EVENING WEDDINGS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 July 1925, Page 1

EVENING WEDDINGS

CBOWIXG JX POPULARITY. OPINION OK CLKHCY.MFX. AUCKLAND, July 11. Of tilt' marriages solemnised in some of the largest Auckland churches no less than fit) per cent, take place in the evening. To some people the custom amounts to nothing; more than a passing "fad." hut the authorities in close touch with tho-c ceremonies see more behind the vogue than tickle fancy and the very people from whom opposition might . £ expected—the officiating clergy—reveal themselves in general sympathy. “I am heartily in favour of evening weddings,” a leading church authority declared. "I like them because they encourage a larger attendance of relatives and interested friends than can possibly come when they are held in the mornings or afternoon, and I like them specially because they enable more men to attend than could he free

for Mich purposes in business hours. There is no reason why they should not lie held in the evenings,’’ he said. "The Bible weddings were hold in the evening, and all through the Fast you will liml weddings arc. all celebrated at night. In fact the Western custom of holding marriages in the afternoon is really unite a modern idea.”

Tile real reason liehind the popularity lit the evening wedding is ulldouhtedly its convenience. The bride’s mother finds it so niueli more convenient to entertain her guests at night than to see social festivities prolonged over greater part of the day. and this it a point which is fully appreciated by guests. There is no hastening from business, no awkward break between the time when the wedding tea finishes and the evening theatre party begins. That is the advantage of an evening wedding from the point of view of the hostess and guests.

SPIRITUAL POINT OK YIKW. Kroni a spiritual point of view there may he something dillerent to say. although ilie hastily formed idea that the night ceremony has in itself an undesirable ilavotir is probably Cjiiiteunfuimded. On tin's point, opinions differ widely, and while some people note in the larger assembly of guests a greater show of enthusiasm and a

deeper demonstration of reverence there are others who see only a childish pursuit of glitter and artificiality. ''Weddings become a little theatrical in the evening," was the opinion of one Auckland cleric, who probably sees more evening marriages than anyone else in Auckland. "There seems to lie a certain loss of solemnity, and the people appear to he iusi waiting to got away io a dance which so often follows. While I can quite appreciate the advantages of an evening wedding from, the point, of view of the guests and the parties concerned, from a spiritual point of view there is something lacking. f think the evening rob:- the ser-

vice of some oi ii s -olemnit v and beauty." This view, nevertheless, is actually countered in the ranks of the clergy itself. "At lirsi." declared one, whose church is the centre of many of more fashionahle weddings in the city, “I was terribly afraid that, the evening service would appear irreverent, hut T had to alter my views. The great hulk of the weddings I attend are evening one., and I liml that the people siv - 11 1• ■ 11 'Iid. Kar Hum there being an absence of deep feeling I believe the evening lends itself naturally to solemnity and reverence.” * The problem ol dress in which is involved ilie question ol wluit is eorrec! and becoming lor the occasion is a matter that exercises the minds ol all participants in the evening ceremony. Unlike the procedure at a morning or atlernoon wedding evening wear is the Usual rule as far as men are concerned. All is plain sailing as the regulation black and while is iusl as appropriate at a wedding as it is in a church. It is when women's wear is judged, as it is hound to lie judged in a more or less critical and suspicious light, that there is room for controversy and hearthiiniin 's. Wliar a woman may coiisiitcr proper ai a theatre or at a dance is mu always right and lilting la a church." A prominent church authority in Auckland remarked the reverent spirit that was essentia 1 throughout the marring lemony was well nigh destroyed on some occasions by the immodest fashions affected bv brides and bridesmaids who turned up at church ready for a dance rather than for a wedding. In fact lie had been obliged to caution all intending brides before the ceremony that indecorous evening frocks could not he tolerated. A storv is told touching a certain Auckland church which is known for ilio strictness of its caution ill this respet ihat a young lady about to be married aired her fears in the tolloving fashion: "Well. 1 should like to get married at St. . but I hear the vicar keeps n blanket to throw over vour dre.-s if he thinks ii is too low at the neck." There was no foundation for the girl's belief, but if showed at least that the vicar's precautions were gaining some fairly etteetive publicity. There is mm minor respect in which even- clorgvnian amt officiating minister will he grateful, and it was mentioned by one member ol’ tin l clergy who was obviously speaking with feeling. "We no longer suffer from the very common practice of bringing children and babies to the church in the evening. The babies are pat to lied early, and ii is for the host. I! there is ene other improvement wanted.' he added, "it is the abolition of the confetti curse. It is a silly practice, and it ought to lie stopped.” Kvenlng weddings seem to have mad ■ no difference to the custom.