Suggestions For Matron-Of-Honor

Net And Leaf Head Dress

Use silvery satin leaves sewn to a wire frame with pearl dew drops. Bow and ends are of nylon net. Leaves and net can be purchased in many beautiful shades - - also white.

Material Required

2 1/2 yards nylon net
4 doz. leaves
4 doz. jewels
1 wire band frame

Directions

Cover frame with net, stitching it on frame and sewing net around edge of frame, Then, apply leaves. Start in center front, sewing leaves toward back on one side and then repeat on opposite side, and using a tiny stitch through leaf on top side and a long stitch on underside. Then, sew jewels on leaves over these stitches. Open net to full width and cut two 20" lengths. Fold each length double and gather ends into two 10" loops. Then, cut two 20" lengths for ends and join these to loops. Finish center of bow with a crushed piece of net. Sew this bow to back of leaf frame. Bow can be made larger or smaller according to your desire.

Rosette Head Piece For Matron-Of-Honor And Bridesmaids

Use a plastic clip covered to sew rosette to - or cut a piece of buckram 16" x 2", cover with material and trim with a rosette.

Brides Maids Hats

Band Of Flowers Or Ribbon

Use a plastic band covered with tubing or material to match, dress. Then sew flowers or ribbon to band, (Ill. #1).

Nylon Net Circle Head Piece

Cover a small buckram disc frame with material and sew a head gripper to edge of frame, (Ill. #2). For each hat, a 16" square of net is required. Before unfolding circle, measure 2 1/4" from point of folded circle and cut off. Open net circle and place on top of covered disc, and tack net to frame front, back and sides with small velvet baby ribbon bows, (Ill. #3).

Nylon Roses And Net Head Piece

Join a 16" x 2" piece of buckram, wire top and bottom (Ill. #4), and cover with material. Then cover with small roses. Cut a 16" square of nylon net into a circle and place rose-covered piece in center of net circle and sew to net (Ill. #5). A nice color combination is American Beauty colored roses and pink nylon net. Net brim can be made in layers and of several shades of net.

Horse Hair Braid Hats

These horse hair bodies are available in all colors. They are usually without crowns and need little trimming. Bows with long streamers or flowers, etc. , (Ill. #6).

Tiaras

Satin Beaded Tiara

Use pattern for tiara on page 12 3 Lay pattern on buckram and cut out buckram. Wire all around edge with frame wire. Pad frame with sheet wadding (Ill. #1), then cover with satin, (Ill. #2). Finish edge with pearls by the yard, and jewel the center heavily with pearls and rhinestones. Then, line tiara with satin.

Lace Tiara

Wind wires of frame with 1" net strips, (Ill #3). Then, apply lace and tack to net-covered wires, (Ill. #4). Bead with pearls and rhinestones.

Satin Bow Tiara

Cover a buckram disc with material like bridesmaid dresses. Stiffen bows with ribbon wire on crinoline (Ill. #5). Make five bows and sew to brim of covered disc (Ill. #6).

Pleated Organza Tiara

Cut a piece of buckram 15" x 1 3/4". Join together wire top and bottom. Cover with silk. Have a 1/4 yard of organza pleated. Cover tiara with pleating (Ill. #1). Then, cover 7" ribbon wire with plain organza for points on tiara (Ill. #2). Sew to front of tiara with a small bias strip of organza, (Ill. #3).

Flowered Tiara

Cover a 1/2" plastic clip with velvet tubing and then sew lilacs or flowers of your choice on band.

Bridal Dresses, Veils And Tiaras

A bridal gown is the culmination of countless childhood dreams, established tradition, memories, future plans and, lastly, fashion. Tradition, rather than current fashion trends, usually plays a more important role in the selection of a bridal gown, and rightfully so! A marriage ceremony and tradition are synonymous in that both are lasting, and, as all women know, fashion trends do not seem to have this lasting quality.

Although each bride has her own idea about the style of gown and veil, every bride wants her once-in-a-lifetime bridal gown to be flattering, to be stylish, but especially to be the perfect gown that she and her husband will long remember and cherish.

For brides living at home, a traditional wedding is deemed ideal.

An informal wedding, however, is often a preference or a financial necessity, and can be just as beautiful and romantic, if not more so.           .

Traditional wedding dresses are white or off-white in color) and are usually made of lace, peau de soiu, satin or taffeta-,—Organdy and organza have become very popular for summer weddings. If the bridal gown is made of organza, a smart tiara can be made of pleated organza (see directions for tiaras).

The formal veil and tiara can be very elaborate. The veil can be long and full, and the tiara made of lace with beading. However, the short finger tip veil is preferred by many brides and is always popular for the informal wedding, just as it is now very popular not to have a veil cover the face. The blusher, in many cases, is often omitted.

All millinery supply houses carry fine, imported illusion veiling in 72" and 108" widths, and also carry wire frames for the head piece. When visiting these shops you will be amazed to learn about many of the money-saving possibilities that can be yours. Investigate ! You will discover that a bridal veil and tiara can be made for one-third the original cost of a ready made veil.

The important point to remember is this --- you will know the feeling of joy and pride in having created part of the wedding ensemble which some day may be passed down through the years as another bride's cherished possession.

You see, tradition does play the starring role in a wedding!

Wedding Customs

Wedding etiquette remains the same as it was years ago! We may live more casually but, when we get married, we still want the traditional wedding with a white dress and veil, bridesmaids and ushers, reception and champagne. Wedding etiquette adds to the dignity and smooth progress of both ceremony and reception. It affords a basic and correct framework around which to build your particular plans and add your own deft touches of individuality.

First, you must decide on the date and place for your wedding. It may be in a church, club, hotel or at home. If married in a church, the reception may be held in the church parlor, or elsewhere, if preferred. An afternoon wedding at four o'clock is very popular with many people, but with some an evening wedding is preferred. The second step is to decide on the number of guests to be invited. You may have a private ceremony, followed by a large reception, or vice versa. However, one very important factor must be taken into consideration at this point. If both the wedding and reception take place at the same address, (i.e., home or club) it is, of course, difficult to invite a guest to the wedding ceremony and not to the reception as well. It is suggested that both the bride and the groom's mother compile their respective guest lists and then, after completion, order the invitations. Invitations should be engraved (never printed! ) , on white or cream-colored paper, and sent out approximately four weeks prior to the actual wedding date. Your stationer will be happy to give you any needed advice in the selection of lettering and of the variety of accepted invitation forms.

If the ceremony is to take place in a church, the minister is the final authority on all matters related to the service itself. He will take charge of the rehearsal, which is a "must" for a smoothly run wedding. Everyone taking part in the wedding should be there, including the bride's father, the maid-of-honor, the best man, all ushers and bridesmaids. Of. course, you too must attend. At a given signal, the groom comes out of the vestry or a door near the altar , and is followed by the best man. Both stand, waiting for the bride, and facing sideways so that their backs are neither to the altar nor to the aisle down which the procession will walk. The processional then starts almost immediately, in this order: first, the ushers in pairs (the shortest first); the maids, also in pairs; the maid-of-honor; and, finally, the bride on her father's arm. If your parents are divorced, it is still quite correct to have your father give you away. He does not, however, join your mother or the rest of your family in the front pew, but takes a seat farther back. If you cannot be given away by your father, a close relative or a family friend may take Ills place. The processional should advance slowly, with approximately fifteen or twenty feet between each couple. At the altar the ushers and maids take their positions to the right and left, but the maid-of-honor remains nearest the bride. She assists the bride with her train and bouquet, and also acts as the bride's legal witness.

You may ask several close friends to be your attendants. Or you may, instead, limit yourself to a maid-of-honor (probably your dearest friend), and two junior bridesmaids (possibly young relatives in their teens). Your fiance' should have at least one usher for every fifty (50) guests. Of course, he may have more. To insure fun for everyone at the pre-wedding parties, an equal number of ushers and bridesmaids is suggested.

Leaving The Altar

After the ceremony, the bride and groom are the first to leave, then the maid-of-honor and best man, who are followed by the bridesmaids and ushers , in couples. When the wedding party has been escorted to the church foyer, a receiving line may form there to receive guests' congratulations .

Receiving Line Arrangement

To the bride's right: her father, the groom's mother, the groom's father, and then the bride's mother.

To the bride's left: the groom, the maid-of-honor and the bridesmaids. The ushers and the best man mingle with the guests, being sociable and useful in seeing that all guests are enjoying themselves.

Receiving Line Conversation is Best Kept Brief Conversation in the receiving line should be as brief and to the point as is possible. No one actually listens to what is said, anyway! (The guest must be cordial and happy.) If there is no one present to announce the names of the guests, a guest should introduce himself. The bride's mother will then pass along to the next person in line the name of the guest, mentioning the relationship, if any. To each person in line the guest says, "how do you do", or "lovely wedding", or "so happy to meet you" during the brief handclasp. He offers "best wishes" to the bride, and to the bridegroom "congratulations", The bride is never congratulated.

Guests Should Aid The Ushers

At a church wedding the guest aids the work of the ushers by arriving 15 or 20 minutes before the ceremony.

Wedding Gift Registry

How to Prevent Duplicated Gifts in a Tactful Way!

Select and register your silver, dinnerware and crystal patterns. Record your decorating color schemes and your needs in linens and" household accessories.

When friends ask for gift suggestions, the registry will be able to advise them of the exact items you need or desire. Then, too, the registry will keep track of all gifts as they are selected in order to avoid duplications.

When friends ask what gifts you would like to receive, there is no embarrassment over wondering how much they wish to spend. Just say, "My preferences are on record at the Wedding Gift Registry, "and mention the name of the store.

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