn TO leave the church. followed by
all the bridesmaids and ushers in reverse
order.
Maids are IN waiting in the yesIibule
10 cloak the bride and her attendants as
they come out from this pageant into the
cold aud dangerous air. This is a great
exposure and often leads to trouble: our
churches all need larger vest,bules.--
The bride aud groom return to the house
Of The former. followed as quickly as
possible by the bridemaids, aud stand 10
receive their friends under floral bell
or a floral arch, or some other pretty de-
vice. The bridesmaids are arranged on
either side, and the ushers Whose place
is no sinecure) bring up the guests in
order TO present 10 the happy pair. The
brides mother vacating The place OF
hostess for the nonce, stands al the
other end OF the room TO talk to her
friends, and to also receive their con
gratulations. Ofcourse her own family
are allowed 10 kiss the bride first.
The bride remains al her post an hour
and half, then leaves the room 10 as
cend and dress for her bridal tour. She
comes down 10 the quiet dress fitted for
travelling in this country (where the
bright blue velyetS and shiny silks which
are used in England for bridal trips are
not allowed probably owing TO the fact
that our railway trains are more public
and less clean than those OF the British
isle, and bids her friends goodby. Get
ting into the carriage, followed by the
groom, the young pair are driven off I'M
der a shower Of rice and slippers, which
are thrown after them for luck.
The wedding presents, which in the
houses OF rich and popular brides are
wondrous fine and costly, are frequent
ly shown. In New York one OF Tiffa-
ny's men comes up TO arrange them on
large table or series of tables, and the
silver and gold and diamond ornaments.