The ushers, walking two and two, lead the way up the aisle; the bridesmaids follow at a distance of ten or twelve feet, also walking in pairs; then comes the maid-of-honor, walking alone.  She is followed by the bride, leaning on the arm of her father or nearest male relative.  At the chancel the ushers separate to right and left, remaining below the chancel step; the bridesmaids separate in the same manner, but ascend the chancel step.  The maid-of-honor places herself at the left of the place left for the bride, in readiness to hold her bouquet and remove her glove.  The bridegroom descends the chancel step, meeting the bride.  The two place themselves before the clergyman, the bride standing on the bridegroom’s left; the best man stands at the right of the bridegroom a step or two in the rear.

[738 Mothers’ remedies]

The Bride’s Father.—­The place of the bride’s father is at the left somewhat in the rear.  As the clergyman asks:  “Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?” he steps forward and places the bride’s right hand in that of the clergyman, who in turn places it in that of the bridegroom.  The father steps aside, and as the bridal procession forms to retire after the ceremony, he joins his wife and escorts her from the church.

At the proper moment the maid-of-honor removes the bride’s glove and takes her bouquet.  The best man gives the ring to the bride, who passes it to the clergyman; the latter gives it to the bridegroom, who places it on the bride’s finger, holding it there while repeating the formula, “With this ring I thee wed,” etc.  The significance of this transfer is the forming of a circle, to indicate the endlessness of the contract.

Another Form.—­A form sometimes introduced is for the bridal party to stand below the chancel while the clergyman reads the service up to and including the sentence, “If any man can show just cause,” etc.  After the customary moment’s pause, there being no unseemly interruption, the party ascends the chancel step and the ceremony proceeds.

The order of the procession after the ceremony is this:  The just married pair lead the way, the wife taking her husband’s arm; the maid-of-honor follows; then the bridesmaids, after them the ushers.  Such is the conduct of a church wedding, a thousand times repeated.  The ceremony is often rehearsed a night or two previous to the event, to make sure each will be familiar with his or her part.

The Best Man’s Duties.—­The best man has charge of the ring.  At the conclusion of the ceremony he disappears into the vestry, where he places the wedding fee, enclosed in an envelope, in the clergyman’s hands.  He then hastens to his carriage and is driven to the house, where he assists in the reception of the guests, and takes the maid-of-honor or the bridesmaid to luncheon.  Or he may escort the maid-of-honor from the church.