a note about wording your invitations...
The wording of your invitations should reflect your personal style and the theme of your celebration day, while incorporating the required etiquette and traditions.
Formal invitations generally follow a specified format and have line breaks rather than punctuation. Numbers, dates & times are spelled out and spelling and wording follow European custom.
Formal invitations incorporate the following sections: host line, request line, bride and groom line, date and time lines, location line and reception and rsvp lines.
Host Line
The host line will give couples the most problems. Tradition has the bride’s mother and father paying for the wedding and therefore they were the hosts and the one’s who issued the invitation. However, with times changing, and couples marrying later in life, often it is the couple themselves hosting their wedding.
It is also common for the groom’s parents to help pay for the wedding. In instances such as this both couple’s parents should be listed as issuing the invitation.
Other circumstances such as divorces, deaths and other family situations can make wording the host line difficult. Following rules of good etiquette and your own personal feelings will help ease the stress of working the host line.
Request Line
Here’s where the wording gets a little easier. If the wedding ceremony is being held in a church or synagogue, by tradition use “request the honour of your presence” as the request line. If the ceremony is being held in a less formal location like a hotel or private home, you can use less formal wording such as “request the pleasure of your company.”
For ceremonies which are less formal in nature, you can really get creative based on the theme and setting for your celebration.
Bride and Groom Line
The bride and groom line generally follows the host and request lines, except in instances where the couple is hosting the wedding. If the bride’s parents are hosting the event and her last name is the same it is not necessary to include her last name on the bride line. The bride’s name generally does not get a title on formal invitations unless her work confers a title such as doctor.
When the bride’s parents are hosting the event the groom’s name is usually proceeded with a title. However, if the bride and groom want to remain on equal footing it is acceptable to omit titles for both. If both sets of parents are hosting the wedding titles are omitted.
Date and Time lines
Day, date and year are usually always spelled out on formal invitations. For less formal occasions it is acceptable to use the number for the year.
Time will depend on setting. Tradition requires the time to be written out when it is part of a formal invite as in “half after seven o’clock”. Use “in the morning” or “in the evening” when the time may be unclear.
Location Line
The location line consists of the place the ceremony will take place and the city and state. Only include an address if most guests are from out of town and will need directions or the location is not well known such as a private home. It is acceptable to include a separate direction card. As with other parts of the invite it is common to spell out standard abbreviations such as saint.
Reception Line/Card
When the wedding and reception are at the same location you can include “reception immediately following” directly on the invite. If the reception is being held at a separate location or if some guest are not being invited to the reception, a separate reception card should be used.
RSVP Enclosure
Today a separate RSVP card is required. The RSVP card should include the words “the favour of a reply is requested” by a specified date. This will allow you time to give your caterer an appropriate head count prior to the event.
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