Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-01-31
BRIDAL PARTY
ETIQUETTE
How a Fashiona.
BILE Church Wed
ding is Q ca
Quoted Now.
BY ROSANNA SCHUYLER.
BY ROSANNA SCHUYLER.

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All expenses except those of pay
ing the clergyman, hiring the car
riage in which he comes to church
and the cost of the brides and
bridesmaids bouquets are paid by
the brides parents. The church, mu-
sic, decorations, carriages for the
bridal party and all refreshments are
no responsibility of the bridegroom
elect.
To begin with, the invitations for
the wedding are sent out two weeks
before the date of the ceremony. They
are issued in the names of the brides
parents or guardians, and If there is
TO be reception after the ceremony
at the church separate engraved
card Is enclosed stating at what time
and where that function will be held.
The forms for this and the invitation
to the church may be secured from
any reliable stationer.
The bride invites intimate friends
to be her attendants, and II the bride
groom has a sister, even though she
may live in another town and be a
stranger, 1t is only courtesy to in
clude her in the bridal party. The
most intimate friend is usually re-
quested to be maid of honor.
The ushers are selected by the
bridegroom from among his friends,
and if the prospective bride has a
brother, he is asked to be in the
bridal party.
Invitations are sent out at least
two weeks ahead.
1t is customary for the bridegroom
to give bachelor dinner to his ush-
ers and other friends few evenings
before the wedding, and the bride
gives a luncheon, or dove" dinner,
to her attendants a few days before
changing her name.
AS to the church decorations, they
may be simple or elaborate, as de-
sired. II is the custom now to have
the main aisle in the front portion of
the church roped off with wide white
satin ribbon. These ribbons are fast
ened to the ends of the pews just
before the bridal party enters and are
not taken up until after the ceremony
has been read and the bridal party
has left the church, for in this Sec
ton all the relatives and special
friends of both families are seated.
Ushers seat the guests as they come
until the brides mother arrives. This
means that the bridal party is wait
ing to enter and no more guests are
admitted. The brides mother is TAX
en- by a usher to her seat in the
front pew on the left side of the
church. Then the usher returns to
the back of the edifice. The bride
groom's parents or nearest relatives
are in corresponding pew on the
right side.
The bridegroom and his best man
then enter from the front, taking their
places at the chancel steps to await
the coming Of the bride. Their ar
rival should be the signal for the en-
trance first, Of the ushers, walking
two by two. Following them comes
the flower girl and then the brides
maids. Directly back of them is
the maid of honor, and then the
bride, her arm through that of her
fathers.
AS the ushers arrive at the chancel
they turn to the right and group
themselves where they are to stand
during the ceremony. The brides
maids take similar place at the left,
leaving the couple to be married alone
in the centre.
The father stands at one side until
he gives away the bride. After this
part in the ceremony he steps back
into the pew to join his wife.
During the service the bride gives
her bouquet to the maid of honor, so
the clergyman may take her hand,
and the maid of honor keeps the flow
ers until after the ceremony, when she
returns them, and then puts back the
brides veil.
In leaving the church the newly
couple leads the procession,
unless there is flower girl. They
are followed by the maid of honor
and best man, walking together, then
each usher beside a bridesmaid.
Having taken the wedding party |
from the church, the ushers return
and take out the brides parents and |
those of the bridegroom. 1t is the
height of rudeness for any one to
leave the church before the bridal |
party departs.-From the New York |