The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-29
HIGH-PRIoED BRIDES.
What 1t Costs to Have the NuptiaI Knot
Tied In High Life.

What 1t Costs to Have the NuptiaI Knot
Tied in High Life.
:NeW York Morning Journal
"A New York fashionable wedding is q
very expensive thing" said a prominent
New York caterer OF Fifteenth street to a
Journalier.
"Of course" said the reporter, 1.-The brides
clothes cost great DEAL and, perhaps, the
groom has to pay the minister large sum-
but do the other expenses amount to muchY'
The brides outfit is something l don't
know anything about If wedding is COM
ing off the brides father or mother or uncle
or somebody comes to me and says: 1 AM
going TO have q wedding, and / want you to
furnish for it All right 1 say; how many
guests? Well, about three hundred to the
reception Then | set TO work to calculate
what kind of table they want"
How much per guest interrupted the re-
aporter, docs it take for very nice wedding
collation."
We'll, can set a very pretty table for
80 per head. That will include ices, bOuil-
lion, cake, wine, jellies, bonbons several
kinds of salads, sandwiches, flowers, china,
walters ard ALL
What else besides the above menu would
people want?'
80, many things. Champagne, oysters, a
spiced fish which costs $20-more, if he is a
nice fellow; cold meats, etc. These are all ex-
pensive things and of course l have to charge
for them"
DO you include wedding cake in the $1.50
estimator"
Not generally. You see it costs us about
twenty cents tor each boxful. The box
costs us few cents, the white satin ribbon
that ties it about eight cents and the cake
about ten cents. Each box costs the person
who orders it about thirty-five cents, which,
just multiplied by 800 guests comes to $105.
You can always tell swell wedding by the
cake that's served to you"
How do you go about serving wedding
collation."
Il send my head man to inspect the dining
room and kitchen. Then the dishes and
silver are sent, the kitchen being given en-
tirely into the hands of my men. They set the
table, mix the salads, turn out the ices, etc,
and just before the guests come go over
and see IT everything is going smoothly.
Some caterers take everything left over with
them. 1t is bad thing to do. The family
like the remains of feast so much. And it
is really of no use to the caterer, except for
the walters
As the reporter left the caterers he en-
countered Johnson, Johnson is young and
rather good-fooking man. He takes charge
of the carriages and the admittance of guests
at every fashionable affair. He is to be seen
standing under the awning of the mansion at
which the ball or wedding is occurring, and
calls the numbers of the carriages, helps the
ladies out, keeps the rogues away, and knows
every body.
Why said young lady to Journalier,
there is never the least danger of any one
but those we desire getting into house as
long as Johnson is around. You can trust
him entirely. And every one is sure to get
their own carriage, too. He is worth his
500 or 5000 night, and besides he often has
men to assist him."
Flowers" said florist to reporter "cost
money. But there are several ways of deco
rating house. | can make pretty decora-
tions for SIS or 800, and 1 can make decora-
tons for $500. From 800 to $500 is the gen
eral layout, however. That will include the
church also. You see we place the palms,
ferns and growing plants about the chancel,
but we take them all back again. But we'd
ding bell, horn of plenty and baskets OF
roses cost the money!
What are the other expenses of weddings
besides the flowers and the superb he was
asked
There are the carriages at 50 to So apiece
The brides family orders about four besides
their own; and there are the awnings at the
house and church at SIS apiece, and about
P25 to the sexton and $40 for the use of the
church, and then there are the invitations
a big bill in themselves. People send cards
to hundreds they do not invite. Take, for
instance, Mrs. Vanderbilt's ball. She invited
1000 people For invitations. directing and
delivery it cost her over 5000 Now, let MS
figure up: For the breakfast 81 50 a head
for 300 people, $3.50; flowers, 5000; wedding
cake, 500; awnings, $50; Johnson, 500; car
riages, $10 clothes $500; in all, 81 1876.
think I'll just get married and go without
the wedding"