Volume I Part 4 (1/2)
The wedding invitation demands two envelopes. The first, matching in texture and quality the paper of the invitation, is used as a protection for the card. It remains unsealed. The second envelope is a trifle larger, though it must also be of a similar texture. Into this envelope the card and the inner envelope are slipped for mailing.
The large envelope is sealed and stamped. It bears the complete name and address of the person for whom it is intended, while the inner envelope bears only the name. The church cards are enclosed with the wedding invitation if there is necessity for them. And if there is to be a wedding reception to which this particular guest is invited, a special card is also enclosed. The ”at home” cards of the bridal couple are sent separately after the wedding.
ADDRESSING THE ENVELOPES
The wedding invitation is addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Blank. The expression ”and family” following the name of a husband and wife is not used in polite society. If there are unmarried daughters to be invited, a separate invitation is addressed to ”The Misses Blank.” Sons may be invited either by sending a separate invitation to each one, or addressing one invitation to ”The Messrs. Blank.” All these invitations, in their proper envelopes, addressed appropriately, are placed in the large envelope for mailing. This single envelope is addressed in full to the matron of the family, ”Mrs. Henry Mason Blank.”
INVITATION TO CHURCH WEDDING
The invitation to a church wedding is worded with a bit more formality than the invitation to the home ceremony. It is sent out two or three weeks before the day set for the wedding. The church wedding invitation requires no written acknowledgment, except in those rare cases when there is a request for it. Instead of the initials, R.S.V.P., it is better form to say simply, ”Please reply.” Invitations for the home wedding, of course, require prompt acknowledgment.
Following are two forms of church wedding invitations which may be used:
_Mr. and Mrs. John Grey Taylor request the honor of .............................
presence at the marriage of their daughter Helen Marie with Mr. Raymond Mitch.e.l.l on Thursday, the ninth of May at four o'clock St. Thomas's Church New York_
_Mr. and Mrs. John Grey Taylor request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Helen Marie and Mr. Raymond Mitch.e.l.l on Friday, the fourth of June at six o'clock at the Presbyterian Church Boston_
In the first invitation, the name of the guest is written by hand in the s.p.a.ce left for that purpose. The use of ”marriage and” and ”marriage with” is now customary in preference to ”marriage to.” All three words are in good form, however, and any one of them may be used.
Below is a model engraved admission card, used when the church wedding is to be a large one and tickets of admission are necessary. The correct size is denoted:
_PLEASE PRESENT THIS CARD at St. Michael's Church on Monday, the fifth of May_
INVITATIONS TO HOME WEDDING
For the home wedding, invitations are engraved as for the church wedding, but for the phrase ”request the honor of your presence” the phrase ”request the pleasure of your company” is subst.i.tuted, though ”honor” may be used in place of ”pleasure” if one prefers.
As in the case of the church wedding, a s.p.a.ce may be left for the name of the guest to be filled in, or the form that follows may be used:
_Mr. and Mrs. Robert Guy Brown request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Helen Rose and Mr. Henry Van Buren on Tuesday afternoon, June the first at four o'clock Twenty-two West End Avenue_
When the wedding takes place in the country, or a guest at a great distance is invited, a small card like the one following is generally included:
_Train leaves Grand Central Station for Glenville at 11:42 A.M._
_Returning train leaves Glenville for New York at 6:10 P.M._
Wealthy people often place a special train at the disposal of special city friends whose presence is eagerly desired at the wedding. A card, like the one following, is enclosed with the invitation, and it serves as a pa.s.s, ent.i.tling the bearer to a seat in the reserved train. Here is the form most generally used:
_The special train leaves Grand Central Station for Glenville at 11:42 A.M.
Leaves Glenville for Grand Central Station at 6:10 P.M.
Please present this card at station door_
WEDDING IN A FRIEND'S HOME
Sometimes, either because of convenience or personal preference, arrangements are made to have a wedding take place at the home of a friend or relative. The following wording is suggested as the correct form for the invitation: