WOMAN'S WORLD IN LONDON.

Evening Star, Issue 18254, 19 April 1923, Page 3

WOMAN'S WORLD IN LONDON.

[By Cykthia, for tho ‘ Evening Star.’] February 27. A CHARMING WEDDING. A real country wedding has just taken place, to which a crowd of guests went from London. It was the one 1 mentioned as shortly coming .off, and will interest Dunedin readers, as the. bridegroom (Major I’. C. Allan Bridgcman, 0.8. E.) hails from Dunedin, his father being Mr Orlando Bridgeman, of that town. You may remember that the bride was the Lady Honor Ward, ono of the pretty daughters of tho Earl of Dudley and his Into wife, who only a few years hack was unfortunately drowned while bathing otf the coast of Ireland, where there was a family residence. All the Wards are noted for their great good looks, and, as I believe I mentioned, are descended from the celebrated Victorian beauty, Georgina Countess of Dudley. Lady Honop is devoted to country lito and sport, like all her family, and determined to have a country wedding without all tho ceremony of a London function. So it was arranged that the wedding should take place from Himley Hall, her father’s Staffordshire seat. Tho charming old world church was small, so a huge crowd could not he accommodated, but the church was packed with notable and distinguished people, and made lovely with masses of spring flowers and foliage. The carl gave his daughter away, and sho was attended by two bridesmaids, her sister, Lady Patricia Ward, and her cousin, Miss Rosemary Trouhridgc, ono of this year’s debutantes. Blue and white was the scheme carried out by both the bride and her attendant maids, and the former looked most handsome and very graceful in her clinging draperies of while crepe jersey (a now fabric), the long train of the same material lined with shot blue tissue. Pearl and silver embroideries enriched her toilet, and sho wore angel sleeves of soft filmy white chiffon, and carried a big bouquet of lilies of the valley mingled with forget-me-nots; so that sho did not forget to wear “something bine” for luck. An exquisite old veil of antique family lace swept over all. At tho last minute the drosses of the bridesmaids wore slightly altered. They wore very smart mist-blue frocks of crepe jersey, but instead of the wreaths and veils previously decided on hats of silver lace were substituted, with very charming effect, and instead of tulips they carried great bunches of fragrant white lilac. The bridegroom’s souvenir gifts were decidedly novel, being onyx and diamond Cartier brooches, with the word “Me.rci” in diamonds. His presents to his bride included a diamond brooch, a diamond ring, a gold cigarette case, and a motor car, so she was really a lucky bride. Tho villagers made everything very gay, and built an archway close to 'the church, with overhead banner, offering the best of good wishes, and there was cheering and waving of handkerchiefs as tho young couple came away from tho church. A very pretty idea was thought of by the bride. She had her two favorite hunters saddled with big pannier baskets full of wedding cake and favors, which were liberally distributed amongst the village folk, much to their delight. Lady Honor is a fine horsewoman, and has never cared much for London life and gaieties. The reception following the wedding was held at a neighboring house, and not at Himley Hall : and amongst the many relatives of the family present were : Viscount Ednum, M.P., brother to the bride, and his pretty wife, who was formerly Lady Rosemary Leveson-Gnwer, the only daughter of Millicent. Duchess of Sutherland; Lady Trouhridgc, Lady Evelyn Ward. and the bride’s young brothers —the Hon. Edward and the Hon. George Ward. Major and Lady Honor Bridgeman spent a brief honeymoon at Maidenhead, where a house was lent them, and they are embarking almost at once for India. THE COMING ROYAL WEDDING.

Weddings seem in the air, and beyond the probable names to bn given to I’rin-' cess Mary's wonderful baby son, there is little else discussed but the coming Royal wedding and the trousseau now being made for the duchess to be. I have seen some of. the things, and can toll you on the very best authority all are very plain and good ; and as the pretty young bride is greatly devoted to ourdoor life usefulness comes first, and decorative effects are quite a secondary consideration. Then a great part of the trousseau is being made at home by Lady Elizabeth’s main, and under the personal supervision of Lady Strathmore (her mother) and herself. This is a fact which is much appreciated on the score of economy, and which sets an example that will no doubt be very gladly copied by dozens of brides who do not possess a long purse. It is possibly not because the family of the bride cannot afford a costly trousseau, but because the highest in the land realise they must set an example of usefulness in these days of penury, through which many of our oldest and best families are going. Nottingham is to supply Lady Elizabeth with much of its sadly forgotten products, lace especially. I can see a revival of the all-lace summer frock, a very pretty, dainty notion. The actual designs for the wedding dress are not yet complete, but I hoar British lace (possibly Moniton) will be used in its fabric. Of course old family lace is sure to play its part, and most wedding veils are of Brussels lace; but the bride will give preference to .British-made goods in all details of her wedding outfit. It may be, remembered Queen Mary used nothing but Iloniton lace at her marriage, and some of it adorned Princess Mary's wedding lobe.