Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-16
The Wooden Wedding.

The NTH anniversary of marriage is
called the wooden wedding. 1t is gener-
ally celebrated in a simple and jolly man
ner, with only the relatives. few close
friends and the children Of the house. and
since housekeeping things are supposed
to be worn out by now the presents con-
sist Of every species Of domestic utensil
and ornament that is made Of wood:
A more pretentious function will re-
little squares of thin. white pine. wood or
birch bark paper. and since the invita-
ton implies a degree of grandeur In the
celebration, everything about the wed
decorations for the parlor, a supper with
the table showing very festive wedding
look, speeches, toasts and so on.
The wording Of the invitation may be
any foolishness. or IT may De s SNAPPED ait
'Mr. and Mrs. Harry Dunbar request
the honor of your presence at their
Wooden Wedding on Tuesday, January
Third. at eight P. M
Here is the formal thing. and the words
should be lined on the paper in genuine
wedding invitation way-aI OF which the
priAter, If the invitations are to be
printed, will attend to. Hand-written In
vitations however. are as oiteh useu .,,,s
In the parlor and about the hall pains
and ferns set on rustic stands would De
effective, but II these cannot pc man
aged the floral decorations could De put
in common implanted water pals, and
the little sort sold as children's toys
would be charming for the table; oyer
the doorway OF the parlor the word Wei
come" painted in large letters on piece
Of wood. will make an appropriate toucn.
The husband and wife must be stand
ing at the doorway ready to receive the
guests, the gentlemen wearing full even
ing dress with a bridegrooms b0utonniere.
The wife's costume may be any handsome
neck and short sleeves; but IL she carries
a bouquet made Of white flowers and
feathery ferns 1t would be sfgnincant
and sentimental touch. II there are TWO
dressed as bridesmaids and the boys as
ushers AS each guest enters. the grit
brought is offered to the wife. who exam
ines 1t, praises it. and then allows II to De
put on or about the present taD ape, .,or.
In the center OF the dining table there
should be the wedding piece of flowers set
in a birch bark jardiniere. or in one OF
the toy wooden pals. Every guest must
have a place card or blrch park. OF p.'e,
of wood and if favors are to be given
these must of course be in wood
In fact 1t is possible to give the table
the right look to q I through very niue
| expense, for wooden plates and dishes
| the round ones used by bakers and the
| square sort sent by the grocer-may take
| the place of china. and il these are
burned at the edge with pyro-pen IN some
simple decorative way tney Will even
! seem handsome. ="
Green ia the color for the wooden we'd
ding. so the writing or printing OF INV
| tations and the pames on the place cards
| must be done in green ink or water coIors
/ penholders. stamp boxes and such trifies
may compose the souvenirs OF the gentie-
men. and those OF the ladies' may be any
| tiny wooden tribe Of a dainty and femi-
nine nature At the close or the oanque'
I f,~Ix - ~
husband and wife and say some appro-
pirate words in favor of marriage and
| the function continues or breaks up, a
host and hostess say.
en- wedding was OF the surprise sort
Friends inveigled the lady of the house
away from her home. and in her absence
the husband arranged the nome for tht
nm and friends arrived with presents. 81
that when the fve-year bride returned
there was everything ready for her. An
other wife. whose husband was Of thu
irritable sort. conceived the happy notion
OF getting up all the a,fangem ae ., tn.
her husband into the secret by sending
! him one OF the formal invitations.
II On such occasions the presents given b!
! the husband to the wife or by me par
ents Of either are generally of Yer!
substantial sort. Well-to-do parents ma.
give q house of they can AFFORD it. ant
everything from piano to diamon'
pin is appropriate as .ne nusoaiu : ei.'.
but. to conclude this little dissertation
pray let me say that the celebration o
wooden wedding does not necessaril.
cali for expense. \ nice home dinner witt
the family. and perhaps the bridesmaid
ana the hes. man. would be quite enough
for the sentiment OF the OCCASION is TIN
chief thing. Truly married hearts onl,
n.-s to show off little TO their friends
choo.e-with a supper. luncheon. dinner
or q dance,
Tho wooden lifts usual to these occa
s,one have their meaning. Wood agni
0ss that the couple have come to the
! practical stage Of life. and the celebra
ton presupnoses the intention to love and
we'll as show love and reverence for those
that have passed
So the celebration Of any wedding an
niversary may be SAID 10 ne public tes-
meaning TO the "r wili' OF the real we'd
70 ding day.