Selecting your wedding invitation wording can be a bit overwhelming; you want your personality to shine through while also following some rules of etiquette, right? Things to consider while writing your wedding invitation is who is hosting the wedding and is it going to be traditional and religious, traditional and secular or casual and informal. From formal to casual wedding invitations and something in the middle, we are sharing some tips with you. One other thing, sending invitations 6-8 weeks before the wedding is traditional. If you send them much earlier than this, they will arrive in mailboxes and will go into “I’ll get to that later” pile and you’ll end up calling a lot of your invitees to get an RSVP.
Original image captured by Julianne Brasher Photography
Following are four different examples of wedding invitation wording.
Bride’s parents are hosting a traditional and religious ceremony, reception is elsewhere
Mr. and Mrs. Ted Jones
Request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Bride’s first, middle and last name
to
Groom’s first, middle and last name
Saturday, the twenty-second of June
Twenty eighteen
At two o’clock in the afternoon
Saint Joseph’s Church
Wenatchee, Washington
Both parents are hosting a traditional ceremony and reception at a secular location
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Sitter
Mr. and Mrs. George Holmes
Request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their children
Bride’s first and middle name
to
Groom’s first and middle name
Saturday, June 22nd, twenty eighteen
at two o’clock in the afternoon
Uley’s Cabin
Crested Butte, Colorado
reception to follow
Both families plus the couple are hosting and wedding and reception at a casual location
Together with their families
Bride’s first and middle name
to
Groom’s first and middle name
joyfully invite you to join
their wedding celebration
June 22nd, 2018
at two o’clock
Uley’s Cabin
Crested Butte, Colorado
reception to follow
Remarried parents of the bride are hosting a traditional and religious ceremony, reception is elsewhere
Ms. Donna Brown
Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Par
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Bride’s first and middle name
to
Groom’s first and middle name
Saturday, the twenty-second of June
Twenty eighteen
At two o’clock in the afternoon
Saint Joseph’s Church
Wenatchee, Washington
Original image captured by Julianne Brasher Photography
Host Names
“And” between names implies the hosts are married. If unmarried the host names should be stacked.
Using the term “request the honor of your presence” implies the ceremony will take place in a church or place of worship.
Details
Spell out the date, and full address in all words and don’t use abbreviations to avoid confusion.
Do not put your registry information on the invitation. Share your wedding website on the save the date or a separate piece of information.
Photo captured by Julianne Brasher Photography
RSVP Cards
Personalize your RSVP card how you wish but keep the similar tone to match the invitation. To get the RSVP due date, give them half the time between receiving the invitation and the wedding date.
Formal RSVP
The favor of a reply is requested by the fifteenth day of May
M __________________________
__ Accepts with pleasure
__ Declines with regret
Casual RSVP
Please respond by the fifteenth of May
Name(s) _______________________
___ Happily accepts
__ Regretfully declines
Meal choices:
__ Beef
__ Poultry
__ Vegetarian
Reception Card
A reception card is only necessary if the ceremony and reception are hosted at two different locations. Otherwise, you can state “Reception to follow” at the bottom of the invitation.
Please join us for an evening reception
Cocktail and hors d’oeuvres at 6:00pm
Dinner will be served at 7:00pm
Scarp’s Ridge Lodge
512 Second Street
Dancing and merriment to follow
Activities Card
Couples hosting a destination wedding with many out-of-town guests choose to include an activities card outlining organized activities, meals and events taking place around the wedding week.
Weekend Activities
Friday
Baseball game | 12:00pm | Please meet at baseball field. Mits and bats provided
Rehersal Dinner | 6:00pm | Secret Stash | 303 Elk Avenue
Saturday
Ladies Tea | 9:00am | TBar | 229 Elk Avenue
Sunday
Farewell Brunch | 11:00pm | Sherpa Cafe | Meet in hotel lobby
Information Cards
An information card allows you to provide an additional information not on the invitation such as a map, transportation, lodging, wedding website, etc.)
Transportation is required for all guests to the reception location. Shuttles will depart from 4-way Stop at 3:15pm and the Grand Lodge at 3:45pm.
Return transportation will begin at 8:30pm and run every 30 minutes.
The designers behind these wonderful layouts, from top down
Turquoise and Gold Invitation: Sweet Zion Paperie
Invitation Anatomy Image: Paper & Charm
Invitation Suit: Paper & Charm
Bucher Paper and Gunnison Map: Lucky Penny Event Planning
The photographer who captured the lead image: Sweet Tea Studios