Evening star., 1937-05-29
S e a t i n g
In Church
w edding g
Problem of Placing
Parents of Bride
and Groom.
BY EMILY POST,

nEAR MRS. POST: I am a little
confused about seating our fami-
lies and friends at church. There are
two diagrams in your book-one Of
the church that has a center aisle and
another one of church having two
main aisles and the center occupied
by double row of pews in a solid
block. Our church is like the latter,
and naturally I have studied that
diagram carefully. but I still can't
understand In the church with the
center aisle the brides family and
friends sit on the left facing the
chancel and the grooms family and
friends, of course, sit in the seats on
the right side. But in the two-aisle
church you have designated the re-
verse order of seating. In other words.
the brides family and friends sit in
the pews on both sides Of the right
aisle and the groom's family and
friends in the seats on both sides of
the left aisle. which is used for the
occasional. Will you clarity the rea-
son for this turned-about seating?
Answer: The seating in the diagram
is not really turned about" if you
realize that the seating must be ac-
cording to the position of the pews
on the aisle and not according to the
positions of the aisles in the church.
However, let me try to explain. Obvi-
iouSly, the peWs in the center are the
important ones, rather than those at
the side. and since the brides parents
occupy the first pew on the left side
of the aisle it is necessary that this
aisle be the one at the right because
the front pew on the left of the left
aisle would be side pew. For this same
reason the groom's parents sit in the
right-hand front pew on the left aisle
Conventionally, the procession goes
up the right, or brides" aisle, and
the occasional comes down the left, or
'groom's" aisle. Occasionally the di-
rection of the procession is reversed
in order to allow the bride to face her
family as she comes down the aisle
after the ceremony and to allow the
groom to stand directly in front of
his own family as he greets his bride
instead of far over at the right. But
this is not the correct arrangement
Sometimes in double-aisle church
only one aisle is used, and in this case,
if it be the right-hand one, the
room's family sit way over at the
side Or if the left-hand aisle be
chosen, then the brides family Is far
over at the side.
Dear Mrs. Post: Is an usher ex-
pected to ask a guest whom he does
not know, Are you friend of the
bride or groom?" so that he will know
on which side to seat her2
Answer: Yes, always.
NEAR MRS. POST: I am moving
- my Offices into the city, which is
about so miles from this town. I
would like very much to send an
nouncements of this change Of busi-
ness address. May these be sent not
only to the customers on my records
but also to people who are potential
business prospects? Another thing,
my wife and 1 have many acquaint-
anoes whom we have met when taking
various cruises and trips abroad.
Could this same announcement be
sent to these people, with whom we
never correspond except at Christmas
time, and in viev of the fact that we
want to use these announcements for
both business and private purposes
may the business and house address
both be included on them? Or would
you suggest having two separate an
nouncements printed? Please give
the forms for the combined announce
ment or for separate cards.
Answer: I don't think that you
could possibly combine both purposes.
Your business cards may be sent to
everybody in the telephone directory
anywhere, whether you know them or
don't know them. Your personal card
may be sent only to those who are
your personal acquaintances and
friends. To your personal friends
send your ordinary viSiting card with
your new address on it. Correct word
ing Of the business card would be-:
John A. Blank
Attorney-at-law
announces the removal Of his offices to
IS Main Street
New City
Telephone: Blank 900
(Copyright, 1879