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The
young boys dressed as pages often took part in wedding
processions with the delicate duty of carrying and arranging
the train. This required several arduous rehearsals in order
that any awkwardness would be avoided. If the bride's train
was immensely long, the page carried it, either by lifting
it slightly or by carrying a great loop of ribbon through
which the end of the train was passed. Other times, the
pages merely walked behind the bride as she passed up the
aisle, and stood near to adjust her train as she turned to
leave the altar, a duty that was otherwise delegated upon
the first bridesmaid.
Many other little duties were assigned to the pages. If
ribbon was used across the aisles, the costumed little boys
were stationed there to lift it as the ushers passed. One of
the pages would also hold the bride's bouquet while the
ceremony was being performed; another would carry a plush
case for the prayer-book, if the bride wished to use one.
Finally, pages would gather up the ribbon, if it was drawn
the whole length of the aisle. In today’s weddings, many
brides select a charming little boy to be her ring bearer,
dressing him in a miniature tuxedo. |