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.”