GETTING MARRIED QUIETLY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 16 February 1914, Page 3

GETTING MARRIED QUIETLY

Simplicity will be the note struck in weddings taking place during 1914. Few "big" ceremonies, such as in past years, will be seen. Society brides and grooms are now all anxious (says a .London paper) to get married as quietly as possible, and with a minimum of fuss. It will be noticed at all the really smart weddings this vear that few guests will be present at the church, and that the number, of bridesmaids and train-bearers will be .vei'j* much curtailed. The giving of wedding presents, of course; will be as popular as ever, and so that all the relatives and friends of the happy couple may see these gifts a reception'will be held at the bride's residence on the evening before the wedding day. Bui after the wedding only the bridal party, with one or two" near relatives, will return to the house to witness the departure of the newly-wedded couple for their honeymoon. It is not on the count of expense that the big wedding is slowly giving place to the more simple ceremony,, for it costs the bride's parents just as much to .give a large reception before the wedding as afterwards, but the idea- is that it is more fitting that the wedding couple, on the most important day" of their lives, should not be surrounded by a huge crowd of acquaintances, ir.any of whom they d<j not know even by sight. The soft, clinging white satin charmeuse will still be tbe "most popular material for bridal robes, while the trains, nearly all of which will hang from the shoulders, will be of either transparent silver embroidered net or lace mounted on chiffon, while bandeaux of myrtle will take the place of the usual wreaths of orange blossom. The costumes of the bridesmaids and. train-bearers will change with the fashion of the moment, and for bridegrooms the black mourning coat and fancy trousers will still be the correct attire. An- effort is to be made to revive the wearin <r the frock coat at weddings, but it Is hardly likelv to "catch on." This year will also see much more sensible presents given to the bride s attendant maidens by the bridegroom-, for with the reduction in the number of these maids the groom will be -able .to afford to give a much more valuable c ift Already one hears of beautifully enamelled and jewelled animal and bird brooches, gold fitted vanity bags sunshades with jewelled handles, and tortoiseshell and gold mounted fans being ordered bv the happy man. _ New ideas will also be seen in- the nifts to the wedding couples from their, relations. There are rumours for instance, that one happy pair whose weddino- is to take place very shortly will receive* a, freehold place in the country, some verv valuable shares, a couple of motor-cars, and a couple of hunters.