The sexton should be duly informed what preparations to make at the
church; the awning at the entrance, the ribbon barrier across the
aisle, the floral decorations, etc., by whomever arranged and executed
are under the supervision of this functionary, who is responsible for
having everything in order.
It is no longer good form for a bride to be late at her own wedding.
Now, when the invitation says "seven o'clock" it is expected that the
ceremony will begin at that hour precisely, accidents aside.
The organist is engaged by some one interested in making the
arrangements, and is supposed to be in his place for a half-hour or so
before the hour of the ceremony; and while the guests are assembling he
discourses music appropriate to the occasion--a rambling, meditative
_pot-pourri_ of sweet and pathetic sentimental songs being a popular
and effective choice. In churches having a vested choir it is possible
to secure very beautiful effects in the musical adjuncts, the
processional adding greatly to the grace and dignity of the ceremonial.
The sexton, or his deputy, stands at the door, salver in hand, to
receive the admission cards as people enter the church. The invited
guests are met at the foot of the centre aisle by the ushers. An usher
offers his arm to a lady and conducts her to a seat, the friends of the
bride being seated at the left and the friends of the groom at the
right of the middle aisle. When, as often happens, the groom is "from
a distance," and few of his far-away acquaintances can be present, this
separation of guests is not observed.
At the appointed hour, the clergyman appears at the altar rail; the
groom, accompanied by his best man, emerges from the vestry, and takes
his place at the right, awaiting the arrival of the bride. At this
instant, the organist stops dreaming, wakes up, and starts boldly into
the wedding march, as the bridal party move up the aisle, in the
following order: First, the ushers, in pairs, then the bridesmaids,
also in pairs. Sometimes a little "maid of honor," carrying flowers,
precedes the bride. The bride, leaning on the arm of her father, comes
last. The ushers and the bridesmaids separate as they reach the altar,
and go to the right and to the left. At the altar the groom receives
the bride from her father's hand. The latter steps back a few paces,
but remains near enough to "give away the bride." When this point in
the ceremony has been passed, the father quietly joins the mother in
the front pew.
If the processional has been the "Lohengrin" march, it is thought by
many to be very effective for the organist, all through the ceremony,
to continue on the swell organ a dreamy _sotto voce_ improvisation, in
the course of which a varied reiteration of "Faithful and true" serves
as an affecting expression of the sentiment of the hour. The most
enjoyable tears are shed by the emotional under this inspiration. But
other people prefer the solemn stillness, broken only by the voice of
the priest and the responses of the high contracting parties. It is a
matter of taste and feeling; and those interested are at liberty to
indulge either fancy.
The bride stands at the left of the groom during the ceremony; and also
takes his left arm at the close. When the ceremony is concluded, the
officiating clergyman congratulates the couple, but does not kiss the
bride as formerly. In the Episcopal Church, and any other churches
where it is the duty of the contracting parties to sign the parish
register, the clergyman, the newly wedded pair, and their witnesses,
now retire to the sacristry for this purpose. On their return to the
chancel, the organ peals forth the Wedding March; the bride and groom
lead the bridal party in returning down the aisle, the bridesmaids and
ushers following in due order, and after them the nearest relatives;
and all, entering their carriages, are driven at once to the home of
the bride's parents.
After a morning, or "high noon" wedding, a "breakfast" is usually
served. If the ceremony has been a nuptial mass, in the Catholic or
High Church ritual, the bridal party have--presumably--observed the
fast, before the mass; therefore, the "breakfast" is really a
breakfast. However, the term is popularly used by non-ritualists, when
the ceremony bears no relation to the mass; and regardless of the fact
that the real breakfast has been taken at the usual hour.
A bride may wear full dress at any hour, day or evening; but
_decollete_ dress is not good form at a church wedding, nor is it
allowed in the Catholic church. White is the preferred color for a
young bride. A widow-bride, on the contrary, should choose some other
color; and she wears neither veil nor orange-blossoms.
Details of fashion vary so constantly that specific directions cannot
be given with any assumption of final authority. A fashionable modiste
should be consulted in the emergency.
The dress worn by a guest at a wedding may be as rich as desired, but
should not have a bridal appearance. Sometimes a recent bride wears
her own wedding gown at a friend's wedding; but it is in better taste
not to do so, nor in any other way to invite comparisons. The bride
should be permitted to be the conspicuous figure at her own wedding,
and while her friends may pay her the compliment of wearing handsome
toilettes on that occasion, still, other women should dress just a
little less elaborately, rather than commit the solecism of
"out-dressing the bride." Fortunately, one may show all delicate
consideration in this matter, and yet be beautifully and becomingly
dressed.