The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-11-23
What To Wear
On Wedding
Day
BY MARGARET WADS

10 the perfectly correct dress for We'd
dings," not only for the bride, but for
the bridegroom, the men and maids of
the bridal party, mother of the bride
and guests generally, this colum will
give few authentic rules governing
such ceremonies in the best established
social circles in America.
The correct dress for a bride is al
ways white, preferably satin, but some
affluent brides have cloth of silver
or velvet The hour of ceremony makes
little difference in the brides custOme.
The regulation gown, with court train,
long veil of tulle or lace being just as
correct at noon as at 4 p. M, or p. m.
Evening weddings, however, are not
fashionable in any large city of the
north or east, although one occasionally
reads of such ceremonies in Washington,
as we'll as in western and southern
cities.
If bride-to-be canot afford hand
some white wedding gown, she had bet
ter forego this style of dress and be
married in her going-away gown with
a hat, even IL married at home.
Wedding gowns are not as expensive
as they used to be inasmuch as the
bride of today usually has her gown
made in a smart modern model Win
the court train, quite thing apart,
hung from the shoulders to be removed
after the wedding, leaving perfectly
good evening gown for dances, dinners
or receptions. Miss Beatrice Bek, the
most important of the Capitois autumn
brides. had her wedding gown of silver
cloth made with the up-to-the minute
apron over dress, fringed in ostrich,
,La Sc
minus its superb silver brocade train, to
dine and dance in Geneva, where, as
Mrs. Somerville Pickney Tuck, she is an
important young matron of the diplo-
matte circle.
This method of sartorial procedure
leaves the court train as an heir loom,
with the orange blossoms ana the lace
or tulle veil, while the dress serves
practical purpose for several seasons.
As regards the bridesmaids gowns,
Dame Fashion is not so kind, as they
are usually Of the picture variety" and
too conspicuous for general wear.
Hence the growing custom of making
gift of the gowns to the bridesmaids.
In some cases where the bridesmaids
gowns are of a conventional afternoon
style, such as any girl might buy for
herself. the bride or the brides mother
pays for the hats which are supposed
to be exactly alike and made by one
miliner from a model model becoming
to all.
The beauty of the wedding depends
upon the harmony OF the costuming;
Hence the wisdom of a small bridal
party where those participating must
consider the price.
he hri1
ton bridal costume, the bridesmaids
should wear the effective picture gown
of the season, or very smart afternoon
frocks, always with hats.
This applies to home as well as
church weddings. The hats the thing.
Nevertheless we sometimes see evening
weddings in which maid or matron of
honor walks up the isle with head I'M
covered.
When the bride wears travelling
dress or the ensemble frock now much
in favor, the bridesmaid or matron at
tendant should wear the same style
gown, but not of the same color. For in
stance, bride, in the smart henna tone
now enjoying great favor, might be
attended by a sister or intimate friend
in dark green or dark blue, or one of
the fashionable grays, with great care
given to the selection of the hats, gloves
and shoes.
The bridegroom at daytime we'd
ding should always wear a long black
coat, the cutaway being more fashion
able than the old-time frock coat. His
trousers should be dark gray, his
waistcoat to match his coat or white
piquet, according to the season.
Never, never, never should he wear
the dress coat of formal evening wear
which is usually seen in the little sugar
figures which ndorn wedding cakes of
the country confectioners. Best man
and ushers follow the same style as
the bridegroom, with possibly differ
ence in ties or trousers. Coats and
waistcoats shrould be like for all men
of the wedding party.
The exception, even in matters sartor-
ial, and there are exceptions to every
rule, is when the bridegroom is an
officer of Army or Navy, when he
wears his uniform, and should have
brother officers as best man ushers.
Even uniforms are to be used with
care, as all fashionable Washington
remembers a wedding of recent years,
In which the regal young bride wore
gown of silver brocade and the bride
KrOOIn lHC VI SuAAOA W AShOA VA
his service 60 aboard his fathers
yacht during the World war.
A word about the guests. When Miss
Jessie Wilson was married to Francis
u. Sayre, in the White House late in
the afternoon on November %, 1923,
many of the invited guests particularly
those from out of town, wrote well in
advance Of coming to Washington ask
ing what would be considered the pro-
per style of dress.
In every instance the social secretary
of the White House, to whom. the in
quiries were referred replied-a somrt
tailored suit with hat, shoes and gloves
to correspond The afternoon tailored
suit Of eleven years ago being what the
ensemble suit is today. That fashions
change with disconcerting frequency
cannot be denied, but the style, or what
some deep thinkers on shallow subjects
might describe as the philosophy of
dress, changes little from year to year,
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