Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-11-14
An Unprecedented Display.
GRAND FLORAL DECORATIONS AT
THE VANDERBILT WEDDING.


The floral display at the marriage
OF Miss Consuela Vanderbilt to the
Duke of Marlborough on the 9th
inst, it is claimed, surpassed that at
the Gould -Castellane wedding which
was, up to that time, the grandest
ever seen on similar occasion i'm
New York. Rare plants from Aus
tralia, Europe and the Orient were,
with those from the jungle, with Or
chlds clinging to them, seen side
by side with the rarest of home
grown plants-the pink chrysanthe-
mum. 1t is claimed that to buy
the plants used at the wedding cost
between fifty and sixty thousand dol
lars. In support of this, it is said
that five Australian tree ferns, ten
feet high and spreading out an equal
distance, would cost several thou.
sand dollars each, if bought outright.
The cost Of renting these is sufficient
even for the Vanderbilts.
The central figure Of the decora-
tions was an immense wedding bell of
lilies of the valley. 1t was open
work and swayed back and forth
with the slightest breath of air, Civ
ing the appearance of ringing out
:" the glad tidings." Radiating
from it were tho tops of the great
palm trees standing against the wall
on the Madison avenue side. One
great palm was placed at each win
dow to shut out the view from the
street. Between the large palms
smaller ones were arranged, masking
In the window sills and reaching as
far up as the lower sash, giving the
effect of windows set in a solid wall
OF green. TO the big palms hung
the orchids in bloom.
Immense stag-horn ferns, big
bushes of pink chrysanthemums and
sago palms relieved the solid back
ing Of duller green. Cut flowers in
protusion, principally white carna.
tlons were everywhere. The hall
was filled with palms and ferns. a
great variety of the palm known as
Leaforthia" stood in the opening
near the grand staircase and reach
to the ceiling. The inlaId marble
and gold staircase were festooned
with variegated vines and ferns
peeped from beneath the balustrades.
Under the grand staircase the
hungarian Band was screened from
view by the hanging vines from
above and four large trees in front.
AT the hall entrance were the flow
ers for the guests, which they re-
celved as they entered the house.
Upon their return from the church
the young couple stood under the
bell while receiving congratulations,
and afterwards the wedding break
fast was served.
1t was In the dining room, how
ever, that the florists art was seen at
its best. The table for the bride and
groom was laid with eighteen covers
and the center of which was banked
with white carnations, lilies of the
valley and orchids. The decorations
around the room was on the plan of
those in the reception-room and hall
Each guest at the wedding breakfast
was given bit of the wedding cake
in a sterling silver box, on the lid of
which was ducal coronet, with the
initials of the bride and groom and
the date of the wedding.
The favors were made at Tiffany,s
and were said to be very handsomely
engraved and chased.
Besides the floral decorations, there
was from England, from the con-
servatory at Blenheim, an immense
bouquet for Miss Vanderbilt.
The Marlborough Vanderbilt nup-
tials were celebrated in miniature on
Saturday afternoon in the show win
dow of an enterprising Broadway
florist. The florist was one who
failed to secure the decoration con-
tract. ~ large platform was built
out from the window and on this was
erected small chancel and alter, be.
fore which was little boy and girl
dressed in bridal array. Before
them stood another youth i'm clerical
garb to represent the rector. The
young lady wore gown the fac. simile
of Miss Vanderbilt's. The boy duke
wore a frock coat, light trousers,
patent-leather shoes and the latest
shade of lavender gloves. The mock
clergyman and the tiny bridal cou
pie made appropriate gestures and
the bridegroom placed gold rims
upon the BRIDES finger. The little
girl wore handsome necklace ot
diamonds loaned for the occasion by
neighboring jeweler.