A FASHIONABLE MARRIAGE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4880, 21 December 1883, Page 3

A FASHIONABLE MARRIAGE.

The great social event of the present autumn took place on Saturday last, when Lord Woolmer, son and heir of our Liberal Lord Ohanoellor (tbe Barl of Belborne), was married to Lady Maud Oeoil, eldest daughter of the great Conservative leader, Lord Salisbury. How such a 'strange union came about no one seems to be able to say. Naturally, neither family felt parlioularly anxious for it. Professedly, of oourse, politios are not oarried into private life here in England, but whether Liberals and Conservatives oan be closely conneoted by family ties without inconvenience or oooasional discomfort arising, ia, I think, doubtful. The oila podrida of swelldom whioh met together at St Andrew's Ohuroh on the wedding morning was fearfully and wonderfully composed. Mr Gladstone (a very old friend of Lord Selborno's) oame up from Hawarden speoially to do honour to the oooasion, and thos) who watohed him shake hands with his great rival, the bride's father, say it was a " sight for the gods." Lord Salisbury had naturally to weloome as guests many other Liberal statesmen, but he is nothing if not polished and urbane, and got through his duties in the happiest fashion. Amongst the 300 odd guests at the wedding breakfaat were, I notice, Sir Arthur Gordon and Sir Samuel and Lady Wilson, erstwhile of Melbourne. THK DBBSSES. "The bride," says the Court Journal, '* wore a very beautiful dress of the rioheat white satin duohesse, trimmed with fine old Brussels laoe and orange blossoms. A small wreath of orange flowers, was arranged in her hair under a flne tulle veil, fastened with five diamond atari, her mother's gift. Her other jewels included a diamond broooh, given by the Prinoe and Princess of Wales ; diamond and sapphire bracelet, given by the Lord Chancellor and Countess Selborne; and diamond earrings. The bridesmaids were attired alike in simple dreises of coffee-coloured lace over white silk, the bodices and drapery being of white nuna' veiling; bonnets c imposed entirely of the same lace with small white feathera ; and each wore a jewelled pin of different design, the bridegroom's gift." The bride's travelling dress wae of pheasant brown velvet, with bonnet and mantel of the same material. THB WEDDING IBBBBHIB. The wedding presents were very numerous. They were displayed on numerous tables in the small drawing-room for the inspeotion of friends who had not previously viewed them. Her Majesty the Queen presented tb c bride with a beautiful Cashmere shawl ; the Prince and Prißoess of Wales sent her a valuable broooh, oonsisting of a sword and coronet oomposed of brilliants ; Prinoess Christian of Sohleswig-Holstein sent two silver castors. The Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury's presents to their daughter inoluded a handsome dressing case with silver-gilt fittings, a suite of five diamond stars, and a pair of | single atone diamond earrings. Among the Lord Chancellor and Countess of Selborne's

presents was a gold braoelet act with five flne sapphires surrounded hy brilliants ; from Lord and 1 ady Eustace CeoiJ, a gold braoelet act with pearls ; tbe Earl and Oountess of Derby, magnifiooni; pendant and bracelet set with diamonds and pearls j the Duke of Biohmond, a diamond broooh ; the Duohess of Bedford, a pearl broooh ; the Earl of Eldon, diamond braoelet ; and oonntless others, the liat of wbioh fills two oolumns of the offioial journal.