ons while the
guests were assembling, begins on the wedding march as the doors to
the church are thrown open in signal that all is in readiness. The
audience rises. The clergyman takes his place, and the bridgegroom and
best man enter, the former standing at the clergyman's left, the
latter just behind the bridegroom, who is facing the aisle down which
the bride will come.

First come the ushers, two and two, keeping pace with the time of the
music, which is a stately, dignified march. The bridesmaids follow,
also two and two, with about six feet of space between each couple.
The maid of honor alone, or the maid and matron of honor together,
then come. The flower girl, or flower children follow, scattering
flowers from a basket hung upon the left arm.

Then come the bride and her father, or nearest male relative, she with
downcast eyes and leaning upon his right arm.

The procession divides as it reaches a spot opposite the place where
the bride and bridegroom are to stand, or, in an Episcopal church, the
top of the chancel steps; half go to the right and half to the left.
The bridesmaids stand between the ushers, all being grouped in a
semicircle. The maid of honor stands at the left, in front of the
bridesmaids and near the bride.

The bridegroom advances to meet the bride, who leaves her father and
takes the bridegroom's hand, then accepts his left arm and is escorted
by him to a position in front of the clergyman. The couple kneel for a
moment before the ceremony begins.

At the place in the ceremony where the question is asked, "Who giveth
this woman to be married to this man?" the father, who has been
standing a few feet back, advances and places the bride's right hand
in that of the clergyman, who places it in the right hand of the
bridegroom. The father then takes his seat in the front pew with his
wife, whom, as they leave the church, he escorts.

Should a widowed mother be the only one to respond to this inquiry,
she simply rises from her seat and bows. In such a case the bridegroom
usually enters with the bride, and the procession is less elaborate.

When the troth is being plighted and the ring is about to be given,
the best man hands it to the bridegroom, who passes it to the bride.
She hands it to the clergyman, who returns it to the bridegroom. Then
the latter places it upon the third finger of the bride's left hand.
The significance of the passing of the ring is that it completes a
circle, the s