Part 23 (2/2)
When there are a number of elderly guests it is generally thought best to set two or more small tables in the refreshment-room, or an ante-room, where they may be comfortably accommodated with seats, and one of the ushers should see that they are so seated and promptly served.
Rehearsals.
In view of the complicated arrangements made necessary for the proper carrying out of a fas.h.i.+onable church wedding, and in consideration of the large number of people involved in the ceremony and the necessity of each one being in the right place at the right moment, in order to prevent confusion, it will be seen that some preparation is necessary before all can act in concert.
The needed drill is usually given by an exact rehearsal of the entire affair, to give which, the whole party meet at the church and rehea.r.s.e, so to speak, their respective parts; the forming into procession, the parting right and left at the chancel and the re-forming to return to the vestibule, being all gone through with to the sound of music, until every part of the long procession moves like clockwork.
The grouping of the bridemaids, the appointed duties of maid of honor and ”best man,” even to the smallest details, are all made perfect, until even the princ.i.p.al actors in the scene can retire without fear of any disaster to come.
This rehearsal is frequently made the occasion of a rehearsal dinner, given by the mother of the bride, at which the intimate partic.i.p.ants of the wedding-to-come entertain and refresh themselves.
The Wedding Breakfast.
Wedding breakfasts are an exclusively English fas.h.i.+on, but are gradually creeping into favor here. The breakfast does not differ from the ordinary reception, save that it is usually at an earlier hour and is more frequently a ”sit-down affair.”
The guests all go into the refreshment room at the same time, even though it sometimes happens that the a.s.sembly is so large that no one but the bridal party and immediate relatives are provided with seats at small tables. In this case, the gentlemen help the ladies and themselves from a long table in the center of the room, the whole affair, under these circ.u.mstances, being simply a cold collation.
Gentlemen leave their hats in the hall; ladies retain bonnet and gloves.
After the usual greetings to the bridal pair and a few minutes general conversation, the repast is announced and the guests proceed to the appointed room in the usual fas.h.i.+on--bride and groom, bride's father and groom's mother, groom's father and bride's mother, ”best man” and maid of honor, other bridemaids and gentlemen appointed, usually ushers, etc.
A ”stand-up” breakfast has many things in its favor. It is more easily served than one where all the guests are seated at a table that, in everything but name, is a dinner table; it is less formal and therefore pleasanter, and far more guests can be accommodated. The refreshments are the same as for a reception.
Departure.
After mingling with the guests for a short time the bride quietly withdraws to don her traveling garb, and soon descends the stairway.
She is met at the foot by her bridemaids, who part and form in line on either hand, through which dainty pathway she pa.s.ses to join the groom.
Quick good-bys are said, the carriage is entered and whirls rapidly away, followed by showers of rice and cast-off slippers, and the pretty scene is ended.
Home Weddings.
Home weddings are attended with much less trouble, fatigue and expense than fas.h.i.+onable church weddings. The clergyman enters the room and stands facing the people; the bridal couple follow and stand facing him. Ha.s.socks are provided for kneeling, if desired. The father, or some near male relative, stands ready, in sight of the clergyman, to give away the bride. He should simply bow his affirmation when the question is asked.
There are many additions that may be made to this simple ceremony, such as a troop of pretty children holding white ribbons each side to mark the path the bridal pair must walk to reach the minister, while the sweet strains of a hidden band of musicians may accompany their footsteps.
Floral decorations, within limits, are beautiful and appropriate, but where they are so lavishly displayed as to remind more of the florist's bill than the beauty of the blossoms, their effect is lost in a certain vulgarity that attends all too-visible evidences of outlay.
One pretty idea is to carry out the fancy of having one kind of flower, ma.s.sed according to the chosen design, serve for the decorations, at flower weddings; for example, rose weddings, lily weddings, daffodil weddings, etc. The design itself is according to the taste of the florist or the family, and is a subject changing so easily with the season or the fas.h.i.+on as to merit no mention here.
The supper may be as elegant an affair as one chooses to make it. If served by caterers, all care is removed from the hostess as to possible accidents, and she is left free to entertain her guests.
At evening weddings the company remains late or not, according to the hour of the bride's departure. Sometimes dancing is arranged as one of the evening's amus.e.m.e.nts. If so, the bride may, if she choose, open the first quadrille with the ”best man.” Should she do this, the groom is expected to dance with the first bridemaid.
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