Fees
CHRISTENING. See CHRISTENING—FEES
WEDDING. The wedding fee, preferably gold or clean bills in sealed envelope, is given by the best man to the officiating clergyman. Custom leaves the amount to the groom, who should give at least five dollars or more, in proportion to his income and social position. The clergyman usually gives the fee to his wife.
A fee should also be paid to the sexton and the organist
FIANCE, MOURNING FOR. In the event of the death of a woman’s betrothed shortly before the date of the wedding, she may wear black for a short period or full mourning for a year.
FINGER-BOWL. The fingers should be dipped in the water and gently rubbed together, and dried on the napkins.
FIRST CALLS. Newcomers and brides are called upon first.
After a country visit, the visitor should call first upon the hostess when the latter returns to town.
Other things being equal, the younger or unmarried woman calls first upon the older or married woman.
A woman returning to town before another one would make the first call.
If one woman issues her AT HOME card before another, she should receive the first call.
FISH should be eaten with a fork held in the right hand and a piece of bread held in the left hand. The bones should be removed from the mouth with the aid of a fork or with the fingers. If by the latter, great delicacy should be used.
FLOWER GIRL. The flower girls—one or two, as may be the case—follow the maid of honor up the isle and strew flowers in the path of the bride, who follows after.
In the procession down the isle they should
follow the bride.
Flower girls and pages are not used now
as much as formerly.
FLOWERS. Between friends, flowers may be sent as an expression of sympathy in either joy or sorrow.
BIRTH, ANNOUNCEMENT OF. If wishing to send congratulations after a birth, cards should be left in person or sent by a messenger. Cut flowers may be sent with the card.
BRIDE. If she wishes, a bride may present flowers to her bridesmaids, and also to the best man and ushers.
CHRISTENING. A christening ceremony offers a
good opportunity for the guests who desire
to present flowers to the mother. This is
not obligatory, however, and must remain a
matter of personal taste.
CONDOLENCE CALLS. When making a condolence
call upon a very intimate friend, cut
flowers may be left in person or sent,
together with a card, unless request has been
made to send none.
DEBUTANTE. Friends should send flowers to a
debutante at a formal tea given in her honor.
ENGAGEMENT. Flowers should accompany the greetings from the parents of the man to the parents of the woman.
FUNERALS. See FUNERALS—FLOWERS.
GROOM. He pays for the bridal bouquet carried by the bride at the wedding ceremony, and, if he wishes, for the bouquets carried by the bridesmaids.
MEN. If well acquainted with a debutante’s family, a man may send her flowers at the time of her debut.
After a slightly intimate acquaintance, a man can present flowers to a young unmarried woman as a token of sympathy either of joy or sorrow.
It is not usual for a man to send flowers to a woman who is a mere acquaintance.
BALLS. It is permissible for a man, if he wishes, to send flowers to a woman he is to escort to a ball.
THEATRE OR OPERA. It is permissible, but not necessary, for a man to send flowers to the woman he is to take to the theatre or to the opera.
WEDDING TRIP. The best man should arrange beforehand all the details of the trip—such as the tickets, parlor-car, flowers, baggage, etc.
PALL-BEARERS. See PALL-BEARERS—FLOWERS.