Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-05-02
A MILWAUKEE WEDDING.
THE BON-TON STYLE OF GETTING MARRIED
IN THE CREAM CITY.


October, the popular month for fall
weddings, is near at hand. The Mil
waukee bellies who are to become brides
during its auspicious reign, having by
this time "got their sewing DONE" are
engaged in deliberating and consulting
with reference to the details of the i'm
portant ceremony to which they natnr-
ally look forward with much delightful
anticipation. a wedding among nice
people who make no pretensions to
fashionable display" she said, would
be managed something in this way:
The parlor carpet, stair carpet and
front hall should be covered
with white muslin, laid as nicely as
possible. This preliminary the bride
should rather insist upon, for it gives
bridal air to the entire surrounding,
and is very little trouble. 1t improves
matters immensely if the carpets are
little shabby, and the muslin is Just as
good as new for all sorts of uses after
wards; besides. this use of white covers
distinguishes wedding from an ordin-
ary party. The room should be charm
ingly fresh and pretty, with baskets or
bowls of flowers here and there, and
the bride and groom should decide
beforehand just where they will stand:
usually the space between the front
windows or in front of the high man.
tel is chosen if the house is an old
fashioned one. If the Episcopal ser
vice is used, two hassocks, covered
with white muslin, are placed for the
happy pair to kneel upon. The COM
pany should be assembled in the parlor
little while before the hour
set for the ceremony, the min
lister standing near the place to be
occupied by the bridal couple. When
the hour arrives the groomsman and
bridesmaid precede the bride and
groom down the staircase, then loiter
a moment at the door of the parlor
until the bride and groom are jus. be-
hind them, then they enter, leading tho
way for the bride, and take their
places just upon the left of the place
where she is to stand. This brings
the two girls in the centre with the
men on the outside, and the tableau is q
pretty one. The party, of course, face
the company, and the family of the
bride and groom take their places on
either side, so as to at once offer their
congratulations. At the close of the
ceremony the minister takes the brides
hand, calls her first by her new name,
and, if the moral sense of the company
will permit, he kisses her. Then he
congratulates the groom. This is the
moment selected by the self-possessed
man to pay his fee. He has provided
himself with SIS gold piece, at least,
probably an eagle, and possibly $40
gold piece. 1t is nicely wrapped up in
tissue paper, in his vest pocket, and lie
claps it into the parsons palm, saying
softly to him that nothing can fully re-
pay the service he has rendered him.
Or he can intrust the delivery of the
fee to the groomsman, who should at
tend to it the moment the parson has
congratulated the happy pair; but the
groom had better attend to it himself.
The grOom's parents are entitled to
offer the first congratulations among
relatives. because they, of course, well
come the bride as their new
daughter. Then the other friends
come up and say civil things.
Presents may be sent any time
after the wedding invitations are ont,
and they ought to be sent always before
the day of the wedding, though this is
a rule very frequently violated. The
bride writes pretty little note to each
giver, expressing her thanks and her
pleasure at remembrance. Verbal
thanks do not count as acknowledge
ment of bridal gifts. The collation.
should he laid in the dining-room, and
small tables may be placed about the
room. Some member of the brides
family should see to it that the old
people among the guests are comforta-
bly, seated and served before the gen.
eral company enter the dining-room.
The chairs which the bridal party are
to occupy are prettily designated by
white ribbons"