The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-20

above them and reads the betrothal. When the clergyman asks, "who siveth this woman be married to this man?" the brides father says, "I | do.' advances, takes her right hand, and places 1t in that of the clergy man, who in turn places 1t in the right hand of the bridegroom for the 1 plighting of the troth Having thus finished his duty, the brides father then takes his place next to his wife at the end of the first pew on the right.
 Music is the one extravaganza which, as I have already said, I " ould indulge in, for there is noth- ing more beautiful and impressive | than to have a soloist or the choir | sing while the clergyman slowly ascends to the altar before which the ceremony is to be performed. The bride and groom follow the clergy n3n, the fingers of her right hand on his lief. arm.
 If there is a maid of honor she fol- 1 lows the bride until she has reached the spot directly below where she stops. If there is To maid of honor. the first bridesmaid moves out of line and takes this place. The best man takes similar position on the right hand behind the bridegroom. Then as the singers voice slowly dies away or the last note of the anthem, the bride hands her bouquet to the maid of honor or the bridesmaid; and if she is carrying a pet prayer book from which she wishes the ceremony to be read, she hands that to the clergyman. Then she and the bride- groom plight their troth.
 At the required time the best man produces the wedding ring. If the bride is wearing a glove without the one finger removed, she must take it off and hand it to the maid of honor. The best man then gives the ring to the bridegroom, who passes it to the bride. She gives it to the clergyman, who then returns it to the bridegroom. and he places it on the third finger of the brides left hand. The circle thus formed is a symbol. as is the ring. of the endless contract made in marriage
 The wedding.-ring must not be placed above the engagement ring. The bride should leave the engage ment ring at home on her wedding day or wear it on her right hand.
 o O O
 After the Ceremony.
 The ceremony ended the minister is first to congratulate the married pair and the organ begins the re- cessional. The maid of honor returns the brides bouquet and glove, and with the bouquet in the right hand, the bride puts her left hand through her husbands arm and they descend the altar steps together and lead the way down the aisle.
 It is also the duty of the maid of l. 4f. I..... .1.r- T train is properly adjusted, and when hind the bride and groom, walking alone After her come the brides maids, two and two, exactly as they entered the church. and the ushers come last
 Meanwhile the best man has dis appeared into the vestry where he secures the bridegrooms belongings and rushes around to the front of the church to give them to him. Even where the sexton or servant takes charge of the bridegroom's hat and stick, the best man goes to the front of the church to see the couple into feir carriage, which has been stand ing at the entrance during the en- tire ceremony. The rest of the pro- cession of carriages is drawn up in the reverse order from that in which they arrived.
 The brides carriage leaves first, next to the bridesmaids, then the carriage of the brides mother and tkat of the bridegrooms parents, after which follow the nearest mem bers of both families and finally the other guests.
 After the best man has seen the bride and groom to their carriage he returns to the vestry for his own belongings and gives the fee to the clergyman if he has not done so be- fore. He then goes on to the brides house or wherever the reception is to be held.
 Where the wedding reception is small the ushers and bess man escort the guests to the bride and groom but at a large reception this honor is ac- corded only to their friends, to old people and to distinguished guests. The rest of the guests stand on line ard as each comes up to the welded pair they congratulate them. There is no set Yength of time for the bride to remain at the reception. It depends entirely on how many guests there are to receive and how