d some little token for the ushers.

The hostess (who invites) requests the groom to furnish her with two
lists of names--one list of those of his friends whom he wishes to be
present to witness the ceremony, and another list of those whom he
would like to see at the reception also. These, with similar lists of
the bride's friends, make up the number of guests to be invited.
Wedding invitations are usually sent out two weeks before the day fixed
for the ceremony. The invitation is engraved and printed upon a note
sheet, in handsome plain script, the lines broken to give distinction
to the several ideas, and the wording made as terse as possible. The
formula is nearly unvarying:

MR. AND MRS. GEORGE LATHROP
request the pleasure of your company
(or the honor of your presence)
at the marriage of their daughter,
MARY ADELAIDE,
to
MR. WILLIAM HENRY BISHOP,
at St. Philip's Church,
On Wednesday evening, October twelfth, at seven o'clock.

If the marriage is to be solemnized at home the date follows the names
in succession, and the place of residence is given last. The
invitation may vary, "the wedding reception of their daughter," etc.
Or, accompanying the church wedding invitation may be a square card
bearing the lines: "Reception from half-past seven until nine o'clock,"
with place of residence on the line below.

Also, to avoid a crowd at the church, a smaller card is sometimes sent
with the invitations bearing, for example, the words: "Please present
this card at St. Philip's Church, Wednesday evening, October twelfth,
at seven o'clock." This card of admission is also given to
dependents--the domestics of the family or such persons as may be
entitled to the kind notice, but who are not, strictly speaking,
invited guests. The number of such cards should never be greater than
the comfortable capacity of the church, lest their original purpose be
defeated.

In case the ceremony is private the immediate family and chosen friends
are invited verbally. It is then optional whether or not a formal
announcement shall be made to a wider circle of friends by sending out
engraved cards the day after the ceremony. These are, like the
invitations, printed on note sheets, and are phrased briefly, as

MR. AND MRS. GEORGE LATHROP
announce the marriage of their daughter,