Our Behaviour/Part 4/Chapter 8

THE costume of the bride is of the first importance in a prospective wedding. Though the fashions in make and material of the bride's dress are constantly varying, still there are certain unchangeable rules regarding it. Thus, a bride in full bridal costume should be entirely in white from head to foot.

Her dress may be of silk heavily corded, moire antique, brocade, satin or plain silk, of lace, merino, alpaca, crape, lawn or muslin. Her veil may be of lace, tulle or illusion, but it must be long and full. It may or may not descend over the face. The flowers of the bridal wreath and bouquet must be orange blossoms, either natural or artificial, or other white flowers.

The dress is high and the arms are covered. No jewelry is worn save diamonds or pearls. Slippers of white satin and gloves of kid complete the dress.

The style of great simplicity in bridal toilettes, adopted in continental Europe, is more commendable ​than that of England and America, where the bridal dress is made as expensive and as heavy with rich and costly lace as it is possible to make it.

The bridegroom wears a black or dark-blue dress-coat, light pantaloons, vest and necktie, and white kid gloves.

The dresses of the bridesmaids are less elaborate than that of the bride. They should be also of white, but they may be trimmed with delicately-colored flowers and ribbons. White tulle worn over pale pink or blue silk, and caught up with blush-roses or forget-me-nots, with bouquet de corsage and hand-bouquet of the same, makes a charming bridesmaid's costume.

The bridesmaids may or may not wear veils, but in case they wear them they should be shorter than that of the bride.

The traveling-dress of a bride should be of silk, or of any of the fine fabrics for walking-dresses. It should be of some neutral tint, and bonnet and gloves should match in color. A bridal traveling costume may be somewhat more elaborately trimmed than an ordinary traveling-dress; though, if the bride wishes to attract as little attention as possible, ​she will not make herself conspicuous by too showy a garb.

A bride is frequently married in traveling costume; but when this is the case, the wedding is a private one, and the bridal pair set out at once upon their journey.

A widow is never married in white. Widows and brides of middle age choose delicate neutral tints, with white gloves and white lace collar and cuffs. The costumes of the bridesmaids must take their tone from that of the bride, and be neither lighter, richer nor gayer than hers.

Brides and bridesmaids wear their wedding-dresses at the wedding-reception.

The guests at an evening reception should wear full evening-dress. No one should attend in black or wear any sign of mourning. Those in mourning lay aside black for lavender or gray.

For a morning reception the dress should be the richest street costume, with white gloves. If at the morning reception the blinds are closed and the gas lighted, then evening-dress is worn by the guests.

The trousseau may be as large and expensive as the circumstances of the bride will justify, but this ​expense is mainly put upon outside garments. There are certain requisite articles which must be supplied in a requisite number, and these all brides must have, and of a certain similarity in general character and make. They may be set down as follows:

Twelve chemises, six elaborately trimmed and six more plainly made.

Twelve pairs of drawers, made in sets with the chemises, and matching them in trimming.

Six fine and six plain night-dresses.

Six corset-covers, three finely finished.

Four pairs of corsets, one pair white embroidered, two plain white and one pair colored, the latter to be used in traveling.

One dozen pair of fine thread hose, one dozen of heavy cotton and one dozen of fine merino hose are none too many.

Six trimmed skirts and six plain ones.

Two balmoral skirts, one handsome and the other plain.

Six flannel skirts, three of them handsomely embroidered.

Four white dressing-sacques, two of them of flannel.

Two loose wrappers of chintz or cashmere.

Six sets of linen collars and cuffs for morning wear.

Six sets of lace or embroidered collars and cuffs.

One dozen plain handkerchiefs, one dozen fine handkerchiefs and six embroidered or lace trimmed.

​Walking-boots, gaiters and slippers of various styles.

Two pairs of white kid gloves, two of light and two of dark tints, with others of thread and cloth.

Of dresses there are required—morning-dresses, walking-suits, carriage-dresses, evening-dresses, one traveling-dress, one waterproof suit, one very handsome suit to return bridal calls, and last but not least the bridal-dress, which has already been referred to. These dresses may be multiplied in number according to the means and needs of the bride.