How to Write Letters (Formerly The Book of Letters) Part 9

_Mr. and Mrs. Philip Brewster Request the Pleasure of Your Company at the Christening of Their Son on Sunday Afternoon, April Seventeenth At Three o'clock at the Church of the Redeemer_

_Accepting_

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Elliot accept with pleasure Mr. and Mrs. Brewster's kind invitation to attend the christening of their son on Sunday afternoon, April seventeenth at three o'clock

A reason for not accepting may or may not be given--it is better to put in a reason if you have one.

_Regretting_

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Elliott regret that a previous engagement prevents their accepting Mr. and Mrs. Brewster's kind invitation to the christening of their son on Sunday afternoon, April seventeenth

INFORMAL INVITATIONS

_For a wedding_

An engraved invitation always implies a somewhat large or elaborate formal function. An informal affair requires simply a written invitation in the first person.

The informal wedding is one to which are invited only the immediate family and intimate friends. The reason may be simply the desire for a small, quiet affair or it may be a recent bereavement. The bride-to-be generally writes these invitations. The form may be something like this:

(A)

June 2, 1922.

Dear Mrs. Smith,

On Wednesday, June the twelfth, at three o'clock Mr. Brewster and I are to be married. The ceremony will be at home and we are asking only a few close friends. I hope that you and Mr.

Smith will be able to come.

Yours very sincerely, Dorothy Evans.

(B)

June 16, 1922.

Dear Mary,

Owing to the recent death of my sister, Mr. Brewster and I are to be married quietly at home. The wedding will be on Wednesday, June the twentieth, at eleven o'clock. We are asking only a few intimate friends and I shall be so glad if you will come.

Sincerely yours, Dorothy Evans.

_Accepting_

June 7, 1922.

Dear Dorothy,

We shall be delighted to attend your wedding on Wednesday, June the twelfth, at three o'clock.

We wish you and Mr. Brewster every happiness.

Sincerely yours, Helen Gray Smith.

_Regretting_

June 4, 1922.

Dear Dorothy,

I am so sorry that I shall be unable to attend your wedding.

The "Adriatic" is sailing on the tenth and Father and I have engaged pa.s.sage.

Let me wish you and Mr. Brewster every happiness.

Sincerely yours, Mary Lyman.

_For dinners and luncheons_

An informal invitation to dinner is sent by the wife, for her husband and herself, to the wife. This invitation must include the latter's husband. It is simply a friendly note. The wife signs her Christian name, her maiden name (or more usually the initial of her maiden name), and her married name.

Five Hundred Park Avenue, December 5th, 1922.

My dear Mrs. Trent,

Will you and Mr. Trent give us the pleasure of your company at a small dinner on Tuesday, December the twelfth, at seven o'clock?

I hope you will not be otherwise engaged on that evening as we are looking forward to seeing you.

Very sincerely yours, Katherine G. Evans.

_To cancel an informal dinner invitation_

My dear Mrs. Trent,

On account of the sudden death of my brother, I regret to be obliged to recall the invitation for our dinner on Tuesday, December the twelfth.

Sincerely yours, Katherine G. Evans.

December 8, 1922.

_Accepting_