“The dress suit,” so called, is the man’s evening clothes.  Naturally, then, he will not don his evening attire until evening—­after or for a six o’clock dinner,’ This should dispose of the question of “the dress suit.”  For a man to wear evening clothes at a noon wedding would be as absurd as for a woman to appear in a ball dress at that hour.

For a day wedding a man wears a black frock coat and gray trousers; his waistcoat may match the coat or be of white duck or marseilles, white shirt with standing collar, and tie of the fashionable cut in pearl gray or soft white silk.  Pearl-colored kid gloves are worn, and a silk hat.  The overcoat is black.  A boutonniere of white flowers is usually worn.

[Manners and social customs 737]

The above is the correct dress for best man and ushers at a day wedding, in church or at home.

For a formal evening wedding, full evening dress is worn by bridegroom, best man and ushers.  The suit is of fine black worsted, silk faced as to the coat.  The waistcoat may be of the same material, or white duck or marseilles may be worn.  A fine white linen shirt with standing collar, and pearl or white enamel studs, white lawn tie, white or pearl-gray kid gloves stitched in the same color, and patent leather pumps complete the attire.  A black overcoat, single breasted, and silk hat are the additions for out-of-door wear.

The Bride’s Mother.—­The bride’s mother wears a handsome reception dress.  Black with much jet and lace, pearl gray, mauve and lavender are favorite colors for her.  White gloves are worn.  Mourning attire should never be seen at a wedding.  If the bride’s mother, or any of the family, are in mourning, it must be laid aside for the occasion.  Black may be worn, but it must be lightened with white lace, jet, or other accessories that will take it out of the conventional garb of grief.  Guests of course gown themselves handsomely.

THE FORMAL CHURCH WEDDING.

Let us suppose that the church has been decorated with flower and palms, arranged by experienced hands to form a background for the bridal party.  The seats for the respective families have been roped off with wide white satin ribbons; those on the right for the bridegroom’s family, those of the left for the bride’s.  The bridegroom and the best man are with the clergyman in the vestry; the bridesmaids have assembled at the bride’s house, and have entered their carriages; the relatives, including the bride’s mother, and guests are in their seats.  The carriages containing the bridesmaids precede that of the bride to the church; they alight and await her in the vestibule.  The bride, accompanied by her father, arrives.  The bridal procession is quickly formed, the vestibule doors having been closed by the ushers on the arrival of the wedding party.  At the signal the organ breaks into the familiar strains of the wedding march; the clergyman, followed by the groom and best man, enter from the vestry, and stand on the chancel step facing the guests, awaiting the bride, the bridegroom being slightly, in advance.