It's elitist, but boy, do people love elitism. Nowhere in the paper is there an explanation. In the fall, spring, and summer, The Times receives about 250 submissions a week, according to Times spokeswoman Nancy Nielsen. During an eight-week period from April to June, the paper ran an average of 40 announcements each Sunday. Hold the wedding until winter and the chances rise slightly - to 19 percent.
Readers have their own theories on who gets in.
We asked Times society news editor Robert Woletz to give us some insight, but he declined our request for an interview. Nielsen provided us with written answers to our queries. First, because so many readers think a fancy job is a must, we asked if you have to have any job. Six percent were in graduate school. Times staff members have met with minority organizations to encourage their members to submit announcements, she says.