The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-15
VANDERBILT. NELSON WEDDING
.rprvO\Y IN NEWPORT Nv A
CHAPEL or FLOWERS.
u,.s Cathlecn Nelson Becomes the Bride
of Reginald &. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
l,orai Decorations NJ Artetgh-
uride throws Flowers to Guests.

ur,de throws Flowers TO Guests.
NEWPORT. r. l.. April IA cold, dis
.,ooabla day with an overcast sky marked
wedding of Miss Cathleen Nelson
VA Reginald c. Vanderbilt. Al noon the
sanr set for the ceremony. the sun tried
=" force its way through the clouds to
aomply with the old adage, Happy the
L,;ds tho sun shines on" but, try as it
...nId i, was without avail. Within the
oa,,sge. however, everything was joy and
.,.ndeur, and no bride ever had a more
n,ilant wedding than that OF the young
,roma,, who i now the wife of the youngest
20, NJ the late Cornelius Vanderbilt.
A wedding al Newport at this time Of
,.ar brougn, out on the streets nearly the
so,i,e population, and it took all the local
nolcc force to keep the crowd at distance
f,,m In, cottage. For two hours before
IN, tim, -, for the wedding the streets
,hou, hrrgh were completely packed
With pcpp', and il was with much dif-
s~rty 'ha' the carriages containing the
r,a.,s mad' ;hcir way TO the drive leading
:, the house. A the guests entered the
bor-p they bchCld a scene Of floral decora-
mons which were commented on by many as
the most elaborate and beautiful that they
had ever ~r..N.
Tie fora. show was no. only beautiful
fut was undoubtedly tho most original.
,yer seen at Il wedding in Newport. Ar
gigh lends itself admirably to this kind
4 decoration. The main hall, where the
marriage ceremony was performed, was
,nlirrlv beautiful, thousands Of Easter
lilies being used effectively in the decora-
tn.. IT,, chapel in this hall. within which
the bridal couple stood during the cere-
nony, was especially attractive. In this
hall is a high and deep fireplace with pilas-
ten Of highly polished oak, and II was hers
tha, the clapt! was erected. the depth Of
the fireplace giving perspc
Tie porta! to the chapel was formed by
the use Of huge spreading palms, the
branches interlocking and forming G roof
The ceiling Of tho chapel was formed Of
yellow orchids and punches Of bride
ross. while the background was Of lilies
Of the valley. Within the chapel was built
q platform. upon which Father Meenan.
pastor Of St Mary's Church, stood during
The marriage ceremony. Up to this plat
form led two stepe. upon the lower Of
which Miss Nelson and Mr.. Vanderbilt
knelt while the officiating clergyman pro-
nounced the benediction. The chapel ef-
feet was more fully carried out by the use
Of wax tapers placed in large gold can
delabra.
The front Of the balcony and the side OF
the grand stairway were hidden completely
by masses of Easter lilies forming a sort Of
terrace from the east room, In which the
bridal procession was formed, to the chapel.
-. ~, II
in silver vases in the panels OF the wall.
1t was exactly at noon when the Frankie
orchestra struck up the strains of the
bridal chorus from "Lohengrin" and the
bridal party. which had formed on the
gallery on the second floor, marched down
the broad stairway to the chapel. First
came the ushers, Messrs. Jules Blanc Neil
son, a brother Of the bride; Ellis Adams,
Orange. N. j.; Arthur S. Burden, New York;
s. H. Stone. Syracuse; Peter Goelst Gerry.
and Albert Gray, New York They were
followed by the bridesmaids, the Misses
Isabelle May, Washington; Florence
Twombly. q cousin OF the bridegroom:
Evelyn Parsons and Natalie Schenck OF
New York. The bride. Miss Nelson. fol-
lowed. escorted by her uncle. Frederick
Gerhard.
The procession proceeded to the floral
chapel, at the entrance Of which they were
met by the bridegroom and his best man,
his brother Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt,
mony was performed according to the
rites Of the Roman Catholic Church by
the Rev. William B. Meenan. pastor Of st.
Mary's, assisted by the Rev. Father Cronin
and two altar boys. Eight minutes
after IL O'Clock Mr. Vanderbilt and Miss
Nelson were pronounced man and wife
and left the chapel smiling and happy
TO the strains of Memberships Wedding
March" and proceeded to the south parlor,
where they received the congratulations
under a huge canopy. of white daisies, the
canopy being fanked on the sides with
masses of golden daisies. About the room
were clusters Of daisies placed in gold
vases. The remaining rooms Of the villa
were profusely decorated with great
punches OF American Beauty roses, palms.
ferns and potted plants in flower.
The wedding gown of the bride was
OF white chiffon deliberately trimmed with
rare old point lace. 1t had a long train
with loose fitting sleeves and high collar.
The only jewels worn were string OF pearls,
the gift OF the bridegroom. The bridal
veil was OF old point lace and had been
worn by the brides grandmother. mother
and her sister. Mrs. Arthur T Kemp. The
bridesmaids were gowned also In white
large white picture hats with ostrich plumes
The brides bouquet was composed OF
rare white orchids, orange blossoms and
stephanotis. The flowers were tied loosely
with white satin ribbon with long streamers.
The bouquets Of the bridesmaids were white
Persian llacs tied with white satin ribbon.
The bridegroom and best man and ushers
wore boutonnieres Of gardenias. Bay trees
and tall ferns about the yard gave the
villa festive appearance. The brides
gifts to her attendants were gold heart
shaped lockets suspended from gold chains,
while the gifts Of the bridegroom to his best |
man and ushers were diamond and pearl |
stckpins.
A novel feature Of the wedding and one
which originated with the bride was the |
distribution OF the flowers of the bridal |
bouquet. After the reception. and just /
prior TO the breakfast. while the guests |
were still in the main hail. the bride mounted |
to the gallery and. loosening the satin rib |
bon which lightly bound the bouquet to- |
Eether, cast the flowers among the guests. |
There was a great scramble to secure the |
coveted souvenirs Of the wedding.
Following the reception, which was brief, |
NE wedding breakfast was served, the |
tables having been arranged in the dining |
room and hall while the guests were In the |
south parlor. There were two large tables. |
each seating sixteen guests, one for the |
brdal party and the other for the families |
Immediately copcpr ned and sixteen small i