Etiquette and Dress After Marriage. — No particular
dress is required on the days the newly-married pair receive
their friends. If it be winter, a rich silk or velvet dress, made
high like a morning one, would be an appropriate attire for the
lady. If it be summer, a light silk or barege would be suitable,
but no flowers should be worn in the hair, though lace lappets
and velvet bows are admissible. Wedding cake and wine
should be handed to all comers. This is generally the only
form in which wedding cake is distributed to one's friends in
London. Persons in the country, not being able to assemble
their friends so easily, still maintain the old custom of sending
parcels of wedding cake to all the near connections of the
family; or, if they receive, pieces of cake are, nevertheless,
despatched to distant friends and relatives. Some Londoners
send cake to their country connections, but far the larger por-
tion neglect this friendly old custom. Formerly, the cake was
passed through the wedding ring, or the charm was not com-
plete; but this antiquated piece of superstition is now dis-
carded, or, at most, would only be found in existence in some
old farm house remote from town.
The visits may be returned at the end of above a week or
ten days.
At the parties the young couple may attend during the first
month, there is nothing inappropriate in the bride's wearing
some little badge of her new state, such as a dress looped up
with orange flowers or a few orange blossoms in her hair.
A new-married couple are not expected to give parties at
their house for the first year; but after that time they must no
longer play the part of exceptional beings, but give and take,
as others.
As to the dress of a young matron, we expect it to be some-
what richer than that of an unmarried girl. The Parisians
^\u
I'i ETIQUETTE.
show admirable tact in the shades that distinguish the toilette
of mademoiselle and madame. The girlish simplicity that adds
a grace to the youthful attractions of the former would be out
of place on the part of the latter, who, being possessed of jewels
(which the French deem a superfluous ornament to the unmar-
ried young lady), must dress in a corresponding style of lux-
ury. Besides, she now assumes a position in society as the
mistress of a house; her fate is fixed; she knows she can spend,
and acts accordingly. But, if the young lady, having rich
parents, launches at once into the full blaze of jewels and ex-
pensive dresses, and then marries some poor captain on half-
pay, she will feel humiliated at having to modify her toilette to
suit her altered circumstances. This change would be less
perceptible were our young ladies equally as judicious with the
Parisian ones, in adopting a simple style of adornment.
Page 35
Presented as published in 1883. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Etiquette and Dress After Marriage. — No particular dress is required on the days the newly-married pair receive their friends. If it be winter, a rich silk or velvet dress, made high like a morning one, would be an appropriate attire for the lady. If it be summer, a light silk or barege would be suitable, but no flowers should be worn in the hair, though lace lappets and velvet bows are admissible. Wedding cake and wine should be handed to all comers. This is generally the only form in which wedding cake is distributed to one's friends in London. Persons in the country, not being able to assemble their friends so easily, still maintain the old custom of sending parcels of wedding cake to all the near connections of the family; or, if they receive, pieces of cake are, nevertheless, despatched to distant friends and relatives. Some Londoners send cake to their country connections, but far the larger portion neglect this friendly old custom. Formerly, the cake was passed through the wedding ring, or the charm was not complete; but this antiquated piece of superstition is now discarded, or, at most, would only be found in existence in some old farm house remote from town.
The visits may be returned at the end of above a week or ten days.
At the parties the young couple may attend during the first month, there is nothing inappropriate in the bride's wearing some little badge of her new state, such as a dress looped up with orange flowers or a few orange blossoms in her hair.
A new-married couple are not expected to give parties at their house for the first year; but after that time they must no longer play the part of exceptional beings, but give and take, as others.
As to the dress of a young matron, we expect it to be somewhat richer than that of an unmarried girl. The Parisians
^\u
I'i ETIQUETTE.
show admirable tact in the shades that distinguish the toilette of mademoiselle and madame. The girlish simplicity that adds a grace to the youthful attractions of the former would be out of place on the part of the latter, who, being possessed of jewels (which the French deem a superfluous ornament to the unmarried young lady), must dress in a corresponding style of luxury. Besides, she now assumes a position in society as the mistress of a house; her fate is fixed; she knows she can spend, and acts accordingly. But, if the young lady, having rich parents, launches at once into the full blaze of jewels and expensive dresses, and then marries some poor captain on halfpay, she will feel humiliated at having to modify her toilette to suit her altered circumstances. This change would be less perceptible were our young ladies equally as judicious with the Parisian ones, in adopting a simple style of adornment.