Problems Of The Guest: Easter Weddings

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 April 1950, Page 8

Problems Of The Guest: Easter Weddings

Invitations to Easter weddings are notv reposing on the mantelshelf of many homes, bringing with them both pleasurable anticipation of a social function and two absorbing preoccupations to the feminine mind. To the usual question of “What shall I wear?” is added the no less important one “What shall I send for a weddingpresent ? ”

The wedding guest, however, important, has neither the position nor the glamour of the bride. It is her day. In her long gown, beautiful and gracious in brocade, charming and sweet in lace or tulle, carrying flowers, misted in veils, she is the central figure. With her bridesmaids clustered around her, she and her bridegroom make all those solemn promises of the wedding service, whilst wedding guests fumble surreptitiously for their handkerchiefs at the reminder of their own high youthful endeavour. Dressing Decorously Clothes should be in keeping with the wedding’s guest’s minor role; elegant, lovely but not sufficiently dramatic to subtract from any interest in the bride. There are also two parts to a wedding. First, there is the ceremony in church, when many people feel that it is against the canons of good taste to wear clothes suitable for a theatrical first night, and there is the reception. For this reason, evening weddings are more difficult to dress for than are those in the afternoon. Quiet colours, enlivened with flowers, should meet the difficulty of dressing decorously yet joyously, and looking appropriate in both settings. Choosing a wedding present is usually left to the wife. Relationship to the bride or bridegroom often determines the value of the present, but when the financial limit has been discussed with the husband, the wife starts cn the business of spending the money to the best advantage. Sometimes a cheque is sent, but unless this is a very substantial one or has. been previously requested by the couple, it is not a very good method of dealing with the problem. Acceptable Gifts

There are many items now readily available in the shops, which have a ready welcome and serve as a lifelong reminder of friendship shown on a wedding day. Silver, or sliver plate, is a most acceptable gift,

whether it be in the form of a tea service, entree dishes, small spoons or cake forks, or the once ridiculed toast racks. It would be as well, perhaps, to drop a note to the bride, asking her if she already has a plethora of toast racks and cake forks, so that some other choice may be made.

Choice table linen, too, is usually , acceptable, and so are electric appliances, of possibly a set of coloured blankets or coloured sheets. Unless you are in the bride’s confidence about her scheme of house decoration it is unwise to present cushions, lamps or pictures which represent your own personal choice and may prove to be a complete white elephant in the new home. Most brides like crystal. Water sets, glasses, and salad bowls all make valued presents which fit in with any but the most functional scheme of decoration. Vases for flowers are a trickier present; nowadays,’flowers are very much a part of interior decoration and their containers are usually chosen to harmonise with the surroundings. In general, it is best to choose presents which will have a long life, so that pleasant memories will be aroused by their use for years to come; and to choose something which dees not reflect too strongly your own personality as it will have to be used in the home of another. Women’s Institutes Kaiata W.l. The monthly meeting of the Kaiata Women’s Institute was held recently, Mrs Milne presiding -over a good attendance. A new member was welcomed. Mrs Walker read the motto for the month, “A clear conscience is a good companion.” Mrs Muir was the winner of the mystery parcel. Sprays were presented to Mesdames Milne, Faulkner and Coom. Competition winners were as follows:—Anzac biscuits, Mrs Becker 1, Mrs Faulkner 2, Mrs Walsh; laundered article, Mrs Cron 1, Mrs Faulkner 2; shoulder spray, Mrs Marsh 1, Mrs Cameron 2, Mrs Faulkner 3. The annual meeting was then held and Mrs Cuthbert was elected president. The committee appointed was Mesdames Faulkner, Coom, Becker, Cameron, Kenning, Twist, Sweeney, Sweetman. Winners of the aggregate prizes for the year were:—Cookery, Mrs Faulkner; floral art and vegetables, Mrs Marsh; handwork, Mrs Faulkner.

Ngahere W.l. The annual meeting of the Ngahere Women’s Institute was held recently. The report and balance sheet were held over until a special meeting is called. The president, Mrs Mulcare, thanked the secretary for her work in connection with the recent trip to Blenheim. The wandering shilling was won by Mrs Mulcare. The delegate for the Dominion conference will be Mrs Burrell. The competition resulted as follows: —Mrs Purvis* 1, Mrs R. Donaldson 2, Mrs Mulcare 3. The election of officers resulted as follows: —President, Mrs Mulcare (re-elected unopposed); vice-president, Mrs McGuire . (reelected unopposed); secretary,'Mrs J. Donaldsonj treasurer, Mrs Myers; press reporter, Mrs Armstrong. Afternoon tea was served by the hostesses. The vice-president presented Mrs Mulcare with the aggregate prize and Mrs Burrell with second prize. The competition for April will be a W.l. programme. The winner of the cake made by Mrs Myers, was Miss M. Hill. The motto was “Live for others and you, will never be lonely.”