University of Virginia Library

SELECTING THE BRIDAL PARTY

AS soon as the engagement has been announced it is the duty of the prospective bride to select a maid-of-honor and eight or ten bridesmaids, while the groom must choose his best man and ushers. In making these selections it should be carefully borne in mind that no wedding party is complete without the following:

• 1 bridesmaid who danced twice with the Prince of Wales.
• 2 Bridesmaids who never danced more than once with anybody.
• 1 bridesmaid who doesn't "Pet."
• 1 bridesmaid who was expelled from Miss Spence's.
• 1 bridesmaid who talks "Southern."
• 1 bridesmaid who met Douglas Fairbanks once.
• 1 bridesmaid who rowed on the crew at Wellesley.
• 1 usher who doesn't drink anything.
• 9 ushers who drink anything.

In some localities, following the announcement, it is customary for the bride's friends,

to give for her a number of "showers." These are for the purpose of providing her with various necessities for her wedded household life. These affairs should be informal and only her dearest or wealthiest friends should be invited. A clever bride will generally arrange secretly for several of these "showers" by promising a certain percentage (usually 15% of the gross up to $500.00 and 25% bonus on all over that amount) to the friend who gives the party. Some of the more customary "showers" of common household articles for the new bride are toothpaste, milk of magnesia, screen doors, copies of Service's poems, Cape Cod lighters, pictures of "Age of Innocence" and back numbers of the "Atlantic Monthly."