CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
June, 1913
Samantha's wedding was more than just a union of her and Eugene. Her wedding was to be a lavish extravaganza that would rival the wedding of Edith and Peyton. Edith was getting married at her family's home in Mount Bedford, with a reception at the Royal Bedford. For that reason Samantha demanded that her wedding took place in New York City in one of the old churches with a reception at The York Club. New York City was a lot more stylish than sleepy Mount Bedford, and anyone with money could have a reception at the Royal Bedford. To have your reception at The York Club you not only had to have money but you also had to have connections, and Uncle Gard was connected.
"How many of us are there in all?" Asked Maude who was one of Samantha's bridesmaids. The bridesmaids had come down to New York City for a fitting.
"Ten," Samantha replied. She really only had eight that she cared about, but she found out that Edith was having nine bridesmaids so Samantha had to find two other girls, even if she didn't care for them all that much. The lucky eight were Maude, Ida Dean, Cornelia's twin sisters Agnes and Agatha, Bridgette, Jenny, and Cornelia's twelve-year-old sister Alice. Nellie was to be maid of honor. Ruth Adams, and Helen Whitney were the two filler girls.
"Holy smokes," Maude replied. "Does Eugene even have that many friends to be groomsmen?"
"Well I know he asked Eddie to be his best man, and his other roommate Charlie will stand, and Peyton, and I think a few other boys from Rochester," replied Samantha. They had just entered the bridal shop. Samantha immediately began examining a gorgeous choker of pearls.
"Well judging by the looks of Peyton and Eugene I guess that means that Rochester boys are handsome," sighed Maude. "Please Samantha! Please pair me up with one of the handsomer groomsmen!"
"Eugene's roommate Charlie is cute," Samantha replied. "He's got fabulous blonde curls."
"Blonde curls wasted on a boy!" Maude sighed. "So where are these dresses you are going to make us wear? I hope they aren't hideous."
"Are you kidding?" Agnes laughed. "Samantha is crazy, but she does have a chic sense of style. I can't wait to see the gowns that you chose."
"Anything will be better than that god-awful purple frilly thing that Cornelia had us wear at her wedding," Agatha put in. "You remember that wretched dress Sam?"
"The material of it was quite glorious," Samantha answered. "It was lilac purple taffeta, but it had so much lace and glop on it that the lace hung off of it like melted icing on a cake. It was pretty awful. Fortunately you girls don't have to worry about wearing anything hideous, because this is what you will wear!"
With a flourish she grabbed a soft peach gown off the rack to show to her girls. Samantha had decided that her wedding colors would be peach and light green. No color complimented a woman like peach.
The gown was light and floaty, with short cap sleeves, and made from creamy peach silk and chiffon. It had an empire waist with a band of ivory and light green flowers embroidered on it.
The girls squealed with delight.
"Do I dare touch it?" Ida asked. "Sam this dress is amazing. I can't even imagine wearing such a stunning gown. With my luck I will trip or spill something on it."
"No you won't," Samantha replied. "This is for my wedding, and my wedding will be perfect."
"I don't know about it," said Agatha. "It's a beautiful dress but I don't know about that peach color with my red hair."
"Peach looks good on any skin tone and any hair color," explained Samantha. "Nellie's dress is just like these except the embroidery on hers is a little more elaborate since she is the maid of honor."
"Where is Nellie anyway?" Asked Ida.
"Taking a placement exam," answered Samantha as she eyed a pair of slippers. "She got accepted to Saint Anne's Women's College to study to become a teacher. She doesn't start classes until September but they require a placement exam that they do early in the summer. She's already fitted her gown though, "
"I can't believe they make them take a placement exam on a glorious June day such as this," Maude sighed. "She's all cooped up, stooped over some desk taking a test."
"I hate tests," Helen Whitney put in.
"We will just have to get Miss Nellie extra tipsy at Sam's wedding so the girl has some fun," said Agatha.
Samantha laughed. At Samantha's eighteenth birthday party just that past May Agnes and Agatha had come to stay for a few days to celebrate and help Samantha with anything wedding oriented. The crazy untraditional red headed curly-top twins had managed to get Nellie pretty tipsy with some fine currant wine they had brought for Cornelia, even though Nellie got to have more of it than Aunt Cornelia ever had.
"She will need all the champagne that she can get because she doesn't know that she not only has to recess down the aisle on Eddie's arm because he's the best man, but she also has to pose next to him in the wedding photographs, sit next to him at the wedding dinner, and have a dance with him at the reception," Samantha said.
"Let's all have a moment of silence for Nellie," announced Agnes. The girls were silent for a minute.
"Why isn't Peyton being Eugene's best man?" Maude asked as she took her gown from the sales clerk to be fitted. "Didn't they grow up together?"
"He and Peyton kind of had a falling out," Samantha explained. "I'm glad because Peyton was always belittling him, he was no friend."
"And the fact that he's marrying Edith Edelton probably has something to do with it too," Helen put in.
This is why Helen and Ruth were pointless as far as bridesmaids. They were also being maids in Edith's wedding as well.
"You don't have to invite her to the wedding do you?" Asked Maude.
"Afraid so," replied Samantha as she tried on a hat. "I really didn't want to but Cornelia is making me. She said it is only right since her and Peyton are engaged, and the Denardo family will be there because of Eugene. But Eugene and I are invited to Edith's wedding as well. But mine will be the best wedding. Wait until you see the cake I've picked out. It's going to have seven layers, each filled with a different filling."
"What kind of fillings?" Asked Ida.
"Nellie chose most of them. She took a big interest in the food so I let her handle most of it. After all I have been so busy with the guest list, the flowers, and my gown. The music is going to be glorious as well. Uncle Gard has hired a full dance orchestra for the reception, and for the ceremony I will have a brass quintet, and a string quartet. For the prelude and for the music during the dinner we are going to have a harp. My flowers are being imported. I found these soft peach roses at the florist but they are coming from Mexico."
"That sounds so elegant Samantha," Agnes gushed. "I don't think that Queen Victoria herself had a nicer wedding."
"Edith's wedding will be pretty grand," Ruth said.
"Oh hush Ruth it will not," said Ida.
"Even though it is in Mount Bedford the Royal Bedford is still a lovely and romantic place to have a wedding, and they will get a carriage ride through Mount Bedford with white horses."
"Big deal," said Maude. "We've all been in a carriage through Mount Bedford. Wow you get to go by Miss Crampton's Academy, Scholfield's Toy Store, the bakery, and Lessing's School for Boys."
"Her gown is all imported silk and was completely hand made," Ruth went on.
"Ruth just be quiet and try on your dress before I stuff it on you," replied Agatha as she threw Ruth her dress and led the parade of girls to the fitting rooms.