The Washington herald., 1911-08-24
AUGUST WEDDINGS
In THE COUNTRY
Sum mer Beauty Affords
Background of Decoration.
IN EITHER CHURCH OR HOME
The Hostess Who Keeps Open
House the Day Prior to the We'd
ding Ceremony Gives the Bride
groom q Chance to Meet Her
Friends-Less Formalities.

August is the favorite month for coun-
try weddings. Parks and gardens are in
full summer beauty and fruit abounds.
The city church is decorated with flow
ers for the bridal, but the country
church is much more lavishly provided.
A beautiful arrangement is lattice for
the chancel screen made Of white flow
ers and tall slaves at the entrance to
each pew wreathed with blossoms and
greenery. The village is made gay with
triumphal arches, and the house in
which the wedding reception is to take
place is decked with flowers Of all avail
able description.
There cannot be too many great china
and silver bowls filled with roses, sweet
peas, and stocks upon tables and window
ledges. In the corners of the hall and on
the staircase spikes of gladioli, great
sheaves of lilies, and white and golden
daisies give a festive air to the house.
Delightful Little Meals.
sideration the fact that numbers of their
friends come from a distance, and pro-
vide instead Of buffet refreshments de-
lightful little meals served at small
tables. If there is not a large enough
dining-room available, tents are erected
in the garden.
A set of tables will be reserved for the
bridal pair, and the parents on both
sides Of the families, the bridesmaids.
and best man. but at the rest the guests
seat themselves as they feel inclined.
In this case the pretty arrangement
is followed Of decorating the bridal ia
bles with white, a second set with pink,
blue for the third, and so forth, and no
more beautiful flowers can be found for
them than roses, sweet peas, carnations,
and cornhowers.
1t is not only on the wedding day, but
upon many others that the wedding
hostess keeps open house. The modern
custom of holding a reception the day
before the wedding has its votaries.
especially If the marriage is to be q quiet
one, and even If 1t is not to be, there are
many good reasons for a garden party
the day before the wedding at which the
presents can be shown. and to the most
intimate friends the bridal trousseau-
Less Formal Affair.
II It be possible for the bridegroom
elect to attend the reception the day be-
fore the wedding that Of the marriage
day is a much less formal affair than 1t
otherwise would be, for the bridegroom
will have made the acquaintance Of the
brides friends beforehand and few intro
ductions will have to be made at the
wedding party.
After the honeymoon is a favorite time
for second garden party.
The bridal toilet for the country we'd
ding is no less beautiful than the one
that is seen at a city wedding, though
perhaps less formal The modern bride
who live near the church in which she
, is to be married likes to walk to It, dis
pensing with the formality of carriage
or motorcar.
She dispenses as a rule also with the
long court train. and instead Of appear
ing in the stately renaissance dress of
gold or silver brocade and tissue is ap-
pareled in white satin decked with lovely
lace. Upon her head she wears a coun-
trified looking sprigged muslin peasant
mobcap, with the traditional bridal veil
over il.