The real bride watches carefully how the pseudo bride takes her left hand from her father’s arm, shifts her fan, or whatever represents her bouquet, from her right hand to her left, and gives her right hand to the groom.  In the proper maneuver the groom takes her right hand in his own right hand and draws it through his left arm, at the same time turning toward the chancel.  If the service is undivided, and all of it is to be at the altar, this is necessary as the bride always goes up to the altar leaning on the arm of the groom.

If, however, the betrothal is to be read at the foot of the chancel (which is done at most weddings now) he may merely take her hand in his left one and stand as they are.

=THE ORGANIST’S CUE=

The organist stops at the moment the bride and groom have assumed their places.  That is the cue to the organist as to the number of bars necessary for the procession.  After the procession has practised “marching” two or three times, everything ought to be perfect.  The organist, having counted up the necessary bars of music, can readily give the leading ushers their “music cue”—­so that they can start on the measure that will allow the procession and the organ to end together.  The organist can, and usually does, stop off short, but there is a better finish if the bride’s giving her hand to the groom and taking the last step that brings her in front of the chancel is timed so as to fall precisely on the last bars of the processional.

No words of the service are ever rehearsed, although all the “positions” to be taken are practised.

The pseudo bride takes the groom’s left arm and goes slowly up the steps to the altar.

The best man follows behind and to the right of the groom, and the maid of honor (or “first” bridesmaid) leaves her companions and advances behind and to the left of the bride.  The pseudo bride (in pantomime) gives her bouquet to the maid of honor; the best man (also in pantomime) hands the ring to the groom, this merely to see that they are at a convenient distance for the services they are to perform.  The recessional is played, and the procession goes out in reversed order.  Bride and groom first, then bridesmaids, then ushers, again all taking pains to fall into step with the leaders.

On no account must the bridesmaids walk either up or down the aisle with the ushers!  Once in a while the maid of honor takes the arm of the best man and together they follow the bride and groom out of the church.  But it gives the impression of a double wedding and spoils the picture.

=OBLIGATIONS OF THE BRIDEGROOM=

In order that the first days of their life together may be as perfect as possible, the groom must make preparations for the wedding trip long ahead of time, so that best accommodations can be reserved.  If they are to stop first at a hotel in their own city, or one near by, he should go days or even weeks in advance and personally select the rooms.  It is much better frankly to tell the proprietor, or room clerk, at the same time asking him to “keep the secret.”  Everyone takes a friendly interest in a bridal couple, and the chances are that the proprietor will try to reserve the prettiest rooms in the house, and give the best service.