The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-01-18
MARRIED AT
NEWPORT.
The Nuptials of Alfred Gwynne
Vanderbilt and Miss Elsie
French Celebrated.
BRIGHTER SUN NEVER SHOWN ON BRIDE.
Everything Connected with the At
fair bespoke Wcnlth--Thc Bride
and Groom Were Piaymates IN
ChiIdhoOd's DayS-oR on the
Honeymoon Trip.

Newport, *. l., Jan. Io.-Aitnougl
in the depth Of winter this well
known watering place took on sem
blance of its summer gayiety because
of the wedding of Alfred GWynne
Vanderbilt, probably the most
wealthy Of the third generation of
the Vanderbilt family, and Miss Elsie
French, charming Newport girl and
former playmate OF the bride groom,
the daughter of Mrs. Frederick Orme
French, resident of the city for
many years.
A brighter sun never shown for
any bride, and in spite of "a crispness
in the air, it did not seem to be a
winters day.
The ceremony took place at noon.
In the Zabrislsi Memorial church OF
St. John the Evangelist, far up in I =
DID north part of the city, on the very
shores of Narragansett bay, once the
center of Newports fashion, but now
far removed from he social whirl OF
bellevue avenue. Miss French made
the choice of her own place of wor-
ship and her own home for the scene
of the marriage, instead of selecting
the more pretentious but less familiar
surroundings which would have been
found in New York.
The service was as ornate as the
highest forms of the Episcopal
church could make it. The wedding
procession, picture of loneliness and
fine gowns, and the breakfast which
closed the formal proceedings of the
day, was one Of the grandest ever
served in this city.
Although the ceremony was set for
noon, an hour or more before that
time saw the arrival of some of the
guests at the church and those Who
came about II o'clock had the pleas
ure of listening to an organ concert
and found leisure to marvel at the
floral decorations.
Just as the tones OF the "Lohen-
grin" march breathed softly forth,
the two clergymen, Rev. George F.
Beatty, rector of the church, and Rev.
c. Brinley Morgan, rector of Christ
church, at New Haven, entered from
the side door, followed by the bride
groom and his brother, Reginald VAL
derbilt, the best man.
At the same time the bridal process
sion started up the main aisle, the
ushers leading, followed by the four
bridesmaids.
At the altar Mr. Vanderbilt met his
bride. Together they stood before
the steps of the chancel until DR..
Morgan had finished reading the be-
trothel portion of the service when
they assembled into the chancel and
at the altar DR.. Beatty completed
the ceremony and pronounced them
husband and wife. The Mendc4> I'm
wedding mahch was played as the
wedding procession moved down the
aisle and out of the church. The cere-
mony occupied about seven minutes.
For the reception "Harbor View,
the residence of Mrs. French, had
been prepared with great care. The
broad verandas all inclosed in glass
were lined with small pine trees, while
within the house brilliant flowers
met the eye. The bride and groom re-
Ceived their friends while standing in
the large hall beneath a canopy com
posed entirely of Golden Gate roses.
The poincette, the crimson Mexican
Christmas flower, was the prevailing
feature of the decorations in the din.
ing room. At the conclusion of the
wedding breakfast a number OF
toasts were drunk to the health and
happiness of Mr.. and Mrs. Wander
blt. The bridal pair left later in the
afternoon on their honeymoon trip.
Among the prominent guests were
Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt, the mother
of the groom, gowned in mourning;
Mrs. Frederick Orme French, the
brides mother; Mr.. VIM. X. Wander.
bilt, Mr.. and Mrs. Frederick W. Van
derbilt, Mr.. and Mrs. Harry Payne
Whitney, Mrs. Elliot F. Shepard, Mr.
and Mrs. Mckay Twombley, DR.. and
Mrs. Seward Webb, Gen. and Mrs. Her
bert +. Eaton, Baroness Selliere, Mr.
and Mrs. j. b. Merrill Mrs. Hermar
Oelrichs, Mr. and Mrs. Charles b. Alex
ander and Mr.. and Mrs. Benjamin &