The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-12-08
WEDDING SURPRISES IN FAVOR
4. TENDENCY NOW TO ELIMINATE
DISPLAY FROM M~tRRI4GES.
A%nnoyances That attend the Fash unable
Wedding - Great Expense Involved
In 1t h preseut Reform Sur
prlses IN Hone, moon Trips, Too

I'm 1t Thp present Reform Sur
prlses In Hone, moon Trips, Too
Two recent fashionable weddings were
celebrated without any preliminary notice
Of the date and without the sending OF
formal invitations. There were no cards,
no cake even, except that obtained at a
few hours notice from a caterer.
The news OF these weddings came in the
nature of a surprise TO the public, long
accustomed 20 tho heralding Of bridal
ceremonies and the description OF trous-
seaus for weeks In advance Of the wedding
The fact is the fashionable wedding
is attended with a good deal OF annoyance
now and there is 30 much publicity and
display about it TINT 1t partakes OF the
nature Of a social function more than that
OF a religious event. TIL giving oil presents
has been overdone to an extent that IA
positively distasteful to many in these
days when persons seeking to make their
way In society hasten to take advantage
Of a wedding or a christening to improve
their prospects by sending some costly
and ostentatious gift for display.
like the sending of flowers TO funerals.
,hia one feature has been so much abused
Ina, il has seemed as though II would be
necessary 20 request that gifts should NOT
Ice sent except by relatives. Many couples
of late have chosen not TO SHOW tnelf
presents for this very reason, and the
general tendency seems 10 point 70 the
decline of the big weddings that have 30
| long been a feature of life in New York.
New York has always run 10 over dis
| play in the matter Of weddings, AZ the news
| paper files Of many years back VIII snow
but in the recent years which have been
..o.lynI lv M many notable alliances OF
American girls with titled foreigners the
| weddings have taken on all the pomp ana
| ostentation Of court functions Churches
| have not only been hung with flowers ana
| green's, but have had tapestries uIaptu
,ipon the walls and coats of arms at the
very altar. 49,
Elaboratenees has been overdone. ABOVE
nil there has been the wearisome work
! devolved upon the principals and the,r
families, the planning. the socla' ieuuS
that have to I've regarded IN inviting, guests.
| the decorations. the drilling and dressing
Of servants. the display and the necessary
risk of housing thousands OF dollare worm
of easily disposed Of valuables In the way
Of gems and silver, the rehearsair, ,ne
Itself, with it, feasting and dress
inc All these elements serve TO make the
| wedding one of the most trying PeriouN
In the life Of the bridal couple ana their
near friends. -, -
There is nothing that a girl will dispense
with less willingly than With an eiapoIa.e
marriage, with all it's glories, its BRIDE
maids. it's ushers. the orange blossoms
The veil and the music. These are all par.
of every girls dream from the NiHle she
begins to play with dolls.
So IL has grown Ia lie the custom 70 nay
a wedding magnificent 10 the extent OF We
excheuuer, indeed, very often the fanny
of a fashionable bride Is plunged into deD'
hat she NAV have a fitting marriage.
l. indicates, therefore, a serious depart
ure from the rule of costly and elaborate
functions Of the sort that so many brides
J auo brIdegrooms this season have made
use Of every possible reason 10 avold th'
big weddin that has been the fashion
That il il not a matter OF economy Is clearly
shown bv the fact that III most OF theI c'rh'
Instances the families OF both Drine aho
bridegroom have been amply PROVIDED
with wealth.
The cost Of a big wedding Is simply enor
nous. In the case Of the marriages OF ,h'
several Younger m~illionaires who nave De
come henediCts within the last TWO o.
three seasons the fees TO clergyinel
alone are great. Then there Is the cost o
the church, the heating, Lighting, the deco
r%ations, the music, which Is another eNpen
sive feature, especially when choral SGT
vices are rendered.
Al fashionabls weddings il Is also th'
custom 80 provide the gowns and hats %
'he budemaid- ~ well as the costume q
the bride Their bouquets are ordered
for them and they each receive a souvenir
gift. often "a Jewel oi great value III.
Iheu-hers get their presents also. usually
a scarf pin or Gun links Their ties, gloves
and ~bol'ounierc- arr rent them lher'
l. the bridcgroom'r dinner 90 his usher
aud the brides linn To her girl friends.
Their j. the wedding breakfast with W.
elaborate menu and then there II the ie"
lug Of servants. no small item when The
large rctiuur- # two fashionable house
holds are considered
In fact, the fashionable wedding ha'
grown 90 h" ara occasion for lavish eA'
u.udItur. and display at winch traces
men rrIoic, III. publicity thht hin u"s't
given To- these occasions has 10 "A arg
extent d-tract,l from the sole unity OF uIt
ceremony
The revolt, against big ~wedding~ has n
all likelihood originated with the proc
pactI,r ~hnd"grppmr On no OCCASION u'
T. mans li" dose ls sink 10 such "niii'
ruriyuIhcau,r Invariably h" n nervous
Il ~ car,. unc, mfoItably dressed aht
thoroughly opu-ciaI, Of hir mi-"riT~
In comparison WIN the bis
Of r,s..ut VraTr. notable Tor orisn'Hiiut
and at.play. the uulrtrI uIr- r-m m tal
I%att.T taste g. NJ s-r tho 'uitiIa'ilut
patt,-- nave is,.u driven gui"ilN y" We
churrh 90 4. fh' uuu-r ~ 10" Clergyman.
vL,r. iNr orpruiunN lao i-@'n I"riofin''
90 fur IfH-rus Of % Nrn few in'-ld- ate
,I..u a., urNIN married opull" have ~"
rartrl vtluur iI-a 90 -huN 81 any ruT
ON -aNrfal ussariIlr Il ~" sutl lN'
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trault,r .fts itIl.a. ia-il Iushlr sridlui
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