COLUMN FOR WOMEN

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 136, 15 February 1915, Page 3

COLUMN FOR WOMEN

WAR-TIME WEDDINGS. GALLANT BRIDEGROOM LEADS BRIDE TO ALTAR. In the novels the phrase “the gallant bridegroom led his bride to the altar” occurs frequently (says a writer in an Enplish exchange). It has become quite a common saying amongst us, although it is the father of the bride who usually performs that office. At any rate, he leads the bride to the chancel steps, where the bridegroom joins her. War, which has brought about many changes in wedding customs, has reintroduced the old plan of the bridegroom leading the bride to the altar. In many cases lately when the guests, few in number, no doubt, and summoned by telephone hastily at the last moment, have entered the church, they have found the happy pair t.ogther in the porch, ready to walk up the centre aisle to the officiating clergy, arm in arm, in the old-fashioned way.

THE BRIDAL DRESS. Her white wedding dress, orange blossom wreath, and bridal veil, the war bride wears. Mot in all cases, Numbers of girls have elected to be married in a serge suit and simple blouse, and not even in new ones. They argue that the wedding dress of ordinary times would be a useless toilette to them, for, of course, the war bride expects no invitation to dinner parties, and without such festivities when would she wear her pretty frock after the brief ceremony in church? TIME .NO OBJECT. But should a girl admit that to be married in the regulation white satin robe with the veil and wreath-crowned coiffure has always been her dream, and that she is reluctant to abandon it, even the most hurriedly-arranged marriage need not prevent the real! sation of that dream. There have been some wonderful examples of quickly-made wedding dresses lately, and one ordered at 3 o’clock one afternoon was worn lately, and greatly admired, at 11 o’clock the next morning. Happily, there is no need for lengthy fittings under fashion’s present regime. HUNTING FOR THE! BRIDE. Deferred trousseaux and presents are, of course, inevitable under the hurried circumstances of the moment, and there have been even some exciting hunts for brides in the ease of leave granted to bridegrooms unexpectedly. Another feature of the war wedding is the loaned wedding ring, which is accounted a lucky omen, though most girls are sufficiently sentimental to desire to be married with the ring they can count their own atfer the ceremony. THE DEFERRED PRESENT. The wedding present should not, and need not he, deferred long, for it Is always possible to give money instead of goods, especially when the goods are large and would need storage until the bridegroom’s return.

The money can be saved quite easily until the time comes for the home to be furnished.