Connecticut western news., 1882-06-07
AT THE ALTAR.
SOME HINTS ABOUT THE CONDUCT OF
 JUNE WEDDINGS.

HUT1OeT bUZOT say B:
 The number of bridesmaids is, of course, optional with the bride, but lately the numbers have steady de- creased. The sisters or nearest friends of the bride generally officiate, and four is a more fashionable number than twelve. It is more and more the fash ion for the bridesmaids to wear color, and not to emulate the bridal whiteness.
 The relatives should have arrived be. fore the bride. The bridegroom's s relatives place themselves at the right of the altar or communion rails, thus being on the bridegroom's right hand, and those of the bride on the left-hand side of the altar or communion rails, thus be1ng on the brides left hand. The bridegroom and best man arrive shortly before the bride, and await her coming, standing on the right-hand side of the altar.
 The bride stands at the bridegroom's s left hand. Her father or nearest male relative at the brides left hand, little behind her. Sometimes the female members of the brides family prefer to stand near the bride. They can place themselves near the altar or communion rails, or at the entrance of the chancel, according to the church in which the service is celebrated, as in high churches the service takes place outside the chan eel. All these things can be arranged by the rector before the service.
 The bride draws off her gloves at the commencement of the services, and gives them to the bridemaid to hold with her bouquet.
 The gentleman ushers wear button hole bouquets or wedding favors. The wedding favor.
 If bride be widow, she must not wear orange blossoms, or wreath, or a bridal veil, nor must her dress be white. She can wear white bonnet and pale pink or lavender silk, and she should be accompanied to the church by her par ents, relatives, or friends.
 She can remove her first wedding ring if she chooses, or she can put the second ring above the first. It is better taste to remove the first, however, lest she remind people of Theodore Hooks witticism concerning a lady who had been often married, that Cher fn- ger looked like as curtain rod. "-- After the ceremony the clergyman bends over and congratulates the young couple.
 The bride takes the groom's left arm and passes down the centre aisle of the church, followed by her bridesmaids in the same order as they had previously passed up the aisle.
 The bride and bridegroom in America make very nasty exit from church. In England, they stop and talk to their friends, smile and nod, and exchange smiles. Which is the best way we dc not pretend to say.
 After the bride arrives at home, the guests are taken up to her by the ushers, when they make their congratulations
 The wedding breakfast, at which speeches are made, is an English fashion, which is becoming somewhat popular here. These festivities. o course, limit the number ofguests. The invited guests provide their own car riages, not depending on the brides family for this occasion. The gentle men leave their hats in the hall. The ladies retain their bonnets. The gen tlemen remove their gloves with thei1 hats. The ladies do not take off theil gloves until seated at breakfast. Befor, breakfast Is announced the bride mother, or whoever is hostess, inform the gentlemen whom each one is to talk down to breakfast. The precedence i as follows: First the bride and bride groom, the bride taking the bridegroom left arm; next, the brides father witl the bridegroom's mother, taking tn right arm, as do the other ladies; nex in order follows the bridegroom's fathe with the brides mother; then the bes man with the head bridesmaid. Tn other bridesmaids follow next with tn gentlemen who are appointed to talk
 them down. The other guests folio,
 according to their rank. There ar
 standing-up breakfasts just as fashion
 able, where everybody is helped as fror
 buffet.
 At country houses where there al
 pretty grounds, the breakfast is ger
 erally served in a marquee.
 However, it is in good taste, at si down breakfast, if the guests have drive
 far, to offer bouillon, chicken, gam' mayonnaise, salad, pate de foie gro
 je lies, creams, etc. No tea or coffee
 served at these entertainments. Dinner napkins are used at sit. dow breakfast, but are not necessary at
 stand-up one.
 After the wedding breakfast has bee
 eaten, the cake is put before the brid ] She makes 8 small incision in it. It 3 then removed to the side table, where l servant cuts it, and hands it to u guests, each of whom is expected taste morsel of it.
 . The health of the bride and groom g then proposed by the most distinguish @ guest present, for which the bridegroo b returns thanks. He then proposes t health of the bridesmaids, for which u . best man returns thanks.
 a The health of the brides father al d mother is generally proposed by t t bridegroons father. These comp @ mentary toasts should be as brief o possible, as they are very trying son