Wedding invitation etiquette is a thing of the past. You can word it how you want as long as everything you need is included then you are on the right tracks! However, sometimes we feel more comfortable sticking to tradition and if this is the case I have also covered some of the more formal wedding wording. I have spent a little time explaining ideas behind the wording below and then given a few examples, I hope it helps a little.
Who’s Hosting?
It’s traditional for the brides family to host a wedding, it used to be that they paid for everything, hence they were the hosts,
Mr. & Mrs. james Hennesey would like you to attend the wedding of their daughter Jane Olivia…..’
it’s not always the way anymore, often both couples parents will contribute
‘Dr. & Mrs. Jeremy Vance and Mr. & Mrs. Graham Mann would like to invite you to the wedding of their children….’
or the couple pay for themselves
‘We would love you to attend our wedding….’
or maybe everyone chips in
‘Together with their parents, Jason & Lily request the pleasure of your company….’
sometimes it’s required to add a deceased parent which can be done easily with a little rearranging of the wording
‘Ellen Haines, daughter of Mr. Adam Haines and the late Iris Haines…’
or maybe your parents are divorced and one of them remarried
‘Mr. & Mrs. James Landen, and Mr. & Mrs. Ken Graham and Mrs. John Harold and Jane Heston….’
your parents names can be written out with the formal Mr. and Mrs. or you can use their first names, it is entirely unto you and your parents.
If the hosting is held by the brides parents, the bride is usually referred to by first and middle name and her groom’s name in full including title.
If the couples names aren’t in the hosting then they of course, need to be mentioned later on in the wedding invitation, traditionally
the brides name is written first. In the case of same sex couples the names are perfectly acceptable whichever way round looks and sounds right to you.
Visit our wording ideas page for more.
Requesting attendance
This can be done in many ways and again is totally your preference, a few examples are:
‘….the pleasure of your company…..’
‘…..would love for you to join them…..’
‘…..at the marriage of their children…..’
‘…..honour of your presence…..’
‘…..invite you to celebrate with them…..’
Date/Time and Location
Formally, date and time would be written out in full with no numerals, the time of day would be spelled out using o’clock,
in a casual wedding invitation numerals are totally acceptable.
When entering locations, street addresses are not necessary unless omitting it will cause problems, orif the wedding is being held at a host’s home.
In the event a full address is needed there is often need for an information card or map and the full address can be entered here,
therefore the wedding invitation itself can just have the name of the venue and area
‘…..Hintlesham Hall, Suffolk…..’
The reception can also be added, if they are being held in the same place as the ceremony then
‘…..reception to follow….’ or ‘…..and afterwards at the reception…..’
if the reception is being held in a different place then the name of the venue and area would go on the line afterward.
Dress Code
If you want people to wear a specific type of clothing then it is always best to request it, some have special hopes that ‘….ladies wear a hat…..’
or ‘…..dress to impress…..’ but if nothing is states then the type of dress is generally indicated by the style of the invitation.
Very formal invites would be a black tie affair, a simpler invitation would guide guests to a smart casual dress.
Never presume people will know, if in doubt, and you want something special, then make sure it’s stated on your invitation.
Lettering Styles
Again, there really is no normal here, pick what you like best.
Don’t be afraid to mix those fonts, have something simpler and easy to read for the bulk text and a beautiful script for your names.
It can become part of your invitation design to mix the lettering styles and even the colours, you can often see the couples names in a foil
or maybe a date, time and location in a bold colour.This is up to you, use your imagination.
There are a few examples of possible mix font choices on the lettering styles page but this list is by no means exhaustive, and although we are showing
mixed fonts, you are forever welcome to stick with one if it suits you better, they are all as beautiful on their own as they are mixed together.
RSVP
Most couples like to include an RSVP for their guests to reply to by mail. There’s a variety of wording that can be used for these too,
just to complicate matters for you, but again, its down to preference. Keep in mind the type of invitation you have be it formal or casual.
A favour of a response is kindly requested by
the first of June
M…………………………………………..
▢ accepts with pleasure
▢ declines with regret
OR
▢ Joyfully accepts
▢ Regretfully declines
We kindly ask you to reply by the first of June
Names………………………………….
▢ wouldn’t miss it for the world
▢ will be there in spirit
Let us know before the 1st of June if you can make it
……………………………………………
▢ Cant wait to hit the dance floor
▢ will be tasting from afar
▢ are looking forward to dining, dancing and celebrating
▢ have to miss out on the fun
▢ have their bags packed
▢ will be thinking of you
Or maybe you feel theres no need to post the RSVP back and can put all the info on for guests to do whichever suits them best, it can be more likely to get quick responses if guests are given more contact options.
Response requested by 1st June
By mail: name and Name
14 Name Place
Name Street NA1 1ME
Email: Name&Name@gmail.com
Tel: Name 12345678 or Name: 23456789
Don’t forget to add other things you need to know to your RSVP, maybe dietary requirements, numbers attending, how many children, do you need a room, will you be getting on the arranged coach………….
If you are having a menu which guests need to choose from options this can also be added to rsvp’s with ease, just ask us about the options and we will happily send over some ideas, the options are endless and too many to list so we have tried to keep it as brief as possible.
Information Cards
Sometimes theres just too much information to put into the invitation and an information card is required. If you want to let your guests know about timings for the day, hotels nearby, taxi numbers and times to book them by, full address of the venue, directions or sat nav coordinates, the list is truly endless as weddings are all so unique now there is often need for further explanation for your guests to understand or do what is needed for the day.
Jack & Jane Hemms
and
Peter& Gerry Hendricks
invite you to celebrate with their children
Jamey & George
on their wedding day
Friday | 07 Sept 12| 3:30pm
Kilminorth Marquee, Cornwall.
Reception and nights stay at the
Kilminorth Cottages.
M. and Mrs. Robert Osten
invite you to join the celebration
of the marriage of their daughter
Linda
to
Graham
son of Mr. and Mrs. Jason Blaine
Saturday eleventh May two thousand thirteen
at one thirty in the afternoon
Hever Castle and gardens.
Adult reception to follow at four thirty.
Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Dukes
request the pleasure of your company
at the wedding of their daughter
Rachel Olive
to
Bobby Daniel Denning
Saturday, the twenty-fourth of September
Two thousand eleven
at half after five o’clock
The Secret Gardens, Ashford.
Reception to follow in the Glasshouse.
Together with their families
Sally Keilley Masters
and
Grant Harrison Johnson
request the honour of your presence as they
Tie the Knot
Friday May twelfth, two thousand fifteen
at two o’clock in the afternoon
Alcott, Alvechurch, Worcestershire.
With great pleasure
Amy Thackerey
and
Peter Jones
invite you to join them at the celebration of their marriage
Saturday, July 9, 2016
at two thirty in the afternoon at
St. John’s Church of England.
Dinner and dancing to follow at
Aldby park, Yorkshire.
Together with their families
Parker Johnson
&
James Deese
invite you to join them as they say “I Do!”
Saturday the twenty-first August | two thousand eighteen
Six o’clock in the evening | Oxford Botanic Gardens
Dinner, dancing and drinking to follow
in the Conservatory.
Black Tie preferred.
Please join us for the wedding of
Rosie May & Kevin Jackson
Sunday, 4th December 2013
at half past six in the evening
Yorkshire Heart Vineyard, York.
Marquee reception to follow.
Kathy & Jacob
would love your presence in
celebrating their marriage
May 23rd 2013 | 3 o’clock in the afternoon
The Great Barn, Banbury
Reception to follow.
Love is in the air!
Chloe Jameson & Jackson Denton
have the honour of announcing
their marriage
on Saturday 25th August 2018
at 3 o’clock in the afternoon
Gloucester Catholic Church,
Dublin, Ireland
We’re getting married!
Ben & Pilar
Please join us
10.11.2014
at 5.30pm
The Barn, Launton