In the country a house wedding includes one in a garden, with a wedding procession under the trees, and tables out on the lawn—­a perfect plan for California or other rainless States, but difficult to arrange on the Atlantic seaboard where rain is too likely to spoil everything.

=THE WEDDING IN ASSEMBLY ROOMS=

Those whose houses are very small and yet who wish to have a general reception, sometimes give the wedding breakfast in a hotel or assembly rooms.  The preparations are identical with those in a private house, the decorations and menu may be lavish or simple.  Although it is perfectly good form to hold a wedding reception in a ballroom, a breakfast in a private house, no matter how simple, has greater distinction than the most elaborate collation in a public establishment.  Why this is so, is hard to determine.  It is probably that without a “home” atmosphere, though it may be a brilliant entertainment, the sentiment is missing.

=THE SECOND MARRIAGE=

The detail of a spinster’s wedding is the same whether she marries a bachelor or a widower, the difference being that a widower does not give a “bachelor” dinner.

The marriage of a widow is the same as that of a maid except that she cannot wear white or orange blossoms, which are emblems of virginity, nor does she have bridesmaids.  Usually a widow chooses a very quiet wedding, but there is no reason why she should not have a “big wedding” if she cares to, except that somber ushers and a bride in traveling dress, or at best a light afternoon one with a hat, does not make an effective processional—­unless she is beautiful enough to compensate for all that is missing.

A wedding in very best taste for a widow would be a ceremony in a small church or chapel, a few flowers or palms in the chancel the only decoration, and two to four ushers.  There are no ribboned-off seats, as only very intimate friends are asked.  The bride wears an afternoon street dress and hat.  Her dress for a church ceremony should be more conventional than if she were married at home, where she could wear a semi-evening gown and substitute a headdress for a hat.  She could even wear a veil if it is colored and does not suggest the bridal white one.

A celebrated beauty wore for her second wedding in her own house, a dress of gold brocade, with a Russian court headdress and a veil of yellow tulle down the back.  Another wore a dress of gray and a Dutch cap of silver lace, and had her little girl in quaint cap and long dress, to match her own, as maid of honor.

A widow has never more than one attendant and most often none.  There may be a sit-down breakfast afterwards, or the simplest afternoon tea; in any case, the breakfast is, if possible, at the bride’s own house, and the bridal pair may either stay where they are and have their guests take leave of them, or themselves drive away afterwards.

Very intimate friends send presents for a second marriage but general acquaintances are never expected to.