New-York tribune., 1920-04-30
Great Throng
OF Society Folk
At Ceremony
Simplicity Marks Service
in St. Thomas's Church.
but Color Is Afforded
by Brilliant Assemblage
Police Control Crowds
Large Reception Given in
Home of Brides Broker:
Myriads of Costly Gifts

Miss Rachel Littleton's marriage to
Cornelius Vanderbilt jr. yesterday af-
.srnoon in ST. Thomas's church drew
the largest gathering of society ever
seen in that edifice. 1t compared in
poirt Of interest and attendance with
the weddings of Miss Consuelo Wander
bilt and the Duke of Marlborough, Miss
May Goclet to the Duke of Roxburghe.
Miss Vivien Gould to Lord Decies and
Miss Gladys Vanderbilt to Count
S,echenyi.
So great was the crowd inside the
church that six policemen had to be
called in to clear way in the vestibule
ior the bridal procession to form and
start up the aisle AS 1t was. the we'd
ding march was deIayed twenty minutes
before the first of the ushers started
Tor the altar.
Many Turned Away
Some OF the most prominent women
in New York socity who arrived
shortly before the hour set for the
wedding were unable to find seats and
had to content themselves with stand
ing in the vestibule or on the stairs
leading to the gallery, where they could
only obtain q glimpse of the bride as
sne went in and out of the church.
Many were unable to gain admittance.
ST. Thomass Church will seat $500.
More than 5000 persons were in at
tendance. Five thousand invitations
had been issued
/ About 1000 persons, mostly women.
waited outside the church fer an hour
to get fieeting glimpse of the bridal
party. Twenty policemen had diff
Guilty in preventing the spectators from
pushing into the awning which COW
cred the passageway from the curb
stone up the steps to the vestibule.
The jam in front of the church was
relieved in part when a report was cir
culated that the bride and bridegroom
were to enter and depart from the
tfty-third Street entrance. A hun
dred or more women were thus shut
lied back and forth between the two
entrances, finally missing the spec
tac!e. More fortunate were about 200
persons who sat on the tops of busses
which happened to be passing at the
right time.
Traffic in the street was not inter
rupted in spite of the scores of auto
mobiles and carriages which brought
guests to the wedding.
Ihe wedding was simple one. with
no decorations to speak of, only palms
and white roses grouped about the
ehancel. The same was true at the
home of the brides brother and SIS M
ter-in-law, Mr.. and Mrs. Martin w. Lit
'ieton. l13 East Fifty-seventh Street,
where the reception was held
800. POund Weddinr C,Lo
The bav window in the living room
was banked with flowers in which stood
me huge 5O0-pound wedding cake. The
cost OF the cake was $500 and it was
designed by Charles Wilson, of Sher-
rvs. The cake was sliced into tholl-
sand pieces. Twenty pounds of it were
sealed IN a monogramed tn box to be
opened when Mr.. and Mrs. Vanderbilt
celebrate their twenty-tifth wedding
anniversary. The cake measured five
and one-half feet high and three feet
IN diameter.
The guests began arriving at the
church shortly after o'clock, an hour
'elore the time set for the wedding.
and they enjoyed selections by the or
sanlst, Tertius Noble, NJ. A., who
played half dozen numbers. among
t.sm Greig's Morning" "St. Saaans' s
The Swan" the Spring Song" OF Hol-
hns; "Gavotte,' by Martini. and one
own Idy!."
The. professional hymn was "Loe Di
vlne Ali Love Exceilng," sung by the
aull ested choir, and the professional.
Faithful and True" "Of Perfect
Love was played at the betrothal and
she occasional was Mendelsshon's
Wedding March"
The maid of honor and the brides
maids arrived few minutes before 4
o'clock and were followed by the bride
ana her brother. Martin w Littleton.
After a wait of about twenty min
ushers, followed by the bridesmaids
and maid Of honor, with the bride and
Ar Littleton bringing up IN the rear,
s,arred up the aisle. They we're met at
me altar By Mr.. Vanderbilt and his
best man, Gerard II. Coster The
ceremony was performed by the Rev.
Dr.: Ernest NJ. Stires.
Inc bride was attired somewhat af-
yer the English fashion. She wore her
ven over her face, and after the cere-
rohy the covering WAS thrown back
tne vell Of tulle was voluminous one,
ahd fell in graceful folds over long,
square train Of soft satin, which hung
nom the waist, and not, like so many.
rom the shoulders. Her gown Of the
sarne soft satin was fashioned after the
prevailing mode, ankle length and full
xirted. The bodice, cut V-shaped
eotn back and front, WAS claborately
smoroidered IN crystals in lily of-the-
'aliey design, AZ was the train Her
,n!y ornament was a diamond bar pin,
ns gift of the bridegroom. She car
red shower bouquet Of white spray
'rchids and llies-of-thc-v valley.
Maids in Vatican Frocks
The bride.rnaid aids-Miss Grace Van
sssro;l., sister Of the bridegroom; Miss
katherine Mackay, daughter Of Clar-
snee h. Hackay; Miss Marion Carroll,
szngnter Of Mr. and Mrs Bradish J.
tarroll; Miss Katherine Temple Kcogh,
Daughter Of Mr. and Mrs. Martin J.
AsSnzn, Miss A. Routh Ogden, daughter
y Nr. and Mrs. John r. Ogden, and
Hiss Helen NJ. Moran, daughter Of Mr.
aEd Mrs.. Charles Moran-resemblcd
ofesder china figures in their pictur-
ssdoe Vatican frocks.
ir2e % tne period, the skirts were
Aort just q little above the ankles
shd extended IN panpicr effect over
@s hipS. They were fashioned of two
nj 80 '" '''''' '''''' '"a"' 's''
Peschblow tafeta, with an under
teas OF yellow. made the bodices, which