Dear Bridal Party:

From time to time I will be dropping everyone a line or two to keep each of
you informed about how the wedding plans are progressing so that no one
thinks I have forgotten them and no one is in the dark. Bridesmaids: Each
bridesmaid will receive her dress via mail from Priscilla of Boston sometime
in January. This will give each of you enough time to have the dress
"professionally" altered if need be. The dresses are chiffon "Priscilla"
dresses and can be worn after the wedding. The right shoulder is bare and
there is no sleeve on the left arm. Each has its own cape, which goes almost
to the floor. The two matrons of honor will be in silver and the four
bridesmaids in peppermint green. As of this date, I have not decided whether
the two in silver will wear green gloves and the four in green silver
gloves, but long gloves will be worn. I strongly suggest that each person
shops now for the typical cloth "closed-toe" shoe. Keep the heel size
reasonable-of course, no platforms of any kind. Anyone having trouble with
their legs should wear support hose.

Ushers: Each usher will be dressed identically to the groom, best man, and
the head groomsman: black tails. Be sure you have black silk socks and black
dress shoes polished to a high shine.

Reception Rehearsal: On Saturday afternoon (early) we will go to Powers
Auditorium to practice for the reception that night after the wedding
ceremony. Why? Well, there is a long staircase at the auditorium that will
be put to full use: Each bridal-party couple will be introduced separately
and will proceed down the first half of the staircase (accompanied by
music). Upon reaching the platform in the middle of the stairs, the girl
will be required to "swirl" from the right side of the steps and move to the
left side, and her partner (an usher) will move to the right; then they will
proceed down the second half of the stairs and take their positions for the
Bridal Dance.

Dancing: I will try to find a choreographer to help with the Bridal Dance-
but each person can please do his or her part by learning to waltz correctly
in three-quarter time. Now, when I say waltz, I do not in any way mean two
steps here and two steps there, always standing in one spot. When we waltz
it will be to "Tales of the Vienna Woods." Each usher will be twirling his
partner while moving in a large circle and maintaining even spacing between
each couple. Turn on some old-time movies and you can see how it is supposed
to be done. But, PLEASE, PLEASE, practice now! Suggestion: Go take dancing
lessons!! That's what we have to do!! Also, there will be some polkas, the
Charleston, jitterbug, and others. These are not "required" dances. There
will not be any up-to-date dances. I personally dislike them and think they
look terrible-they simply are not dances, in my estimation.

Photographs: There will be plenty. First and foremost, there will be "sound
motion pictures" taken throughout the wedding ceremony, during the Bridal
Dance, and while each bridal-party couple walks down the steps at the
reception. Flash pictures will be taken in the church ONLY until my father
and I arrive at the altar-after that there will be NO flash pictures; the
official photographer will be taking time exposures. I believe it is the
height of ill manners for any guest to leave his or her seat and proceed to
the altar to take pictures.

Dress Requirements: Makeup-It is requested that you wear a little more than
usual because of the photographs and the movie pictures. Any ladies with
short eyelashes are requested to wear either false eyelashes or go to a
beauty parlor and have false eyelashes put in one by one. The matrons of
honor wearing the silver dresses must have a lot of pink in their makeup.
That is straight from Priscilla. Be sure that each of the four other
bridesmaids has green eye shadow and that every one wears blusher, powder,
eyebrow pencil, foundation, lipstick, and mascara-the works!! There will be
two experts in the field of makeup to help anyone who needs it or wants it.
As for the men, ho, ho, you will have your turn also. If you have a shiny
face, be sure to use some of your wife's face powder to take the shine away.

For the wives and husbands of those who are in the wedding party: Ladies-the
color of the bridesmaids' dresses has been stated, and all that I ask is
that your dress be a color that will not contrast with the peppermint green,
that it is of full length, and fairly simple in line.

Also, please do not wear an extensive amount of jewelry, as the bridesmaids
will possibly wear only small pearl earrings. Be sure each of you has
gloves. You need wear nothing in your hair.

Men-Amy Vanderbilt's book on etiquette says that anyone receiving a formal
invitation is to wear "black tie," which means tuxedo. Now, this could get
rather touchy, so I will put it this way: If you do not wish to wear a tux,
or do not wish to take on the expense of renting one, it will be perfectly
fine to wear a "black" suit, white shirt with French cuffs, black silk
socks, black shoes, and a black-and-silver tie. I hope this doesn't
inconvenience too many, but I would hate to look at color pictures of the
head table and see some men in black tails and others in brown or blue
suits!!

Children at the Wedding or Reception: It is my wish, and also Z.'s [the
fiance], that there be no children at the wedding ceremony or at the
reception. For purposes of clarification, a child is anyone eighteen years
or younger. There are many reasons for this request, but the best is the
simple fact that I don't have the money to invite children who only pick at
their food, cry, run around, etc. One friend of mine, who married about a
year ago, says that when she got her wedding pictures back, there wasn't one
that didn't have a kid in it and she was disgusted. Don't get me wrong,
children are great. But there is a time and a place for them and this isn't
it. This is an adult, ultra-formal affair and I want to keep it that way.

One point of etiquette: When a formal invitation is sent out with Mr. and
Mrs. Paul J. Smith on the outside envelope and Mr. and Mrs. Smith on the
inside envelope, that is exactly what it means-only Mr. and Mrs. Smith are
being invited and no one else; no others in the family, no guests who might
be visiting at the time, etc. If asked about guests, you can
"diplomatically" pass this on.

I know it sounds like I am being a real fusspot, but I would hate to tell
each of you what the cost is per person just for the reception alone. I'm
doing this for my friends and relatives, for all of us to have a good time,
but since there are only so many hours in the day, and I already have three
jobs, and I am not a Vanderbilt, some lines must be drawn, and I hope
everyone understands.

I've never wanted a small country-type wedding-Z. says this is no wedding
but rather a coronation!! Well, not quite. But it sure has been fun so far,
and I just cannot wait for everyone to arrive and for all our friends and
relatives to have one great, fabulous night. Everyone think positive and
keep your fingers crossed. Pray-that will bring more help.

Won't each of you come with Z. and me to fantasyland-a place where dreams
come true and fun abounds for everyone? Where the bride is Cinderella and
the groom is Cinderfella for an evening. You are going to attend a ball at
"Buckingham Palace" (pretend) and the King and Queen have invited only
"royalty"-YOU! This will be a time to remember when you were courting the
person to whom you are now married-a time to take a second honeymoon. We
want everyone to be as happy as we are and to rekindle (add extra "fire" to)
their own marriages. If you have a happy marriage now (which I know you all
do), we expect the Palace to be really electrified with all that LOVE. May
your every dream come true!

Love,
X