HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1980-05-07, Page 17Wedding etiquette, 1909 style
_ BY RHEA HAMILTON
Weddings today are varied
and different as never before.
There - are as many colour
combinations floireiS "in
bonquets and in attendent's
-goikns as there are ,brides
deciding on what to wear.
At the turn of the century
there were many books out to
show young ladies just what
proper etiquette concerning
weddings was all about. •
In 1909 a practical refer-
ence book was published in
Toronto for homes and was
appropriately named "The
Household Companion." It
included information that
would allow every dedicated
housewife to make appetiz-
ing dishes, plans for inexpen-
sive changes to her house
and tips on how to handle
tools and save —money by
avoiding workmens' bills.
Customs and advice on
politeness along with, infor-
mation on diseases would
arm the dedicated busy
housewife with enough infor-
mation to guard and take
care of her loved ones in the
fashion acceptable to society.
Under etiquette of wed-
dings there were some very
set rules about what to do
. and who was to take care of
what.
Once the wedding invita-
tions were sent the bride was
their honeymoon or what was
then called .a wedding tour or
wedding journey, followed
by a shower of rice and
slippers
SEVERAL DAYS
This type Of reception in
some cases stretched for
several days and the bride
would announce in the wed-
ding cards that there would
be two or three reception
days. During this time if
there is a ball or dinner, the
bride is allowed to wear
her wedding dress.
Once all the excitement is
over and the couple have
returned home the bride is
ready to receive visitors. But
only those who have received
a notice in their wedding
invitation are allowed' to. call
upon the newly married coup-
le. The one final rule in the
section of weddings was
listed at imperative. Not to
be broken. When the bride is
receiving guests after the
wedding trip she must not be
alone but assisted by her
mother, sister, or intirhate
friend.
The basic format of we&
dings and receptions remains
unchanged. But the informal-
ity and ease that we all enjoy
in our day- to-day living is
reflected in our choices of
wedding apparel and plans.
and as they take their places
at the altar will change this to
some low, subdued but sweet
appropriate melody, which
-he should continue with taste
and feeliog throughtout the
service, As the bridal party
leave the church, the music
should be loud and jubilant."
The problem of gloves was
apparent when the bride
would try to get them off in
time to accept the ring from
her betrothed during the
ceremony. To avoid the delay
the book suggested cutting
the finger of the glove in
question so that it would slip
aside to allow the putting on
of' the ring.
BREAKFAST
The style after the wed-
ding didn't mention a recep-
tion like we know today.
Instead an English breakfast
held the morning after the
wedding was the fashion of
the day.
The guests were invited a
fortnight in advance and
were served a feast of such
dishes as bouillion, salad,
birds, oysters, ices, and jel-
lies. This meal of delights
"sted for one or two hours
,ro the bride changed
from her wedding dress to
her travelling costume and
the happy couple left for
frowned. at for appearing in
public. On-the morning of the
wedding day she would
breakfast in bed and her
:'attendants, would -dress her
in time for the wedding.
This was just one of the
many rules that the happy
couple had to conform to
4161 the ceremony was over.
The bride's costume was,
as a rule, white, either silk or
satin and included white
gloves and shoes of white kid
or white' satin. The bride's
bouquet should be composed
of white flowers and the
groom had the privilege of
procuring it for. her. The
attendants should carry
white flowers with an edging
of pale blush roses.
LARGE AFFAIRS
Weddings in 1909 must
have been large affairs. The
general number of brides-
maids was six. The book of
etiquette maintains that the
rules are general and in all
cases good taste should be
exercised (as opposed to
ostentatious display "which
if beyond the means of the
family, leaves a burden of
debt behind.")
There are also rules for the
music played at the wedding.
"Upon the entrance of the
bridal party within the doors
of the church, the organist
will play a 'Wedding March',
A Bridal Supplement to
THE HURON EXPOSITOR, MAY 8,1980 AND
THE BRUSSELS POST AND THE BLYTH STANDARD,
May 7, 1980
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