Miss Rita Stephen Married to Mr. de Gherardy There is samonces about most and it is difficult to introduce originality into such solemn and conventional ceremony. At the marriage of Mr. Andrew de (Gherardy and Miss Elizazeth Chris-ino Stephen (known to her friends Rita) at the Holy Trinity] Cathedral "on November at which Dean Trivett officiated, there was a. definite departure from the usual display of colour. This was effected simple idea of having the decoration of the church and all "the attendants in white, The charming bride word a lovely gown of white velvet, and! carried a bouquet of white "roses, [She was attended by tiny pages in [Court dress, holding up her veil bridesmaids in filmy roses. The pure, virginal white with'the vivid ted of the roses, set against. the sombre background of the Cathedral, created a picture of] rare and simple beauty.
As the bridegroom is a. Russian shoes and a red rose In their ut, ton-holee, Iodked very solemn und seemed to take their duties seriously, Bessrs. Colot, Krenov, Keswick, Smart, Calcina, Muclemnan, and 'D'Autherville acted as ushers, Mrs, Birt who was escorted to the church by M. de Pinies, the Spanish Consul, was most elegantly gownd in black chiffon velvet and a coat trimmed with ermine, with a hat of black and white velvet; she car-vied & bouquet of orchids.
The reception was held at the residence of Dr. and Mrs, Birt 227'
Vu Yuen Road. Masses of flowers: were most artistically arranged, in all the rooms. Some were ingeniously formed into screens, one of which, composed entirely of white flowers, formed a background for the bride and bridegroom gs they received their guests. A departure from the usual floral bell was huge basket of white—chryxanthemuins. To accommodate the hundreds of guests the lawn front of the house was entirely enclosed and carpets were spread over the grass. The bride and groom: stood on the steps while the speeches. were being made. Sir Peter Grain proposed the health of the happy' couple in a witty and spontaneous 3 eSiSmanied 'a the Greek Oether happily-worded and appreciative subject, the had first to Speech, to which Mr. Gherardy made
ceremony wag performed by Bishop "Church. This pletufeague] Terly. M Colat then toasted the Simon, for the first time in Shang.
The principal gueste were Sir hai, and in compliment to the bride-Peter Grain, Mr. and Mrs. F. J. groom the Bishop and his priests Brenan, Maj-General and Mrs. wore their robes of white. As most Barret, Count and Counte people here are unfamiliar with this Giano, M. de Pinies, M.'F. de Pacla service andas it is a very symbolical Brita, Mr. Food Tujay, Admiral del one; a few words of description will Grece and many other prominent be acceptable. The bride, and people.
Joridegroom walk up to the ' altar, Amongst the hundreds of beauti-before which is placed a square! fol presenta were a ruby and dit piece of silk and, according to an mond bareelet, sapphire bracelet, ancient belief, the first to step on diamond cluster ring, an ermine the silk will be the dominating] coat, some exquisite pieces of Ialig Personality in the future home. and' cut glass and some valiabls The choir chant throughout the!
Chinese curios. service, which is divided into two The bride's going-away dress wax parts; the first being the changing smartly-cut ensemble of blue Of the rings performed by the cloth trimmed with velvet of the Archmandrite, Each has a ring and colour, with a closely fitting there are changed three times from of velvet to match. hand to hand. The Bishop than As the happy couple left, there recites the wedding ceremony was an outburst of cheers from the daring which two crowns are held guests to speed them their way to. by the ushers over the heads of the bride and groom, while, the [bishop makes the sign of the cross. He concludes. the ceremony by leading the couple by the hand three times round the altar. An antique silver ikon, an heirloom of the family, was sent specially by the bridegroom's mother to be used at] the ceremony.
Miss Stephen, who is the daughter of the late Br. A. G. Stephen, for many years manager of the Hongkong & Shanghai Bank in Shanghai, and of Mrs, Edward Birt, is a very popular member of both British and continental society. Mr. do Ghorardy, who had for-his best man Mr. Don Burdick, is the son of Mr. Boris de Gherardy, who was a member of the Imperial Household of the Inst Czar of Rustia, An Interesting point in com tection with this marriage is that it brings seven different nationalities into relationship.
The bride- with her dark and piquant charm, looked very lovely] '45 she entered the church on the farm of her step-father, Dr. Birt, whovgave her away. Her chiffon velvet dress was strikingly' effective in its very simpli she wore a veil of exquisite old] Brussels lace, It was arranged over a second veil of tulle which covered the entire train of the diamond brooch, the gift of her mother, and she carried a bouquet of white rares. Her twin sister, Miss Margot Stephen, who acted as maid of honour also' looked very lovely in ter diaphanous gown white made witha very full and with the top and sleeves fors ed of tiny raffles. The other bridesmaids, Miss Exme Hooper, Mary Edmonston, Miss Edna Dar-rah and Mile. Thadee Racine, all Inoked charming in long gowns of faille with ruchings of tulle, and close-Atting caps of tulle and white flowers. The matron of honour] Mrs. Leitis Andrews, was also' faille, with a cape effect over the shoulders. The delightfully quaint litre pages, Evelyn Blurt, Jinmy Brand, Jimmy Wilson, John Mas-tore, Louis Basset "ud Willie Myers, in their white satin court dress, kroo breeches and buckled Hangchow where the honeymoon be spent,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.