BRIDES OF THE PERIOD.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXI, Issue LXII, 11 May 1912, Page 10

BRIDES OF THE PERIOD.

According to the Strand Magazine, the bride of to-day has an enterprising taste in varying her bridal accessories. It will not do, for instance^ to expect her always to appear in bridal white. Even quite young girls often prefer a wedding dress with touches of color — wearing white satin with green sash and embroideries to inatcn an adornment of emeralds, or stepping beautifully and richly to the altar in white and gold brocade. Then her bouquet now allows quite a large field of choice. The old restriction to white flowers may be set aside, and recent brMes have carried red roses* a" handful of white and yellow orchids, or a big bouquet of pink carnations. Brides called . JRose, May, Myrtle, Daisy, Lily, Ivy, or Violet, are equally at liberty to follow the example set long ago by Miss Broughton's heroine, who rejected conventional orange blossoms in favor of "a little natural garland" of her own name-flowers, Nancies." On arriving at the church, the bride up-to-date, instead of leading her bridesmaids, sends them up to the altar before her. This odd reversal of things is a fashion borrowed from America. Tney are supported during the excursion, however, by the presence of the groomsmen, who have suddenly returned into favor; six bridesmaids should now be provided with a groomsman apiece. The bride, meanwhile, in case their attentions are too much distracted from her, has a supplementary guard, "matrons of honor," who commend the married state by wearing rose velvet frocks and cream lace "granny" caps. When she goes away, she may be either individual or conventional. The conventional now is the motor. Ultra smart brides demand an open carrige with four horses and postilions. A young woman of sporting tastes was escorted some distance by the local hunt; and a military wedding journey was made ""in a carriage dz-awn by six white-rosetted gun-horses driven by an artilleryman in full uniform." At another country wedding, "the bride and bridegroom drove away on a four-in-hand coach, while the bride handled the ribbons." Or if another American model is followed, there is a dreadful possibility that the whole wedding must be carried through in fancy dress.