Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-27
MODERN WEDDING CHANGES.
Hour for Ceremony-Presents fo1
Bride-A New Ring.

From the London Mail.
fashions have altered within even the
memory of most of US.
Twenty-one years ago the marriage
ceremony had to be over by II o'clock,
and the custom of the wedding breakfast
was, in full force. Then the hours were
extended to 3. and as the fashionable
hour grew later the breakfast gave place
to the reception.
1t is now fashionable to be married be-
tween and half past, according to Mr..
Massey OF st. Georges, Hanover square;
the quiet wedding, which a few years
back took place at half-past 9, now takes
place at noon.
Evening weddings are not allowed now,
though about twenty years ago it was
possible to be married at 6 in the evening
with special license, costing thirty
guineas and obtainable from the arch
bishop. This practice was, however
speedily discontinued Saturday still is
chosen for about two fifths of the modern
weddings; while Tuesday and Thursday
are each selected for fifth, Wednesday
is unusual and Friday extremely rare.
One of the most popular offerings the
maids at this season of the year is a
handsome muH made in one of the new
patterns, the long bolster shape fringed
with tails, the f1ounce, or the large pillow
shape.
Such a muff as this is costly, but not
more SO than the beautiful presents given
by one bridegroom this month, which con-
sisted of gold powder boxes worn dang
ling from the wrist by gold chains.
There is actually new wedding ring
f0r a hri6 of ~, %cl
proclivties to purchase. 1t is ring that
opens by means of a secret and COM
pletely hidden slide-completely hidden
that is to say, except to the bride, VINO
knows how to manipulate it.
On the slide are inscribed words of de-
votion from the bridegroom to his briae,
such as Until death do Us part" Thine
forever" and so forth.
Much sensation has been caused of late
by the public requests of two very smart
and wealthy brides-to-be. One of them a
recent debutante, has announced that she
wishes for the quetest of weddings; the
other has published a request that no
wedding presents shall be sent to her.
In both instances very obvious blow
has been aimed at the too prevalent idea
that even the most casual of acquant-
ances should be invited to the wedding,
instead of those really and truly inter-
ested in the alliance.
Other indications there are that the
weddings Of the past will not find favor
much longer with modern brides
One of them Is the revival of an old
fashion, that of displaying the presents
the day before the wedding and asking
to the gathering the acquaintance and
not very closely linked friends of the
family. reserving invitations for the cere-
mony at church and the reception after
ward for relatives and dear friends.
Water weddings, in which the happy
pair have proceeded by river to the
church, have been instituted this year,
one taking place only the other day.
Many little changes are creeping into
the etiquette of the wedding dress. Once
considered correct only when it was of
the snowiest of white satin, it has been
recently seen made Of lace posed upon
silver tissue.
Oddly enough, also, there have been not
a few cases lately in which the wedding
dress has not been worn for the cere-
mony, but has been kept to be put on
after the knot has been tied at a regis
trar's office, when the bride has gone
home and donned an exquisite bridal toilet
in which to figure at the reception.