Connecticut western news., 1883-06-27
HIGH-PRICED BRIDES.
WHAT TT COSTS TO HAVE THE NUP-
 HAL KNOT TIED IN HIGH-LIFE.
Roses at Thirty Dollars n Piece-A Small Fortune in StatiOnery-An Introduction to the Accomplished MT. Johnson.
From the New York ,JournaI1

From the. New York JournaL]
 "A New York fashionable wedding is 8 very expensive thing" said Q prominent New-York carterer of Fifteenth st.
 "Of course, said the reporter. "the brides clothes cost a great deal, and perhaps the groom has to pay the minis ter large sum, but do the other ex- penses amount to much"
 ''The brides outfit is something I don't know anything about. If wed ding is coming off, the brides father or mother or uncle or somebody comes to me and says: I am going to have a wedding and I want you to furnish for it. All right I say, how many guests ? Well, about three hundred to the reception Then I set to work to calculate what kind of table they want.
 How much per guest" interrupted the reporter, "does it take for very nice wedding collationP"
 "Well, I can set 8 very pretty table for $1. 50 per head. That will include ices. bouillion, cake, jellies, bonbons, several kinds of salads, sandwiches, flowers, china, walters and all"
 "What else beside the above menu would people want?
 "Oh many thanks. Champagne, oysters, 8 spiced fish which cost $2O- more, if he is a nice fellow; cold meats, etc. These are all expensive things, and of course have to charge for them.'
 "Do you include the wedding cake il the $1, 50 estimate ?"
 "Not generally. You see it costs us about 20 cents for each box full. The box costs few cents, the whole white satin ribbon that ties it about 8 cents, and the cake about 10 cents. Each boz costs the person who orders it about 3e cents, which just multiplied by BOG cents, comes to $1O5. You can always tell swell wedding by the cake that is served to you."
 "How do you go about serving wed. ding collation. p
 1T send my head man to inspect the dining, room and kitchen. Then the dishes and silver are sent, the kitchen being given entirely into the hands ot my men. They set the table, mix the salads, turn out the ices, etc., and just before the guests come go over and see if everything is going smoothly. Some caterers take everything left over away <. 1oI 4~ xl1 The family like the remains of the feast so much. And is really of no use to the caterer, except for the walters"
 As the reporter left the caterers he encountered Johnson. Johnson is a young and rather good-looking man. He takes charge of the carriages and the admittance of guests at every fashion able affair. He is to be seen standing under tho awning of the mansion at which the ball or wedding is occurring, and calls the numbers of the carriages, helps the ladies out, keeps rogues away and knows everybody.
 "Why," said young lady, "there is never the least danger of anyone but those we desire getting into house as long as Johnson is at hand. You car trust him entirely. And everyone is sure to get their own carriage, too He is worth his $1OO or $2OO night and beside he often has men to assis him."
 "Flowers," said a florist to a reporter "cost money. But there are severa ways of decorating a house. can make pretty decorations for $75 to $1OO, and can make decorations for $500. Fron $1OO to $2OO is the general layout, how ever. That will include the church also You see we place the palms, ferns, ant growing plants about the chancel, bu we take them all back again. But wedding bell, horn of plenty, ant baskets of roses cost the money" l "What are the other expenses o weddings besides the flowers and sup pers ?" he was asked.
 "There are the carriages at $2 to s apiece. The brides family orders abou four besides their own; and there ar the awnings at the house and church, a $15 apiece, and about $25 to the sexto and BIO for the use of the church, an then there are the invitations-a big bil in themselves. People send cards t hundreds they do not invite. Take fo instance Mrs. Vanderbilt's ball. Sh invited 1,2OO people. For invitations directing and delivery it cost her owe $500. Now, let us figure up. For tn breakfast-$1.5 50 head for 300 people $45O; flowers, $20O; wedding cake, $1Ot awnings, $3O; Johnson, $1OO; carriages $40; clothes, $500; in all, $1,195. think I'll just get married and go witt out the weddi ng."