25 WEDDING INVITATION WORDING EXAMPLES AND DETAILS www.weddingforward.com
The wedding invitation will be the first time that many of your guests discover that you are getting married, so you’d better get it right! Proper wedding invitation wording may seem like a no-brainer at first glance but you’d be surprised at the amount of etiquette and formality that go into these short notes, and that’s what we’re here for. With our help, you’ll learn all about appropriate wedding invitation format and make sure that you hit all of the nuances that some couples overlook. There are many variables that dictate the exact wedding invitation structure to follow. The first we’re going to cover is your style and theme. Before you get started with your invitations you’ll have to make sure that you’ve firmly decided between a Traditional, Formal, Informal, or completely unique theme so that you can send specific, for example, rustic wedding invitations if that happens to be your theme of choice. The second item to consider is the time of year. Summer invitations will always be a little different from winter wedding invitations since a formal invitation will include details about the theme and expected dress code.
The next step in planning how to address wedding invitations you’ll want to decide on your delivery method. When choosing between social media, Emails, Texts, or good old fashioned snail mail, make sure to consider all of the pros and cons. Some methods are faster, more convenient, and easier to make changes to if the need arises. Setting up a Facebook page and event, for example, is a really quick and easy way to spread the word and keep track of your RSVPs. But, some of your guests may not be too tech savvy or check their inbox very often. Our advice is to go the old fashioned route. Emails are far too easy to miss or forget about, and there’s something special about a handwritten letter printed on nice cardstock.
SAMPLE WEDDING INVITATIONS FROM REAL COUPLES
Now that you have the concept in mind, it’s time for some samples! Sample wedding invitations of real couples demonstrate exactly what should be included. They all seem very simple, but if you pay close attention you’ll notice some subtle differences. Also, check out a general outline of how the wedding invitation often breaks down, with specific examples to follow.
WHAT TO WRITE ON WEDDING INVITATIONS Although it seems simple, but when it comes to putting pen to paper you may find that you’re second-guessing yourself. It’s only a few lines, but there’s tons of information in each word. Don’t worry, the following steps break down the order and significance of everything you have to write. 1.The hosting 2.A Specific request to attend the wedding 3.The Bride and Groom’s names 4.The date and time of the wedding 5.Location Details 6.Reception Details 7.Dress Code and Theme Details 8.RSVP Cards For The Guests To Return
•Host Line: This line is dedicated to honoring the host. This is typically the Bride’s parents and should begin with the father and then the mother. This is the formal way to write it, but with today’s etiquette, it’s very much appreciated to include both sets of parents. If you are paying and hosting the wedding yourself, place your own names starting with the groom. •Line of Invitation: “Would love you to join…”, “requests the honor of your presence”, “the pleasure of your company”. Whichever way you choose to say it, it’s a formal invitation to attend your wedding ceremony. It means that you value their relationship and that your ceremony will be enriched with their participation. •Couple Names: Traditionally the bride’s name goes first. But, with modern families, there are often two brides or two grooms. With these cases there are no wrong answers. Choose amongst yourselves, flip a coin, or go by alphabetical order. Or, whoever popped the question gets their name first.
•Call to Action: This line specifies the main event” the wedding ceremony. Traditional wedding invitations will be written “In witnessing the marriage of their daughter (name) to (groom’s name. if you’re working in a more modern style feel free to get creative with your adjectives. •When working with religious wedding invitation wording, it’s appropriate to write this line as “to the solemnization in holy matrimony of their daughter (bride’s name) and (groom’s name). The full first, middle and last name should be used for both the bride and the groom. •Wedding Information: This is arguably the most critical section of the wedding invitation. It tells your guests where the event will take place and exactly when to arrive. To satisfy tradition, write the dates out in full instead of using numbers. This looks a lot fancier and avoids any possible misunderstandings. “The Fifth of April, Two Thousand and Eighteen” is crystal clear. Depending on how you read it, 04/05/18 Could be May 4th or April 5th which would be a terrible mistake. •You should also be very specific about venues if the ceremony and reception are taking place at different locations. Go to the trouble of including both addresses and both arrival times. •What to Come: Lastly, point out certain events and expectations. Call out a brunch that takes place prior to the ceremony or the refreshments you’ll be providing between the ceremony and reception. Make sure to suggest any special attire like dancing shoes, and remember to be very clear about location and timing.
WEDDING INVITATION WORDING ETIQUETTE Even if you’re working totally against the grain and getting totally creative with every aspect of your wedding, it’s still nice to follow a little bit of tradition. As a bare minimum, here are the basic ingredients that you should try to include. •Ladies first. It’s customary to give the bride first billing when writing out the couple’s names. If there are any titles involved – esquire, MBA, etc.. – feel free to include these. •Get as creative as you desire, but some information is critical and must appear on the wedding invitation in order for it to serve its purpose. Include the Host, Line of Invitation, Couple’s Names, Call To Action, Ceremony, Reception, and all other Event details. •Use a separate card for the RSVP. Include registry details and a clear way for them to choose reception menu items. •Make sure that dates and times don’t need any explanation, they should be clear as day when read. This is especially true for when there are multiple locations to attend. •Make sure to include the return address (or digital destination if you’re opting for Emal or Social Media) for the RSVP card. An accurate headcount is crucial for planning meals and seating arrangements.
TRADITIONAL WEDDING INVITATION WORDING
Traditional wedding invitation wording has spent decades slowly evolving into what we see today. The past few decades, however, have been the most drastic. Not to worry. traditional wording for wedding invites can be easily adapted to work for our modern families including divorced parents, single parents, multiple sets of parents, and all of the other structures. This structured wedding invitation wording also works perfectly well for couples who are hosting their own celebration. Below you’ll find examples for specific family and host structures. You’ll notice that this first one – and a few others – drop the bride’s last name due to it changing very soon.
For When a Single Mom is a Host Mariah Carol Griffith invites you to partake in the celebration of the marriage of her daughter Tricia Anne to Ryan Chan Bennett Saturday, the ninth of November two thousand eighteen at half-past six in the evening The Oak Park 266 Miles Avenue Miami, Florida Dinner and dancing follow Theme: A touch of champagne gold.
For When The Couple Hosts Their Wedding Together with their friends, families and four dogs Tricia Anne and Ryan Chan Bennett Request the honor of your presence as they Tie the knot Saturday, November Ninth, Two Thousand Eighteen At half past four in the afternoon The Oak Park 266 Miles Avenue Miami, Florida. It is a bow tie affair.
FORMAL WEDDING INVITATION WORDING This next section of formal wedding invitation samples focuses on the groom’s parents hosting the event. You’ll see that it shares a lot of similarities with the previous samples, but also some clear differences. We’ll also take a look at how to word wedding invites for when both sets of parents co-host, and when one set hosts but want to show respect to the other parents. For when the Parents of the Bride and Groom Host Mr. and Mrs. Brian Rupert Briggs and Elder and Mrs. Castillo Stone Bennett request the honor of your presence at the marriage of Tricia Anne to Ryan Chan Bennett on Saturday, the second of November, two thousand and eighteen at three o’clock. Christian Pentecostal Missions Oak Avenue, Ontario.
INFORMAL WEDDING INVITATION WORDING Informal wedding invitation wording has less of a focus on the particular order of words and lets your personality shine. All of the critical details are still included but leave room for a lighter description of the event, fun fonts, and puts more emphasis on the couple as opposed to the hosts. When the Couple are the Hosts You are invited to the marriage of Tricia Anne Briggs and Ryan Chan Bennett. We hope you will join us in celebrating our union on Saturday, the second of June, two thousand and eighteen at six o’clock. Rock Gold Inn Miami, Florida Reception to follow immediately.
MODERN WEDDING INVITATION WORDING Modern wedding invitation can be more subtle than its traditional counterpart, yet still suitable for couples planning a religious ceremony. With modern wedding invites, the parents are mentioned as a courtesy as opposed to the main focus as in other versions. Sometimes the parents are not mentioned at all, especially if the couple is hosting the event. Again, there is much more flexibility with colors, fonts, and sentence cases. Check out a few modern wedding invitations samples below. Modern Traditional Wedding Invitation Mr. & Mrs. Brian Rupert Briggs cordially invite you to attend the wedding ceremony of their daughter Tricia Anne Briggs to Ryan Chan Bennett, son of Mr. & Mrs. Castillo Bennett Saturday the 2nd of November 2018. Ceremony to commence at 10 am All Saints Anglican Church Miami, Florida Followed by a formal celebration at 2 pm Grand Oak Resorts Miami, Florida.
CASUAL WEDDING INVITATION WORDING Casual wedding invitation wording is the polar opposite of traditional invites. All of the usual information is still included, but we love the room for creativity this style provides, especially when it comes to humor. This style of wedding invitation wording also leaves plenty of room for poetry and quotes, and to go crazy with elaborate descriptions of the upcoming event. Short Invite for When a Poetic Couple Hosts + Parents Included Your love, friendship, and support has guided us until this day. Together with our parents, we invite you to share our joy and witness our love, as we exchange vows and celebrate our marriage. Tricia and Ryan Saturday 16th November at 11 o’clock The Ascot Villa, Provence. A celebration with brunch, drinks and dance will follow.
SIMPLE WEDDING INVITATION WORDING Sometimes less is more. For couples that want to keep simple wedding invitation wording to a minimum, this style is for you. Perhaps you want to be a little mysterious with the details, or maybe you just want to keep things short and sweet because you’re sending your wedding invites out to hundreds of people. Either way, this wedding invitation wording style allows you to play around with fonts and colors. When the Couples’ Friends are the Host With great joy, you are invited to celebrate the marriage of Tricia Anne Briggs and Ryan Chan Bennett Saturday, the twenty-third of November two thousand and eighteen at twelve forty-five in the afternoon. The Oakville Resorts 266 Oak Avenue Miami, Florida After party of food, drinks and fun follows
Every couple is different, and although the differences between all of these wedding invitation wording styles are subtle, it’s important to say things in a way which reflects who you are and the type of wedding you want to have. Perfecting your wedding invite wording may have seemed complicated at first, but If you follow our guide and match it with your hopes, dreams, and theme you’ll have no trouble at all. See more in our blog https://www.weddingforward.com/wedding-invitation-wording/