Gilpin observer., 1899-06-15
Rules for a Wedding.

were issued. That rule is now a dead
letter, and up to the day before her
wedding young woman is seen every
where, says Millicent Arrowpoint in
the Record. OF course this is the nat
ural result of the recent md reason
able revolt against putting together
an elaborate trousseau. Smart girls
In New York society, FOR instance,
who are marrying this spring have
provided themselves With suitable
wardrobes for the season und nothing
more, and this, with the getting OF
the wedding dress, has left them time
and strength for ali the passing gay
cites of the moment.
Another new and interesting point
in the present busy hymenial season Is
the very early sending out of invita-
tions. Cards are posted just a month
before the day of the wedding, and
rule somehow has arisen ordaining
that directly upon receipt Of the invl-
tation the wedding present must be
sent, or within four days after receiv-
ing the invitation. BY this means the
bride is not troubled with the strag-
Cling in of gifts up to the very day
of the ceremony and heavy demand
on her vocabulary of thanks all in tie
week preceding her marriage and may
be the week after.
There is also another deep-laid de-
sign in sending out invitations so
early. A bride who posts her cards
four weeks before the great day fully
aynpntS hpr friandS fn call her
promptly and by skiliful conversation
acquire pretty clear notion of what
she really wants in the way Of gift.
Relatives and intimate friends are ex-
pected to openly solicit her wishes on
that point, or you can take aside her
Mother, who knows the young lady's
wishes and will considerably give
helpful tips in silver, bric-a-brac, pic
lures. jewelry, etc.
To her really close friends girl OF
course writes notes announcing her
engagement and expecting in return
not only congratulations, but an en-
gagement souvenir.
By men the occasion can be marked
with flowers, but by women the me
mento now takes the form of a pitch
er. In glass, gold, silver, pewter and
all the varieties of porcelain these
pitchers are given, nearly all Of them
small and engraved or painted with
some appropriate sentiment express
ing good wishes. The little jug is al
ways sent full of flowers or bonbons,
and the giving of one Of these when
the engagement is announced by no
means absolves the giver from the
duty and expense of a wedding pres
ent.
Only recently have we adopted the
English custom of displaying the we'd
ding gifts. and this is done just two
days before the marriage, in the IL
brary, and a luncheon is given or re-
freshments served to those hidden to
view the jewels and silver, etc. Every
body who has contributed gift, of
course, is asked, and the invitations
consist only of the young lady's visit
ing card, on which is written below
her name the words sat home," then,
in the left-hand lower corner, "to
view the wedding presents from to
g." Every one is supposed to bring
his or her card along and turn it in
to the servant at the door as
voucher of ones identity.
For this spring a new type of an
nouncement card has been issued very
successfully. 1t consists of small
bristol-bolrd square bearing the
maiden name and address of the lady,
tied by a bit of white ribbon to a
larger card, on which is engraved her
married name, coupled with that of
her husband, and then below their
address and day at home.
Too many persons are negligent in
acknowledging the receipt of a we'd
ding invitation, or are puzzled to know
be treated, accepted or regretted. One
fixed rule to keep in mind is the i'm
portance Of acknowledging this cour-
tesy and doing SO promptly If asked
to the church only answer by the ac-
cepted formula in the third person,
saying "Mr. and Mrs. Blank accept the
pleasure of Mr.. and Mrs. So-and-So's
kind invitation to the marriage of
their daughter on June 81, at $3.50
ciock, at ot' Joun S cnulcn, or 'Mr.
and Mrs. Blank regret that illness Tor
absence) will prevent their acceptance,
etc." This same phraslng Is employed
when the invitation is to the church
and the house after the ceremony. the
sentence, "and to the breakfast Tor re-
ception) at O'clock" added at the
end of the page on which the reply
Is given.
1t is now regarded as not only in
considerate but distinct Ill omen for
the bride to keep her guests and
fiancee waiting one moment over the
time set for the ceremony