Perfect Behavior: A Guide for Ladies and Gentlemen in All Social Crises
Donald Ogden Stewart36THE BRIDAL DINNER In the evening, the parents of the bride give the bridal dinner, to which all the relatives and close friends of the family are invited. Toasts are drunk in orange juice and rare old Virginia Dare wine, and much good-natured fun is indulged in by all. Speeches are usually made by the bride and groom, their parents, the best man, the maid of honor, the minister and Aunt Harriet. Just a word about the speeches at a bridal dinner. Terrible! A CHURCH WEDDING On the day of the wedding the ushers should arrange to be at the church an hour or so in advance of the time set for the ceremony. They should be dressed in cutaways, with ties, gloves and gardenias provided by the groom. It is the duty of the best man to dress the bridegroom for the wedding. As you enter his room you see, lying half-dressed on the bed, a pale, wan, emaciated creature, who is staring fixedly at the ceiling. It is the happy bridegroom. His lips open. He speaks feebly. “What time is it?” he says. You reply, “Two-thirty, old man. Time to start getting dressed.” “Oh, my God!” says the groom. Ten minutes pass. “What time is it?” says the groom. “Twenty of three,” you reply. “Here’s your shirt.” “Oh, my God!” says the groom. He takes the shirt and tries to put it on. You help him. “Better have a little Scotch, old man,” you say. “What time is it?” he replies. “Five of three,” you say. “Oh, my God!” says the groom.

