Page:Book of Etiquette, Volume 1, by Lilian Eichler.djvu/245



Although considerably less formal than dinner invitations, those of the luncheon follow them in wording. They are issued about ten days before the day set for the luncheon, if it is to be an elaborate, formal affair, and only in the name of the hostess, unless men are invited and the hostess's husband intends to be present. They are engraved on large square white cards, with the name of the person invited, the day and hour, written in by the hostess's own hand. The correct form follows, but it must be remembered that this form can be used only when the luncheon is an elaborate, formal occasion:

Very often a hostess invites friends and acquaintances to a luncheon for the purpose of presenting to them a certain visiting guest, and perhaps to attend, after the luncheon, a matinée planned for the purpose of enabling the newcomer to become better acquainted with the hostess's friends. In this case, an invitation like the one following should be used: