Photographs and Publicity

Arrangements should be made two or three weeks before the ceremony for a good photographer to attend. His services will cost two guineas, or more.

Three separate groupings are usually taken—the bridal couple; bride and bridegroom with parents, bridesmaids and best man; and bride and bridegroom in the central fore­ground with other members of the party around them.

Photographs of the bride should be taken separately, either before she leaves to be married, or a few days before the wedding, when she can pose specially and make sure of looking her best.

If her photograph is taken before the ceremony, the bride should make sure that her bridal bouquet is available at home, and she should see that the photographer is at hand some time before she is dressed. If her photograph is taken several days before the wedding, she will need a duplicate bouquet, made perhaps of artificial flowers. As against this disadvantage she can be sure that her bridal photograph will be taken!

The photographs can be taken at a studio after the wedding, if preferred.

Wedding photographs have become an important part of the ceremony, and a wedding without photographs would now be incomplete.

NEWSPAPER ANNOUNCEMENTS

The bride to be may or may not wish for the date of her wedding to appear in the newspapers. If she desires it, the announcement should read as follows:

"The marriage of Eileen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Smith, 67 High Street, London, and Mr. Ken Ray, son of Mr. and Mrs. Basil Ray, of Carlisle, will take place on Friday, June 14, 19—, at 4 p.m. in St. John's Church."

This may be varied as required: the bride may wish to mention the reception, or to say that the ceremony is restricted.

If the bride and groom live in different districts, as is often the case, the announcement should be sent to the newspapers in both localities. If the newspapers concerned are published weekly, this information should be supplied several days, preferably a week, in advance. It is no use sending such an announcement a day before a local weekly is published, and expecting it to appear in that week's issue. The paper has probably already been printed.

The announcement of the wedding may be made any time in advance that the bridal couple desire, whether one month, or six, or more. On the whole it is best not to make the announcement too far ahead, as something may occur to cause a postponement.

The account of the wedding should be written up at length: it will probably be cut, but if the bridal couple are socially prominent, or if there is a dearth of weddings at the time, the editor may print a full report.

The news item might be worded as follows:

The wedding took place at St. Paul's Church on May 30, between Mr. James Dukes, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Stuart Dukes, of Virginia Water, Surrey, and Miss Judith Mayweather, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Mayweather of The Lodge, Woking.

The Vicar, Rev. Wilfred Chase, officiated. Given away by her father, the bride wore a dress of white net, embroidered with daisies, and a matching veil topped with a wreath of white daisies. She carried a bouquet of white tulips.

There were four bridesmaids in dresses of pastel net, with hats and shoes to match, carrying chains of daisies. Mr. Stephen Dukes, brother of the bridegroom, was best man, and a reception was held at the house of the bride's parents, after which the bride and bridegroom left for their honeymoon, which is being spent in Sussex.

About thirty presents were received, including a refectory table and a set of Wedgwood china.

THE SOCIAL COLUMN

If the marriage announcement is to appear in the social column as distinct from the news column (in which case it will be paid for) it will be worded somewhat as follows:
Smith—Jones:

On Tuesday, February 20 at St. John's Church, by the Rev. Norbert Dodson, George, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Smith, of Newlands Hall, Derby, to Kathleen Ann, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Murray-Jones, of 18 Margaret Mews, Kensington.

Individual photographs of the prospective bride and groom may be sent with the announcement of the wedding date, and a wedding photograph sent with the report of the actual ceremony. A brief caption, giving the principal facts of the wedding, should be written lightly on the back of the photo­graph (which should be glossy, as glossy prints are most suitable for newspaper reproduction).

If the bridal pair are socially prominent, it may not be necessary for them to send reports or photographs to the press. In that case, the newspapers might send their own reporters and photographers.

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