to be of substantial value, and
there is a general reluctance felt to offering her trifles, even if
expensive ones, such as a girl-bride would appreciate; not so a married
lady of social standing.

* * * * *

=On arriving at the House= where the wedding luncheon or reception is to
be held, the gentlemen should leave their hats in the hall. The ladies
should not remove their bonnets or hats at a wedding luncheon or
reception, neither should the bridesmaids do so.

Gentlemen should take off their gloves at wedding luncheons, but it is
optional whether ladies do so or not.

At receptions it is optional with both ladies and gentlemen whether they
take off their gloves or not.

The guests who have not already had an opportunity of speaking to the
bride and bridegroom, on being ushered into the drawing-room, where the
company assembles, should shake hands with them, having first gone
through that ceremony with the host and hostess, if they have not
already done so.

Previous to luncheon being announced the bride's father or mother should
tell the principal of the gentlemen present whom to take down to
luncheon. But this only applies to a sit-down luncheon.

At standing-up luncheons the guests are not sent in in couples, but go
in as they please, even two or three ladies together, and little or no
precedency, bridal or otherwise, is followed as a general rule.

The luncheon should be served in the dining-room, library, or large
marquee, as the case may be.

The bride's mother and the bridegroom's mother should take precedence of
all other ladies present on the occasion of a wedding luncheon.

* * * * *

=At strictly Family Gatherings the Guests should go in to Luncheon in
the following order:=--The bride and bridegroom. The bride's father with
the bridegroom's mother. The bridegroom's father with the bride's
mother. The best man with the head bridesmaid. The remaining bridesmaids
with the gentlemen who are to take them in to luncheon.

The rest of the company should follow in the wake of the bridesmaids.
The bride should take the bridegroom's left arm.

Sitting-down luncheons and standing-up luncheons are equally
fashionable, although the latter are far more general, and little or no
bridal precedency is observed. When a standing-up luncheon is given,
small tables are arranged for the convenience of the bridal party on one
side of the room, while a