The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-06-07
Weddings Without Caterer Or Florist,

Not every prospective bride is born with a Fortunatus purse that she can draw upon at will. In defnult of that, the efficient services of caterer and florist, accompanied as they are by an aftermath of redundant bills, become q serious feature to be taken into account when the details of the we'd ding are under discussion
 Many practical bride would infinitely pre- fer to have the lump sum that usually goes to these functionaries to add to her house furnishing, if she felt quite sure that she could achieve chic and pretty wedding without them.
 For the June wedding all things are pos sible. Out in the country. acres and acres of star-eyed daisies and crimson clover are mid -nid-nodding with every passing breeze and 10 be had for the picking. On all the roadsides are the sweetbrier roses. while in every country and village garden, cultivated roses, red, pink and white, just clamor to be cut.
 Never mind Jacks and American Beau ties;" the old moss roses, the Baltimore Belle, the cinnamon, the musk and the damask are inst as sweet and more "old timey, ">therefore to be desired
 Write to all your friends and your foes "up the state" and ask them to express you boxes and baskets full of flowers and feathery asparagus. They will love to do it. Everyone likes to have a hand in a wedding, whether they are invited or not. Then ask your girl friends to arrange them. If the wedding is to be morning affair, the :. flowers can be arranged over night. then sprinked Bank the mantels, garland the pictures. the stair railing, the chandeliers. Ell In the grill work between the rooms with vines and blossoms, borrow all the kitchen jars of blue gray stone ware and fill them full of daisies and clover. Make large mound of blossoms for the center of the buffet and tiny ones for each small table. Have plenty of fine wire and a stepladder ready for this part of the program, and the actual work is only labor of love.
 The refreshments must be planned for ahead and most of the actual work done a day or two beforehand. If fruit cake Is on the program 1t should be baked at least ten days ahead, and longer Is better; then left to ripen." The mayounaise can be made two or three days in advance and kept on the ice, the chicken cooked the nuts blanched and salted and the orders for essentials placed with the grocer and baker. Get good supply of dainty Japanese nap kins; they will not come higher than thirty or thirty five cents a hundred. Count the noses" of expected guests, and make sure you have two sets of spoons and plates with forks. cups and sherbet glasses to go around and one or two to spare. Not so many water glasses will be needed. If the guests are not so numerous but that they can all be seated for refreshments, have the small ia bles with lunch cloths If you do not care to borrow, all these things can be hired for a small sum.
 In setting the long table which serves as a buffet have a low mound of flowers, with vines or feather foliage leading out from it. On either side place candles or can delabra with pink shades, for pink is the true June wedding color On each end have piles of plates, with napkins between, and orderly rows of spoons and forks. Have two kinds of sandwiches and & plate of each at .1. .f.1- reserve. If the salad is to be served ou the plates have it in two large platters or salad bowls. It is easier, however, to have 1t all dished indiv' sually in the pretty salad cases, with their lining of lettuce leaves, then these grouped to make decorative showing