The Washington herald., 1915-02-21

Just as love and marriage Is an ever
old. ever new story. SO, too. the matter
of etiquette for a church wedding seems
to be an ever old, ever new subject.
1t would seem that no bride-elect de-
sires to go to the altar without full
knowledge of the etiquette of the occa-
sion: and because so many brides-elect
have taken the trouble to write me on
this score l shall devote the etiquette
articles this week to the more important
rules for the formal church wedding.
First. as to the ushers. who, though
they do not shine at a wedding so Slori-
ously as do the bride and her sweet
attendants are. nevertheless. very i'm
portant accessories of the church we'd
ding. Indeed, ON their understanding of
the etiquette of the occasion and their
ability to observe it to the slightest de-
tail depends much on the brilliant sue
cess Of the function.
The ushers practically direct the cere-
monies of a church wedding and receive
their directions from the bride or her
mother. They are selected from the
friends of both bride and bridegroom. and
custom requires that each send the bride
a Rift in accordance with his means.
The bridegroom best man is the most
intimate friend of his bachelor life. and
upon him devolycs the matter of paying
the clergyman's fee. At simple we'd
ding, where the bride has no mother.
he also frequently makes all the church
arrangements.
The usher's dress at a day wedding is
generally black frock coat. gray trou-
sers. a white tie. and white gloves. He
also sometimes wears a white ribbon on
his left arm. or if not this a large white
boutonniere.
Upon the day Of the marriage the
ushers must be at the church quite
twenty minutes before the ceremony, in
order that the guests that come early
may be as tremendously seated as the
last.
When the ordinary guests begin to ar
rive. they are all escorted down the CEN
ter aisle and seated in the pews below the
white ribbon which marks off the seats
of the family and more intimate friends.
This ribbon boundary is not obligatory.
but ii makes the seclusion of the family
more secure and adds pretty touch
to the rest of the church decorations. 1t
is also the sentimental custom for the
bride to supply with her owns hands sew
eral yards of this ribbon. which is either
weighted at the loose end or sewed with
a large loop that slips over the opposite
pew arm. The names of such intimate
friends as arc asked to sit with the we'd
ding party are usually given the ushers
beforehand so that these friends Will
not be embarrassed at being put with the
less important guests. Again, each OF
these favored friends may be provided
with a special card which indicates that
they are to be seated inside the ribbon.
At very smart weddings the usher gives
his arm to each lady who enters alone
and escorts her in a gracious manner
IN RIlt where several new
corners approach single usher it Is
usual for him to bow in a polite manner
and then precede the party as he takes
them to their seats.
In seating the relatives and intimate
friends. II is the general rule for ushers
to indicate the right-hand pews for the
bridegroom's party and the left-hand ones
for that of the bride.
With the appearance Of the brides
mother or the bridegroom's the head
Usher invariably gives the lady his arm to
her seat. whether she is accompanied oy
a gentleman or not. As the appearance
of the mother. or mothers, indicates the
arrival Of the bridal party. the central
aisle Is Immediately cleared, and while
the head usher or ushers so into the
vcstibule to meet the persons important
the assistant usher or ushers stand in a
way to prevent any possible intrusion
upon the central aisle.
The vestibule doors are then nung wide.
and after a few bars OF the wedding
music have been player. the head usher.
followed by the assistants, precedes the
wedding party to the chancel.
The bridesmaids. following the ushers.
wear picturesque hats and round skirts,
and carry set bouquets. whose colors
accord with their costumes; IL they are