...TO AN EASTER BRIDE...

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 58, 10 March 1937, Page 10

...TO AN EASTER BRIDE...

BRIDAL CUSTOMS In olden times the true-lovers’-knot was exchanged between the bridal pair symbolic of the union of hearts and hands. This custom gave rise to the distribution among wedding guests and participants in the ceremony of “bride-favours” of ribbon knots of white to be worn on the breast. Even the boys who held the bits bf the pranching coach horses, and the headstalls of the horses themselves were so decorated. We find allusion to this in many an old pTay or poem. PHOTOGRAPHS After the ceremony comes the visit to the photographer, who must spend time and thought in producing a permanent record of the happy day. It is a good plan to arrange an appointment with your photographer as soon

as the date is decided upon for the wedding. It is never too early to make your reservations, as the Easter season is such a busy wedding time. It not only saves disappointment, but will

ensure that all arrangements will be made and the assistants ready when the bridal party arrive. Your choice of a photographer should be given careful consideration. A modern photographic studio will "snap” you in a new poise, under the new system of lighting, against the latest in backgrounds, in fact, every device for enhancing your beauty, and securing the very best results that modern photography can produce. RADIO i I And now for a “Home” gift de luxe!

The marvellous radio. Can you think of a gift ‘ that would re- ’ eeive a more heart felt wel- ' come from both bride and bridegroom ?

THE BRIDE’S FUTURE HOME After the honeymoon, what greater joy could there be than to come back 1 to a home which is fully equipped with electricity. The bride will begin where her mother left off, for she realises the value of electricity and the modern kitchen equipment and appliances. Electricity, has, of course, been the most powerful factor in eliminating drudgery from housework, since it is adapted to so many puri poses and services, and performs 'many important duties in the home. I [ THE SHOES SHE STEPS IN Exquisite satin, silver kid or crepe de chine slippers will complete the effect of the bride’s beautiful gown as she walks her path to the altar. The maze of fascinating new designs and materials in this season’s shoes might make any bride impatient to toss off her wedding slippers and be into her others, one pair after another, as the honeymoon advances. There are shoes for the going away costume, shoes for walking and sport, and the smart models for dinner, the evening bridge and dancesBEAUTY AIDS On the day of all days grooming and beauty treatment are most important. To be sure, love and romance are excellent beauty aids—but even a joyful bride must remember her cosmetics. There was a time when beauty culture was the prequi-

site only of the rich bride. To-day, beauty is within the reach of all. Too much stress cannot be laid upon the correct, use of cosmetics, particularly for the happy wedding day, when correct

make-up is necessary, not only for the ceremony, but for the visit to the photographers. It is in this matter that an expert can help the bride and her attendants and show them how an impression of naturalness can be created. A beauty specialist recently remarked that the woman who makes up badly is usually the last person to realise how utterly wrong and unbecoming it is. The general tendency is to use 100 much lipstick, and many delightful complexions are spoiled by too much rouge. The advice of an expert should be sought in the correct use of skin creams and the right blending of powders to suit particular types and textures of skin. Properly applied, powder and cosmetics can be so attractive-

LINGERIE The undies are just as important in creating that smooth line. A great deal depends on the choice of dainty underthings, and the bride-to-be should make a careful selection to

ensure that graceful line so much desired. A peep at the undies in a favourite shop will reveal some wonderfully well - cut garments, all fastidiously tailored. -Of course the bride’s nighties will be

made of crepe de chine, some inset with lace, and to wear over them a lovely dressing gown handsomely embroidered in rich colourings, is included in the trousseau. THE MAIDS Arrange your bridesmaids' dresses to lit into a colour scheme —and then follow it right through to the smallest detail. Little things like different coloured stockings, shoes a shade lighter or darker, with each 'maid wearing individual pieces of jewellery, gives the impression that the attendants are not really meant to be dressed exactly alike, but have just happened into similar frocks. Brides sometimes pay for their bridesmaids’ frocks, but this is not necessary unless finance demands. AND THE GROOM? If it is an evening wedding, the groom naturally wears evening clothes, and if it is a dinner suit his tie must be black. A white tie should never be worn except with “tails.” Ties should be tied, not bought ready made-up. Nor should the groom who in a daytime wedding, wears a dark lounge suit, choose accessories such as a winged collar, a bow tie, a buttonhole, etc. If a business suit is worn it must be in the usual way, an ordinary collar, a knotted tie and no buttonhole. If the daytime wedding is ' a decidedly formal one he will wear a morning suit; a black morning coat, black and while striped worsted trousers, wing collar, and pale grey tie. Evening dress should never be worn, except, of course, at night. ABOUT FLOWERS Flowers bring beauty to the wedding scene, and in these modern days are as important as the frocks. Bouquets for both bride and bridesmaids must be in keeping with the gowns. The figure of the bride —whether tall or short, and her colouring, should all be considered when choosing a design for the bou-

quet. Shape and colour for the attendants have also x to be decided. It is k so easy to spoil line y and grace with the wrong shaped bous quet, that is why a jonsidertaion should be

given to the choice of flowers. In this matter the advice of floral experts should be sought so that the designs and grouping of the bouquets should be both artistic and in proportion to the stature of the bridal retinue. The flowers should receive the same care in choosing as the dresses. THE WEDDING CAKE The bride-cake is also a surviving symbol from very ancient times. Among the Romans, at the ceremony for solemnising marriages there was always a cake. Even to-day no wedding festival is deemed complete

without a bridal cake. In Scotland and England long ago (and here and there in remote regions even to-day) when the bride enters her new home,

a cake is broken over her head as a token of plenty. This goes back to a similar custom of more ancient times, of sprinkling wheat over her head for the same reason. To-day the bride-cake stands more on its merits as a delicious part of the festival menu, but the custom of Victorian times is not past, in which such a cake was a stately erection of confectionery on a rich cake foundation., often with several tiers topped with a miniature bride and groom in full regalia under a portico on which perched spun sugar turtle-doves. The modern wedding cake is a much simplified confection, usually a single cake or two-tiered and not elaborately iced. It is not usual now to send wedding cake to friends—only to guests invited to the reception, but unable to attend, and people who have sent a present but were not invited. Of course, if one wants to go to the expense and trouble, no breach of etiquette is involved. Years ago it was the custom to enclose tiny cards in the boxes lined with paper. This announcement card with *he bride and groom’s names had a silver arrow stuck through the bride’s maiden name.