Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 January 1875 — Etiquette of City Weddings. [ARTICLE]

Etiquette of City Weddings.

Tim etiquette of a wedding differs j somewhat in cities from that observed in the country, and it—is—witbithe former ; that wr are now concerned. The invita- | lions aje generally sent out about ten | days before, and run as follows: “ Mr. and Mrs: F—— request the pleas- | ure -of Mr. and Mrs Mi-—Ms company at ' Trinity Chapel, on Wednesday, Jan. 17, at one o’clock.” ' To this an answer should of course he returned. Ito-tlic wedding morning the bridegroom sends the bride the <wedding bouquet; lie also sends a bouquet to each of the bridesmaids. These young ladies are hound to be at the church in good time and await the bride at the door. Her father also awaits her there. Meanwhile, the bridegroom has, of course, arrived, accompanied by his “ best man,” and taken up his position in the chance). Occasionally in the country there arc “ groomsmen”—that is to say, a j’oung man for each bridesmaid —but this practice is unheard of in good society. The church having filled with the invited guests, the bride arrives with her mother (for whom some gentleman—either her son pr some great friend—should be in waiting) and at once proceeds to the altar on her father’s arm, and followed by her bridesmaids, two and two, care being taken to match them ag to height as near as may be. Arrived in the chancel they., should spread out in a semi-circle behind the bride, the chief bridesmaid (who is either, the bride’s elder sister, if she Jaavc one, or the bridegroom’s) taking charge of the gloves, handkerchiefs ans bouquet.. At the conclusion of the cererifony the newly-married couple, with their parents and immediate relatives, adjourn to the vestry to sign the register and receive the congratulations of their nearest connections. This done, they emerge into the church and depart first, the bridesmaids following to the church door. The bride’s father escorts the bridesgroom’s mother, and the father the mother of the bride. Very frequently the guests do not go atjj once to the house, but arrive thfife shortly before the hour named for the breakfast, and spend the interval until it is announced in examining the wedding presents, which are tastefully laid out on tables in the drawing-room, with the names of the donors on a card beside each. When breakfast is announced the bride and bridegroom lead the way, followed by the bridegroom’s mother on the arm of the bride’s father, and the bride’s mother on that of the bridegroom’s father. It is now most unusual to have a sitting-down breakfast. A long buffet is provided, as at a ball supper ; but it is becoming the custom to have »a fewsmall round tables to accommodate eight persons. At one of these the newlymarried couple and their parents sit, often joined by the couple of highest rank present. The custom of many or long speeches is happily past. The gentleman of highest position, or nearest relation, proposes in as few words as possible the health of the newly-married couple; the bridegroom as briefly responds. The bride rises and, the knife having been put in the cake, cuts the first slice, and then retires to change her dress. The company finish their breakfast and return to the drawing-roofn, and in a short time the bride reappears to make her adieus. Very often she divides the bridal bouquet among her bridesmaids. On departure, the task of throwing the white satin shoe belongs to the “best man.” As soon as the young people have departed the guests at once disperse. The custom of sending cither cake or cards is now quite out of fashion. When a widow remarries the etiquette differs somewhat. The invitations areissued in her name, bat the breakfast is given by some near relative or great friend. The ceremony is usually a somewhat quiet one. There are no bridesmaids and no favors, and the bride’s dress is generally siiver gray—never white —and she wears a bonnet. A question often asked is; “ How does a widow, married a second time, arrange about her wedding ring?” Tastes differ. Some wear the former one on the little finger of the left hand, with a memorial ring as* a keeper; others*wear it suspended by a chain from the neck, and others iav it carefully away among their cherished treasures. ' But the most usual course is to retain it on the proper linger, placing the new one over it.—JJemorttt'g Monthly.