WHO SHOULD BK BRIDESMAIDS. 311 



Who should be asked to the Wedding. 



The wedding should take place at the house of the bride's parents or 

 guardians. The parties who ought to be asked are the father and mother 

 of the gentleman, the brothers and sisters (their wives and husbands also, 

 if married), and indeed the immediate relations and favoured friends of 

 both parties. Old family friends on the bride's side should also receive 

 invitations the rationale or original intention of this wedding assemblage 

 ig to give publicity to the fact that the bride is leaving her paternal 

 home with the consent and approbation of her parents. 



On this occasion the bridegroom has the privilege of asking any friends 

 he may choose to the wedding ; but no friend has a right to feel affronted 

 at not being invited, since, were all the friends on either side assembled, 

 the wedding breakfast would be an inconveniently crowded reception 

 rather than an impressive ceremonial. It is, however, considered a matter 

 of friendly attention on the part of those who cannot be invited, to be 

 present at the ceremony in the church. 



Who should be Bridesmaids, 



The bridesmaids should include the unmarried sisters of the bride ; but 

 it is considered an anomaly for an elder sister to perform this function. 

 The pleasing novelty for several years past of an addition to the numK>r 

 of bridesmaids, varying from two to eight, and sometimes more, has added 

 greatly to the interest in weddings, the bride being thus enabled to ditl 

 a portion of her own happiness among the most intimate of her ynun 

 friends. One lady is always appointed principal bridesmaid, and has the 

 lu-ide in her charge; it is also her duty to take care that the other l>ri 

 maids have th- wedding favours in readiness. On the second bridesmaid 

 Ives, with her principal, the duty of sending out the cards; and on th- 

 third bridesmaid, in conjunction with tin- remaining beauties of her choir, 

 the oneroitt <tlice of attending to certain ministrations and m\ 011- 



.vith the wedding <-ake. 



Of the Bridegrooiusiueu, 



;i hridegroom to 1..- m-ly particular in t : ion 



of his friend- \vh, u groomsmen, are t<> I"- hi- companions and assistant- 



Their numl.er is limited to that of the 



bridesmaids <>n,- for each. It is unnecessary to add tha 'Much of 



1 {.lea-lire of the day will depend on their proper mating. Young 



