THE VANDERBILT-FRENCH UNION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 52, 2 March 1901, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE VANDERBILT-FRENCH UNION.

The most brilliant event in the history of American society since the Marlborough marriage toolc place at Newport on January 14, when at the Church of St. John the Evangelist, Mr Alfred Gwynne Yanderbilt, younger son of the late Mr Cornelius Vanderbilt, and owner of property estimated at £ 10,000,000, wedded Miss Elsie French. Two hundreel guests, representing incalculable millions and including many members of the 'Whitney, Sloauc, Webb, Burden, Gerry, Shepard, Mills, and other wealthy families, attended. Most of them were conveyed to Newport from New York and Boston in special trains. The streets of the fashionable watering place were thronged by thousands of eager and adulating spectators. Mr Cornelius Yanderbilt, junior, the bridegroom's elder brother, and Mr W. K. Yanderbilt, junior, were conspicuous by their absence. The journey of the happy pair from the bride's residence at Harbour View to the church was a triumphal progress. The church was lavishly decorated. On the altar were a number of huge vases holding "American Beauty" roses with stems 3ft long. Over the entrance was a magnificent floral horseshoe, 25ft high, made of 1800 Bride orchids. This one cost £1000. Elsewhere green foliage predominated. The bride, w r ho is one of the best whips in Newport, wore a wonderful gown of white ivory satin trimmed with point lace, and with a train 10ft in length, costing £1000. Blossoms were also used to hold in place the veil, which was of Brussels lace, and was the same worn by the bride's sister, "Mrs Eaton, at her marriage to Major-General Eaton in London eight years ago. The four bridesmaids wore pearl grey crepe de Chine, trimmed with Liberty gau.e, and picture hats of pearl grey velvet. The entrance to Harbour View was one mass of rare green orchids, the doors of the villa being hidden by English holly. The walls were hung with mistletoe and baskets of -scarlet flowers. In the centre of the table of honour in the breakfast room was an enormous wedding cake weighing 851b. There were hundreds of wedding presents, many of them coming from England. The bridegroom's gift to the bride was a diamond necklace valued at £15,000. Forty thousand roses, orchids, and other flowers w-ere used in decorating the villa. The whole affair was the apotheosis of extravagant and ostentatious luxury.