The maid-of-honor stands at the bride’s left as she receives.

The bride and bridegroom lead the way to the dining room, the best man offering his arm to the maid-of-honor.

The bride’s father escorts the bridegroom’s mother, the guests follow in such order as is convenient, and the bride’s mother and the bridegroom’s father are the last.

[742 Mothers’ remedies]

If only twenty-five or thirty guests are present the wedding breakfast is preferably served at small tables.  The clergyman and his wife, who should always be invited, are seated at the bride’s table.  So also the maid-of-honor, the best man, the ushers, and the parents of the pair, with sisters and brothers if convenient.  Or, the bride’s table may be reserved strictly for the bridal party.

The bride may cut her own cake if she chooses, or the wedding cake may be dispensed in boxes as at the reception following a church wedding.

The departure of the newly wedded pair is on the order already indicated.

After the Wedding.—­It may be said here that the “horse play”—­for it is nothing else—­sometimes indulged in as “an after clap” to a wedding, in which practical jokes are played on the pair, is not only unkind and ill-bred, but in most execrable taste.  To placard the luggage “Just married;” to tie white ribbons on it and the carriage in which they are driven away; to substitute a suitcase packed with the things a man doesn’t want on his journey for one containing what he does, is not at all “smart.”

Why should some coarse, ill-bred persons, whether they have or have not been favored with invitations, strive to embarrass and make uncomfortable those to whom the situation is already sufficiently trying?  Why, after so much pains and expense have been employed to make the occasion beautiful and impressive, should the “practical joker” take it upon himself to spoil it all by an ill-timed “pleasantry” which is the acme of rudeness and discourtesy?  It is a curious character that can enjoy perpetrating what are really outrages upon other people’s sensibilities.

Wedding Gifts.—­Very soon after the wedding invitations are out the presents begin to pour in.  The fashion of gift giving on such an occasion is not as prevalent as at one time; it was overdone, carried beyond the limits of good taste, and of course a reaction was inevitable.  Some men profess to share the feeling of the Scandinavian immigrant who was so deeply affronted at the offerings made by his bride’s friends—­as if he were not able to furnish his home with the necessary articles—­that in his Berserker rage he was with difficulty restrained from casting gifts and donors together into the street.

Generally speaking, only relatives and intimate friends send gifts, though there is no interdict as regards others who may wish to testify to their interest in the bride in this way.  An ostentatious gift from a person not in the family is in bad taste.  The words “No presents” on wedding invitations are in the worst possible form.