Wedding Etiquette

London Quoen. The Jnvitations for a redoMn? nre more (Vequenüy issued in printed notes than on oards. They are issued from ten days to a fortiiight befo re the ceremony, and usually run as follows : "Sir joh n and Lady Green request the honor of Lord and Lady M.'s presence at St. George's, Hanover iquare, on day, at 11 o'clock, and aftervrards at 1 :20 Grosvenorgardens." 6ometims the hour of the brcakfast is spcclfled. When Ruch is the case it iinplies that the guests nre expected to Eresent theniselves about 20 minutes efore the hour named. It is, of course, obligatory that an invitation to a wedding should be answered at once, as peoplc naturally wish to know the number of guests they may expect. The sruests assemble at the church and there avrait the bride, 'he bridesmaids wniting in the porch and falling into their places behind her. ['T''o bride arrivés in the carriage with her mother, and her lal roceives her at the door, ;ivcs lier bis rightarin and leads her to the nltar, whwe the bridegrooin, attended by bis best man, awaits her. The bride's eldcst brother or somc otlier ncar rclalivc, should be in waiting at the door to escort her motlier. The number of bridesmaids varies according to taste ; the bride chooses what costume they hall wear, so as to insuro uniformity, butshe does not present them witli their dresses, gloves, or any otlier part of their equipment, Thebridegroom orovides the bride and the bridesmaids -vrith their bouquets, which are sent to them in tlie morning. He also presents each bridesuiaid with a souvenir, such as a locket, porte bonheur ring, brooch or Ion. These are sent to thein the day before, and are vrorn at the wedding. The bridegroom is at tended by onefriend as best man, vrliose duty it is to hold his hat and gloves, pay tlie feei, see that the carriago is ready, and in short take all the trouble oll' his hands. AVhen th procession stops, the bridesinaids spread out behitid the bride in a scmi-circle ; the head bridesmaid - her sister, it' she has one, il uot tlie bnuegroom s sisttr or sorne ■ near relative - takcs her bouquet and gloves. The father or otlier relative who givcs the bride away stands on her let't hand, and at the imjuiry : "Who gives this Wonian to be married to tliis man?" he places her right hand in that of the clergyrnan, It is, of courso, the nearest relativos who stand close round the bridal party. Iinmediately the cerernony is tooeloded, the newly-married couple, with theclergy and the nearest relativos, adjournio the vestry to sign the registrar; the bride (igning in her maidea name, and it is there that the bride and bridegroom receive the congratulations of the nearest relatives. If i'avors are given they are distributcd, generallv by the bridesmaids, While the weddingparty is in the vestry. They are more usual 1 y given than not, but still thcre tmnnsd, ijbuio aiim mu vuvr&ïty a spray of jussainine or myrtle, witii silver leavos and white satin ribbon; the gentlenien's, a spray ol' oak leaves and acoras without ribbon. The bridesmaids' i'avors are generally sligbtly more ornamental, and often nave a spray of forget-me-not. It is the duty of the best man to see that the earriage is at the door, and he inl'orms the bridegroom ; the newlymairied couple walUarm-in-armdown thechurch, tollowed by the bridemaids, in the saine order as before, and drive oiiiiist. It does not matter in what order the rest ot' the party lol low theii). W'lieti the wedding is in the atteruoou, the gucsti go straight to tlie house, and the relreslinieiits provided are such as are giveu at a !ar-e afternoon reception, with t'ue adetition, of course, of tho wedding cake. Whcn the wedding is in the evening, all the puesta attend in tho evening dress, and, after the ceremony, drive 'straight lo the house, where tliere is either an evening party and a sitting down supper, or a dance, and an ordinary ball snpper, a wedding cake bcing essential in both cases. On reacliing the house the bride throws np her veil, and i-eccives the congratulations of her Iriends and ac(jimintances. In the interval between the return f rom church and the breaki'ast the inspection of the wedding preteata gives employment to the guests. They are displayed on tables in the drawing-roorn, with tho naines of the donors writlen legibly on eards beside them. Some care is requisite to arrange them properly ; they should not be too crowded, and they should bc olaasifled - jewelry on one table, plate on anothcr, china on a thh'd, and so on. It is very usual to have an aftcrnoou party two days before the wedding to exhibit presenta ; and to this man y are invited who are not askcd to the ccrrinony itself ; the trousseau, too, is then generally exhibited. This party is not neecssary, but very frequent. It may be observed that grooinsmen are not usual in good society, the bridegroom being attended by one friend, the best man. When breakfast is announced the bride and bridegroom lead the way, and seat themselves cither at the hcad of tne tablc, or, as is now usual, in the center, immediately opposite the wedding cake. The father ot' the bride follows with the mother of the bridegroom, and seats hiinsclf next tohis daughter. During the interval belbrc breakfast the hostess has ndicated to the gentlemen what ladies they are to take, and they l'ollow in lue order of preeedcnce, slio lierself going down last witli the bridegroom's fatber and sittinjr next the BridogTOom. ïho best manalways takes head bridesniaid,and the otlicrs are Ukcn by gentlemen assigned to tbeni by the hostess. It is usual for tbem to sit op pósito the bride, but that is not essential. The menu should include soup, cold salmón, mayonnaises of lobster and chicken, larks, quail or soinething of that kind, cold lamb, cliicken, ham, tongue and sweets. Tlie table must bo prettily arranged with fruit and flowers, the dishes being generally ornamented -vrith silvercosaques, etc., and the menus printed in silvor. Champagne is indispensable, and sherry and claiet are likewise ofifered. Neither tea nor coffee is oll'ered, and ico is a matter of taste, whioh is as oiten omitted as not. The gucst of the highest importance proposes the -health of the bride and bridcgroom, and the bridegroom ï-esponds, the more briefly, the better. If it is wishcd to drink the health of the bridcsinaids the bridegroom proposes it and the best man responda. It is_ Iqnite ob.sulete to drink the health of the parents, the object bcins to tnil tho speeches as much as possible. Frcvious lo lier health beiiijf drank the bride cu Is the euke, of which it i obliyalory that everyone should cat a ti n y [)iece, and ihen retire to change lier dress, about a quarter of au hour I alter wlueh Cüe guests adjourn to the dmwlog room. Of course, at al'ternooii wedding! thcre is no sittinu;dovrn meal, only a buffet, witli such refreabiuenta as are given at laige aficriioon partios, with tlieaddition of the wecldiiiff cake. Whttt theadieux are over, two white shoes, at least, sliould be tiirown - one by tlie cliicf bridesmaid and tlie other by the best man. lt is the l'arewell of tlie unniarried to those wlio havejust left their ranks. If rice is tlirovrn at all, it should be by the matrons, and not by tlie yountf ladies. It is no toüger usual to 8cïid cake or cards to friends at a distance, and people discover lor themselves when the young people return from their wedding tour, aud oall at their ovvn convenienee.