THE ETIQUETTE OF BRIDALS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 49, 5 December 1891, Page 662

THE ETIQUETTE OF BRIDALS.

(BY

ADA CHESTER BOND.)

tnHERE are so many little things about the etiquette o 1 weddings that people inquire about, and it is only right that they should all be answered. The bride writes a personal note of thanks for every gift received, whether it be a great one or a little one, and, if she cannot do this before the ceremony, she does it after the bridal trip, unless that indeed should be a very long one, and then it is proper for her towrite during her absence. No answer is necessary to awedding invitation, though where a card comes to a reception, one should either go in person, or send a card. Everybody invited is, however, expected to call on the newly married within a year at least. In the church the bridegroom’s family and friends sit at the right of the altar being on the bridegroom’s right hand, while those of the bride are placed on the left at the bride’s left. The biide stands on the left side of the groom, and he takes her right hand, her father being just a little behind her. The bridegroom and his best man stand on the left hand of the clergyman. Only the clergyman tenders congratulations at the altar, after that, the bride takes the left arm of the bridegroom and passes down the aisle. The bridegroom does not pay for anything connected with the wedding unless he should choose to send bouquets to bridesmaids and, of course, to the bride, and presents and boutonnieres to his best man and the ushers. A widow removes her first wedding ring at her second marriage, and does not assume it again. The engagement ring is taken from the third finger of the left hand and worn after wards as a guard to the wedding ring. It is not considered good taste to cut the finger out of the glove for assuming the ring. No matter how beautiful may be the orange-blossoms on your wedding gown they can never be worn but cnee ; usually the modiste arranges clusters of roses to take the place of the blossoms, and the roses are put on as soon as the wedding dress is taken off. The use of the orangeblossom is solely for a bride, and a wife cannot possibly wear them. All these seem little things, but they have their absolute significance, and a bright woman does not