The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1886-11-04
WEDDING ETIQUETTE.
False and Loose Methods-Hollow
Mockeries and Shams.

fdlSe anu AOOoc
Mockeries and Shams.
Exception is taken in high quarters
to the statement in last Sundays Times
that wedding invitations do not require
an answer. They certainly do not re-
| quire an answer as a rule, and as a
general thing are not answered. But
| there are exceptions. 1t is generally
understood that an invitation to a
church wedding does not require any
acknowledgement, though many con-
tend that it is only optional, and
| though the person invited is free to
take no notice of the invitation it is as
we'll to do so and more polite. As a
matter of fact, the number of people
who acknowledge invitations to church
weddings is exceedingly small. 1t is
stoutly commended, however and with
much force, that invitations to a we'd
ding aG home should be acknowledged
and either accepted or declined, for the
reason that on such occasions some
| sort of entertainment is always pro-
| vided, and it is necessary to know how
many to provide for, especially when
the number of invited guests is likely to
be large. Yet there are many who
think that invitations simply to a we'd
ding ceremony in the daytime, when
there is no regular reception, do not
demand a formal acknowledgment.
1t is. of course, better etiquette on
such occasions to send a card.
The whole difficulty about wedding
etiquette and the difference of opinion
that exists on so many points is the
result of the false and loose methods and
the hollow mockeries and shams into
| which people have been drifting for
several years. Weddings, which were
once the most charming as well as the
most beautiful of social events inciden-
tai to the home life, have been allowed
to become to 4 great extent mere spec
tacles for the exhibition of vanity.
| The bride commissions some one to
look after her dresses, the bridegroom
appoints some one to hire carriages,
employ clergymen, ETC., and the bride
family put the whole arrangement of
the house, the church, the feast, etc,
in the. hands of some caterer or decora-
tor. The getting up of the invitations
is given to an expert in such matters IN
some shop. and very often the invita-
tions are sent out wholesale by some
one who is employed for the purpose.
People invited 90 or not as they feel
inclined, and 90 to shops and order
presents sent in the most %perfunctory
way, so that a bride is Us likely as not to
get twenty vases, or 4 dozen lamps, or
fifty spoons of different patterns.
Where presents are ent they should, if
possible, be sent early. so as to give the
bride-elect plenty of time to acknowl-
edge them; and if worth sending at all
they deserve that some time and care
should be given to their selection. 1t
is a common thing to hear brides say
that of all their wedding presents they
appreciate and value most the few ap-
propriate and often inexpensive things
that come from their intimate friends.
1t should not be forgotten that Il we'd
ding is the first, choicest and nos inn
portant of all social incidents, and that
an invitation to one is one of the great
est compliments that can be conferred.
Invitations to balls, dinners and parties
may be perfunctory and meaningless.
but almost. without exception it is only
friends or acquaintance who are hon
ored who are invited to a wedding. and
a point should always be strained to
make some sort of acknowledgment.
-Phi0deIhiG Times.