The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

THE MAID OR MATRON OF HONOR. It has long been customary that this honor should be given either to the sister of the bride or groom, or the best friend of the bride. Whether it be a formal or infor- mal affair, this role is always filled. The maid of honor has several duties to perform at the wedding. First, when a double ring ceremony is to be held, she has to bring the groom's ring to the ceremony. At the altar, the maid of honor holds the bride's bouquet and assists her with the veil and train after the ceremony. She is also to be in the receiving line and help the bride in any way pos- sible. When the bride changes from her wedding attire to her going away outfit the maid of honor should help. ig The costume of the maid of honor and the brides- maids should follow the same motif as set by the bride. The headdress and the flowers will be differ- ent; however, sometimes the variation is only in colour. THE BRIDESMAIDS. The main function of the bridesmaids is to add color and background to the wedding rites, the number of bridesmaids is a personal choice. There may be as many as twelve. THE BEST MAN. The best man is the right hand man to the groom. As such he has more responsibil- ities than all the other attendants. Among his duties are the follow- ing: 1. To see that the groom is prop- erly dressed. This is of course, assuming that the groom is so nervous that he will undoubt- edly overlook a few dressing details. 2. Be certain to receive the clergyman's fee in a sealed envelope from the groom. Sometime before or after the ceremony, the best man is obliged to hand it privately to the clergyman. 3. Carry the wedding ring to the ceremony in some secure place. 4. Make sure that the ushers are on call before the ceremony is scheduled to start. 5. Perform all errands that the groom or the bride's mother may request. 6. Before leaving for the ceremony, help the groom pack his clothes for the honeymoon. See 'to it that the groom's bags are taken to the point of departure. This is generally done before the ceremony. 7. Before the bridal couple leaves, accompany the groom to his room and help him change into his travelling attire. 8. The attire of the best man is inavariably the same as the groom. The only possible variations are in the tie and the boutonniere. USHERS. The number of ushers is dependent directly on the size of the wedding. Anywhere from two to twelve can be present. Here are some pointers to be remembered. 1. Ushers are expected to put in an appearance at least an hour before the wedding. 2. Where certain guests have been given reserved seats at the church, the ushers should be given a list. If unknown guests arrive, the ushers can request their names and seat them according to their relationship, on either the bride's side or the groom's. 3. All ushers should stand at the door of the church. As each feminine guest arrives, one of the ushers offers her his arm and escorts her to her seat. 4. All front pews on the left side of the church are reserved for the bride's family, and on the right for the groom's family. Before You Say '! DO"... Come and See What WE DO! Wedding Invitations eNapkins eGuest Books eWedding Matches eAnnouncements eBride Books eThank You Cards MIDLAND PRINTERS COMPANY LIMITED 481 Hugel Ave. 526-5501 -bride's family or by the clergy- AT THE RECEPTION MASTER OF CEREMONIES. A Master of Cere- monies is not a necessity at a wedding. However, it can be a good idea to have one to keep things runnine smoothly at the time of the toasts. The _Master of Ceremonies is usually a friend or relative of the bride's family. If the wedding "breakfast"' is a sit-down meal, the Master of Ceremonies calls on the clergy or a close relative or friend to say Grace. When it is time for the toasts the Master of Ceremo- nies starts off by announcing, e.g. "Ladies and Gentlemen the bride will now cut the cake" after which he says a few words, e.g. 'It is my pleasure today at this lovely wedding to introduce the speak- ers to you. I know that we all agree what a happy occasion it is -- not only for the bride and groom and their parents -- but for all of us. And now I will call on Mr. John Wood to propose the toast to the bride". ORDER OF TOASTS To the Bride: By the clergyman or friend of the fam- ily -- nota relative. (\ i Response: By the groom. To the Bridesmaids: By groom or best man. Response: By the best man or head usher. The Toast to the Bride is usually proposed by an old friend of the man. This toast is made imme- diately following the cutting of the cake--which is announced by whoever is proposing the toast or the Master of Ceremonies. 1. Address the clergy and ladies and gentlemen. 2. State that it is an honor and privilege to have been asked to propose toast to bride: 3. Convey best wishes of everyone present to the _ couple. 4. Give a brief outline of her life as you have known it (inject some humor, e.g., some amus- ing story of her childhood or youth). 5. Point out bride's achievements, capabilities, charm, her family background, etc.-- what a lucky man the groom is. 6. Wish bride and groom success and happiness. 7. Ask guests to join you in drinking a toast to "The Bride". WEDDING TOASTS To the Bride: By the clergy or friend of the family. Response: By the groom. To the Bridesmaids: By the groom or best man. Response: By best man or usher. A GUIDE FOR THE GROOM'S SPEECH 1. Groom expresses thanks for the very nice re- . marks about the bride. 2. Agrees with all remarks. 3. Thanks all the guests for coming to the wedding. 4. Thanks all the guests for their good wishes (meaning gifts). 5. Thanks bride's parents for all their help and for giving him such a lovely bride. 6. Thanks his own parents for all their help to him through- out his life. 7. Comments on attractive bridesmaids --e.g. what a pretty background they are for the bride and what a help they have been to her. 8. Proposes toast to brides- maids. A GUIDE FOR THE BEST MAN'S SPEECH 1. Replies to toast by groom to bridesmaids. 2. Agrees with groom's remarks about the brides- _maids. 3. Introduces bridal party. 4. States what an honor it is to be the best man. 5. Propose toast to bride and groom as a couple. 6. Reads the telegrams. SPEECH SUGGESTIONS WHEN TO MAKE TOASTS! Before dining arrahge with someone to say the bless- ing. When those who are to sit at the head table arrive at their chairs, tap on a glass with a spoon to get everyone's attention and announce that Mr. .... ies Kaen ae *.. will say the Blessing. The cake is to be cut when those at the head table and guests have finished their main course. Toastmaster will stand and get the attention of the gathering. Then he will announce that the cake will be cut. He will then lead the applause after the cake is cut. Toasts will start after everyone has been served punch, usually after the coffee is. finished. When you are ready to proceed with the toasts, get the attention of the guests, then call upon Mr. .... Se eater eS who is a close family friend, to pro- pose a toast to the bride. The groom will stand and thank him and then "speech for the groom", finishing with a toast to the bridesmaids. He will then ask a close friend of the bride's mother, Mr....... to propose a toast to her. Her husband will respond and welcome in the new son to the family. It is then time for the toast- master to suggest that if the guests would like to rise, and mingle, the tables will be cleared giving more room. TOAST TO THE BRIDE* Ladies and Gentlemen: To pro- pose a toast at any time is an honor; to propose a toast to the bride today -- that indeed is an honor and a delight. We meet today under exceptionally inter- esting circumstances, and to mark what I am sure will be one of the happiest days in the life of Mary*, now Mrs. Brown*. You know, legends have grown around brides: we expect them to be pretty, modest, intelligent and anticipating with keen interest their new status in life. Our bride today meets all these requirements and more. To me it is an especial pleasure to propose this toast. I have watched Mary* grow up. As a youngster; through school; out into the world of work; through all these stages of life's developments I have observed her progress. She is with us today, a bride, the embodiment of all that is charming; and to the man with whom she has decided to travel this road called Life, may I say to you, sir, you have indeed acquired a treasure, a girl with all the sterling qualities and desirable characteristics to make you a wife of whom you may Well be proud. Friends, today we are privileged to attend a cere- mony which marks the starting point of two young lives together. We should always remember -- and | know they will never forget -- today. I ask you to rise with me, and with sincere wishes that the years to come will hold health and happiness, drink a toast -- To the Bride. *(Proposed by a close friend of the bride's family; clergyman; family doctor; uncle. This toast is proposed immediately after the cake has been cut.) GROOM'S RESPONSE TO THE TOAST TO THE BRIDE My Friends: Thank you; | hardly know just how to say an adequate "thank you" for the lovely sentiments just expressed DYE hose3 dere Betti Sree and so graciously supported by all of you. Perhaps I should content myself with a sincere expression of our thanks, tendered on behalf of Mary and myself. To be among friends, at any time, is delightful; but to be here today surrounded by such a large group of HOLDER'S BAKERY We are well known in the area for our fine quality of pastries and wedding cakes. For freshness, quality and superb #& _ decorating, call Holder's Bakery. A call ahead of time will assure you of the best in baking goods. HOLDER'S BAKERY 338 King St., Midland 526-5651 1981 Bridal Feature, Page 3