Entertaining Made Easy Part 14

FALL WEDDINGS

A BLUE AND GOLD WEDDING

September and October weddings are always popular, partly perhaps because of the decorating possibilities of the autumn season.

Goldenrod and wild asters one thinks of for early fall. At one evening home wedding where this blue and gold color scheme was used, the stalks of plumey golden rod seemed to be growing naturally along the stair rail; they were held in place at the uprights.

The rooms were hung with blue and golden globes of lights--in reality paper lanterns--sheltering electric bulbs. The fireplace held ma.s.ses of goldenrod, and blue jars holding wild asters crowned the mantel, the tables, the piano, and the wide window sills.

The bridesmaids wore gowns of yellow organdy and the maid of honor an aster blue costume.

In the dining-room a dull gilt basket of blue asters occupied the center of the table set for a buffet repast, and a bow of blue and golden tulle fluttered from the handle of the basket.

The favors were tiny kewpie dolls, wearing frilly skirts and caps, some of blue and others of yellow. The blue were for the men, the yellow for the girls.

OAK LEAVES AND COSMOS

When oak leaves begin to glow with tawny splendor, another girl celebrated her wedding. The house was a bower of rich, deep red and brown foliage, and the "bridey" touch came in with the pale pink garden cosmos that was used.

Cosmos made the background for the wedding group, and was arranged in feathery ma.s.ses wherever it might contrast with the dark oak leaves.

The wedding was in the late afternoon, and after the sunset light had faded the pink candles began to glow rosily under soft pink shades.

The dining-room table was lovely with pink candle-light and pink cosmos as a centerpiece on a mat of oak leaves. There were pink and white candies and raspberry ice was served with the tiniest of pink and white and green _pet.i.tes fours_.

THREE WINTER WEDDINGS

A CHRISTMAS WEDDING

The first girl lived in a country town and evergreens in the woods near by were plentiful. The wedding was a Christmas one, and took place in the late afternoon. Garlands of graceful ground pine were wound over the banisters in the hall, and draped over the doorways to hang down halfway on each side against the ivory white wood-work. In the living-room, two little Christmas trees, lighted with tiny white candles, formed an alcove where the bridal group could stand.

The table in the dining-room was decorated for a buffet luncheon in holiday red and green. There was a centerpiece of red roses, red silk candle shades shading white candles in clear gla.s.s candlesticks, and tiny green Christmas ferns scattered on the white cloth.

The menu had the same color harmony, and consisted of consomme, salted crackers, oyster patties, chicken jelly salad with green mayonnaise, salad rolls, olives, pistachio ice-cream in holly-decked cases, little cakes with green icing and silver bonbons stuck on top, and coffee, with green mints.

A RAINBOW WEDDING

The second bride lived in the city and had a rainbow wedding. The usual green of potted ferns and palms formed the background of decorations, but over the rounded archway which opened into a small alcove a "rainbow" of tulle--rose, pale pink, yellow, green, blue, and lavender--was arranged. Pink and yellow roses with green foliage were supplemented in the living-room by blue and lavender tulle on the vases. The six bridesmaids wore gowns which matched the tulle rainbow and they carried pink roses.

On the table in the dining-room was a bowl of pink roses, and from the table dome a myriad of baby ribbon streamers in the same varied colors came down at six points, and were held in place by six fluffy favor dolls, dressed in tulle to match the six bridesmaids, to whom they were afterward given as souvenirs.

The menu consisted of chicken a la King, small sandwiches, olives, Neapolitan ice-cream, fancy frosted cakes, and coffee.

A COLONIAL WEDDING

The third girl, with a delight for old-fashioned ways, was followed by six maids in quaint Colonial gowns of plain or flowered silk, no two costumes alike, save for soft white lace fichus. Black velvet neckbands, powdered curls, and "nosegays" of small pink carnations in lace paper holders quite carried out the lovely effect.

The old-fashioned rooms were hung with smilax and asparagus fern, and in every window stood a pot of flowering fuchsias.