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Wedding Invitation Wording Etiquette
Your wedding invitations are your guests' guide to preparing for your wedding day. Invitations reveal the atmosphere of your wedding and allow your guests to know who is hosting the event, as well as the type of ceremony and any activities to attend afterwards. Choosing the wrong wording for your wedding invitations can convey much different expectations than what you intended.
For a FREE guide to planning your wedding download the FREE Online Wedding Guide now.
For a FREE guide to planning your wedding download the FREE Online Wedding Guide now.
Some rules and guidance
Follow these wedding invitation wording etiquette rules to ensure that your guests are well informed and properly addressed.
The first line of the wedding invitation tells who is hosting the event. The parents of the bride traditionally sponsor the wedding, but, today, there are several other invitation wording possibilities. If the bride's parents are divorced but still hosting the event together, it is acceptable to list both parents along with their new spouses. Invitation wording etiquette for a wedding hosted by the bride and groom is to list both full names, with the bride's first. You can also begin with "Together with their families" in this situation.
The next line of your wedding invitation should tell guests what type of ceremony to expect. A traditional church wedding should read "Request the honor of your presence" while an outdoor wedding or a ceremony in a non-religious setting properly state "Request the pleasure of your company." Always use full names, including middle names, on the wedding invitations and use Mr. and Mrs. before the names of the hosting parents. It is also acceptable, but not required, to use Mr. before the groom's name and Miss or Ms. before the bride's.
Wedding invitation wording etiquette says to never abbreviate. Spell out all suffixes and titles, like Junior or Doctor, and use Roman numerals for anything beyond "the second." The time and date should also be completely spelled out, beginning with the day, date, and month, and then followed by the written time and afternoon or evening to designate P.M.
The final line of the wedding invitation should tell your guests' where the ceremony will be held. Remember to avoid abbreviating the name of the location and list the full address, spelling out road types, like Avenue or Boulevard.
Refrain from mentioning gift registry information or anything similar in the invitation. Wedding etiquette rules consider gift requests to only be acceptable with a shower invitation, and it is still not acceptable to request cash gifts. Do include information about your reception on the invitation as well.
The first line of the wedding invitation tells who is hosting the event. The parents of the bride traditionally sponsor the wedding, but, today, there are several other invitation wording possibilities. If the bride's parents are divorced but still hosting the event together, it is acceptable to list both parents along with their new spouses. Invitation wording etiquette for a wedding hosted by the bride and groom is to list both full names, with the bride's first. You can also begin with "Together with their families" in this situation.
The next line of your wedding invitation should tell guests what type of ceremony to expect. A traditional church wedding should read "Request the honor of your presence" while an outdoor wedding or a ceremony in a non-religious setting properly state "Request the pleasure of your company." Always use full names, including middle names, on the wedding invitations and use Mr. and Mrs. before the names of the hosting parents. It is also acceptable, but not required, to use Mr. before the groom's name and Miss or Ms. before the bride's.
Wedding invitation wording etiquette says to never abbreviate. Spell out all suffixes and titles, like Junior or Doctor, and use Roman numerals for anything beyond "the second." The time and date should also be completely spelled out, beginning with the day, date, and month, and then followed by the written time and afternoon or evening to designate P.M.
The final line of the wedding invitation should tell your guests' where the ceremony will be held. Remember to avoid abbreviating the name of the location and list the full address, spelling out road types, like Avenue or Boulevard.
Refrain from mentioning gift registry information or anything similar in the invitation. Wedding etiquette rules consider gift requests to only be acceptable with a shower invitation, and it is still not acceptable to request cash gifts. Do include information about your reception on the invitation as well.
Wedding invitations are typically accompanied by two envelopes, an inner and an outer envelope. Both envelopes must be addressed, the inner with the names of the invited guests and the outer with the complete address as well as the names. Though it is acceptable to have the return address printed on the outer envelope, you should always address the envelopes by hand.
Use both first and last names on the outer envelope and avoid abbreviating titles, suffixes, and road names. It is only acceptable to use "and guest" on the inner envelope and only if the invitee does not have a steady significant other. Using "And family" is appropriate on the inner envelope if you would like children to attend your wedding ceremony.
Properly wording and addressing your wedding invitations can be simple and fun if you remember these simple rules. Using acceptable wedding invitation wording etiquette will ensure that your guests know exactly what to expect from your ceremony and will make your invitations a beautiful keepsake of your special day.
For a FREE guide to planning your wedding download the FREE Online Wedding Guide now.
Use both first and last names on the outer envelope and avoid abbreviating titles, suffixes, and road names. It is only acceptable to use "and guest" on the inner envelope and only if the invitee does not have a steady significant other. Using "And family" is appropriate on the inner envelope if you would like children to attend your wedding ceremony.
Properly wording and addressing your wedding invitations can be simple and fun if you remember these simple rules. Using acceptable wedding invitation wording etiquette will ensure that your guests know exactly what to expect from your ceremony and will make your invitations a beautiful keepsake of your special day.
For a FREE guide to planning your wedding download the FREE Online Wedding Guide now.
