"How shall I announce my engagement?" The engaged girl we have always
with us, and the next step after the engagement is the announcement
of it. Most girls like to have some kind of little social function to
break the news to their special circle of friends. Usually a mother or
a sister or a chum does the entertaining, though a girl herself may
perfectly well plan and carry out such a party.
There are several sorts of affairs which may serve as a setting for
an announcement. A favorite kind is a luncheon for a group of girl
friends. Even less work is an afternoon tea and to that a girl's men
friends may be asked also, though it's really easier to have girls
only. Another kind of announcement party is the evening affair
to which both men and girl friends are invited and at which the
announcement should be "sprung" as a total surprise as in all other
announcement affairs.
After the engagement is known, immediately the friends of the
bride-to-be begin to think of showers for her. One friend or a group
of friends or her club may be hostesses and give such an affair.
There are different ways of planning them. For instance, they may be
appropriate to the month, like a Christmas Tree Shower in December or
an Indian Summer Shower in November or a Rainy Day Shower in April. Or
they may take as keynotes the engaged girl's special likes, as in the
case of an apple shower, a kitty shower or an old rose shower. And
then again, they may be just plain, ordinary, handkerchief showers, or
linen showers, or kitchen showers, with an original touch somewhere.
"A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME" LUNCHEON
At a recent engagement luncheon the announcement was made in a unique
way.
A large wooden embroidery hoop was hung from the ceiling over the
table and in the ring perched a gaily painted wooden parrot, the kind
that rocks back and forth when touched.
From the parrot streamers of colored baby ribbon led to the different
places, and tied to the ends of the ribbons were tiny notes in
envelopes. These on being opened showed the names of the engaged
couple and a short rhyme reading thus:
_A little bird told me
A very nice thing,
That Randolph gave Sally
A diamond ring_.
The refreshments followed somewhat the parrot color scheme, with
halves of grapefruit garnished with cherries, chicken à la King,
pimento, walnut and cream cheese salad, orange ice, and little cakes
with colored frosting.
Small celluloid parrots perched on the rims of the glasses were
appropriate souvenirs.