The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-12-19
SPLENDOR TO-
MARK WEDDING
Preparations for Vanderbilt
French Nuptia|s.
OVER TWO THOUSAND GUESTS.
Breakers" and "HabM View" Two
PTIncsII Residences, 10 Be Decorated.
Swell Boarding Houses Impressed.
OVER TWO THOUSAND GUESTS.

The most extensive preparations are
now under way for the approaching we'd
ding of Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt and
Miss Elsie French. which will take place
In Newport on Monday. January IA.
Instead OF quiet and unostentatious
affair. such as was supposed TO have been
planned. the wedding now promises to be
one OF the most elaborate social functions
that has ever taken place in this coun-
try
The Breakers. Mrs. Cornelius Wander
bits handsome and spacious villa at
Ochre Point, has for some weeks been
the scene of hustle and hustle.
An army OF artisans-painters, decora-
tors, upholsterers, etc.-has been at work
making alterations and beautifying still
more the already palatial summer house
so that IL can be opened within fort
night.
PREPARATIONS ARE FASTENED.
Fresh and specific orders were received
In Newport today from Mrs. Vanderbilt.
In New York, to hasten the preparations,
but these preparations were not to be
confined to The Breakers only.
Harborview, the charming summer
home OF Mrs. +. o. French. which had
early In the season been transformed into
a beautiful winter residence, is again
In the hands OF decorators, while florists
have been summoned from New York TO
convert the glass enclosed verandas and
reception rooms into floral bowers.
Besides the activity noticed about the
two stately houses, the Muenchinger-
King and Hill Top cottages, Newport's
most fashionable and commodious board
ing-houses, have likewise been pressed
into service for the accommodation Of
wedding guests.
Judging from all these preparations, II
will readily be seen that instead of a few
hundred guests 10 be invited TO the we'd
ding reception--the church will not hold
half of those expected in Newport-there
II be thousands.
TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED INVITED.
It IL rumored among Mrs. vanderbilt's
friends that she intends TO outdo even the
Satterlee- Morgan wedding, when 1900 ir-
vitations were sent out, and that there
will be invitations issued TO no less than
$500 of society's people. including many
from distant cities-Washington. Balti-
more, Chicago and Boston-though the
greatest number will come from New
York.
The first Intentions were to confine the
accommodations for the guests to the
Harbor View villa, where the reception,
after the church wedding. is to be held.
Upon deliberation IL was decided that
the villa was not equal to the emergency,
and so the accommodations have been ex-
tended and the list of invitations In
creased.
The Breakers, the Muenchinger-King
and Hill Top cottages will be used for
housing the hundreds OF guests who will
be compelled to remain over night.
The invitations to the wedding break
fast were originally fixed at 80. but this
number has now been swelled to over
thousand.
Alfred Vanderbilt's bachelor dinner
will be given at The Breakers on Satur-
day evening, January II.
1t Is expected that Mrs. Vanderbilt will
remain in Newport for some days after
the wedding, because she has also order
ed her stables to be opened for use.