NIGHT WEDDINGS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 June 1924, Page 4

NIGHT WEDDINGS.

G ROW IXO POPFLABITY.

ATT TIT DM OF CT.KRGY

ATC KLAND. June 'if

'flip popularity (if Ihe evening ivctlding, introduced in 1920 by nil extension until oij'lit o'clock at night of the hours in which marriage may be solemnised, is now assured in Auckland, and in several of the popular Anglican churches evening ceremonies represent about 50 per cent of the total number of marriages which have taken place within the last year or two. .Some members oj the clergy look upon the innovation with approval, others definitely oppose it. "I thought at first I would not like evening weddings,” said the vicar of one of Am kland's best known churches, “but now 1 am entirely in favour of it. The great tiling in its favour is that it permits all the friends of the voting eoltple to attend ilie eersmoiiv in a way that used to he impossible. Another point is that it induces a large congregation of outsiders to assemble, including many people who seldom enter a church to attend an ordinary service.” Questioned as to the matter of dress, the vicar said all he objected to was the low licek style adopted for some of flic fashionable evening gowns. ”1 am bv ii> means over-particitlar,” Ic remarked, "and have no objection to llie short sleeves which are so fashionable, but I certainly do not approve of the loweilt evening dress style for a woman who stands helore the altar to make her vows to God. The views of ihe minister on this point are said to be iairly well known, for it young bride-elect cnidided to a lrielid recently that she would very much like to be married in evening dress but bad heard that llie* minister

"kept a blanket bandy” to throw over anv bride who appeared before him insufficiently clothed. This, however. is no doubt. n’t exaggeration. KNTKRTAIXMF.XT TMiOHI.KM’ HMIA'KI).

A tint iter point mentioned in favour of i lie evening wedding, is that it readily milvcs the problem ul entertainment of guests after the cermttony has taken place. It inis doin' away

with the old-time stilt wedding breakfast. at which all the guests sal round wondering wh. it to do or say next. The cold anil deadly embarrassment of the < oiiventiotial wedding breakfast is known to every clergyman, who is usually oxnceled to In* the lile and soul of llie party, to cheer the nervous bridegroom, wlm rarely comes out ul the ordeal as happily as his bride, and to console the weeping mother and female relatives when the voting couple tin a. IK take their departure in a slipper hung motor ear. lie i- relic'.ed oi all these sad duties at a night wedding, where the guests Hit oil’ gaily ill motorears, not to the bride's home, hot to seme cabaret or hall where there is hr/./.ing and a caterer's supper and tv

flashlight photograph ol the lesliv pa rt.v.

lIONKV.MOONS ON Til K WAN!-

“.\liY,t ol the young people I many belong to the working classes,” remarked the vitar of a popular e!'*;* church, "ami ! like an evening ceremony becnu.-e all their friends can att ■ -n<l without breaking into the day's work. I married 125 couples last year, about ball this number being married in tbo evening. In some eases the bridegroom just worked straight on in the ordinary way and went hack to his job next day. Ihe honeymoon is cer - tainly mi the Wiiite. -Malty young couples go straight into rooms nowadays and leave the honeymoon until the bridegroom c,"ts his annual h<*l i-

,\ big night wedding with the guests m evening dress and a line slipper afterwards was stilted to he the idea! of many a modern bride, no matter what the young cottpl" - financial resources. The wisdom ot >uch ostentation titav lie iple.'l iolK'd. but the I net

iciiuim:. that many a young couple will spend ill) In CKill nil ii "llnsli wedding ( ini then .-tan lheir married Ii l'«• in debt. Dm l case was I‘Vi'ii recorded in v. 1 1it-!i a bridegroom ;i|»i>r« j:'--lioi 1 tin' official illminister nt list* clo-e of a most Invi'li evening ceremony mill entertainment , an.l asked ii lie would acie;,l his fee on the Lin. ' payment sys--1 ■■in. Tims ihe spirit of modernity exlen:l ■ its sway. A STiIAIBHT-IM’T OI’I’ONKXT. "I do nut aimrote of evening: wedilin.es at all," declared a third clergyman with simile edliviel ioil. "For one thing u brings a lot of p.'ople into the elitireli from sheer curiosity. The service tines not inferos! them in til" smallest decree. 'I hey come merely lo stare at' the luiile and to eruiei.se> her dress. This, of course, is also done j in the ease of day weddings, hut not I to ih- same extent, B nests at an evening eei'eumny. again. are looking forward lo a iollv old 'sliivoo' alter-I wards, and certainly are not thinking of the >-damnify ol the ui-cti-iiiii. Then again, I strongly object l i In ides and

v.' in.ii guests appearing in the hollar' of (fed in clothing only lit for a hallroom. On one oetasion I refused to

pio.e-d v.ith the ceremony until the women had put something round their shuiiider- and veils on their hare heads. Il people really want a church ceremony then the religious element should route first. It not. lei them go to the lleeislrar's oilier.”