=THE PERFECTLY MANAGED WEDDING=

At a perfectly managed wedding, the bride arrives exactly one minute (to give a last comer time to find place) after the hour.  Two or three servants have been sent to wait in the vestibule to help the bride and bridesmaids off with their wraps and hold them until they are needed after the ceremony.  The groom’s mother and father also are waiting in the vestibule.  As the carriage of the bride’s mother drives up, an usher goes as quickly as he can to tell the groom, and any brothers or sisters of the bride or groom, who are not to take part in the wedding procession and have arrived in their mother’s carriage, are now taken by ushers to their places in the front pews.  The moment the entire wedding party is at the church, the doors between the vestibule and the church are closed.  No one is seated after this, except the parents of the young couple.  The proper procedure should be carried out with military exactness, and is as follows: 

The groom’s mother goes down the aisle on the arm of the head usher and takes her place in the first pew on the right; the groom’s father follows alone, and takes his place beside her; the same usher returns to the vestibule and immediately escorts the bride’s mother; he should then have time to return to the vestibule and take his place in the procession.  The beginning of the wedding march should sound just as the usher returns to the head of the aisle.  To repeat:  No other person should be seated after the mother of the bride. Guests who arrive later must stand in the vestibule or go into the gallery.

The sound of the music is also the cue for the clergyman to enter the chancel, followed by the groom and his best man.  The two latter wear gloves but have left their hats and sticks in the vestry-room.

The groom stands on the right hand side at the head of the aisle, but if the vestry opens into the chancel, he sometimes stands at the top of the first few steps.  He removes his right glove and holds it in his left hand.  The best man remains always directly back and to the right of the groom, and does not remove his glove.

=HERE COMES THE BRIDE=

The description of the procession is given in detail on a preceding page in the “Wedding Rehearsal” section.

Starting on the right measure and keeping perfect time, the ushers come, two by two, four paces apart; then the bridesmaids (if any) at the same distance exactly; then the maid of honor alone; then the flower girls (if any); then, at a double distance, the bride on her father’s right arm.  She is dressed always in white, with a veil of lace or tulle.  Usually she carries a bridal bouquet of white flowers, either short, or with streamers (narrow ribbons with little bunches of blossoms on the end of each) or trailing vines, or maybe she holds a long sheaf of stiff flowers such as lilies on her arm.  Or perhaps she carries a prayer book instead of a bouquet.