There is still something wonderful in getting a letter by post. Don’t you agree? It is traditional and much more personal than sending a mail or Facebook invitation. Whether you choose your wedding theme to be modern or traditional when it comes to wedding invitation etiquette some basic things have to be organized.
Thinking about the wedding invitation wording might be one of the minefields, but don’t worry. We are here to share some ultimate tips and tricks on how to make and decide what is best for your wedding invitations.
Before we start here are some essential elements every wedding invitation should have:
- Who is hosting the wedding
- The request to come to the wedding
- Bride and groom names
- Date, time, and location
- Information about the reception
- RSVP card
Who is Hosting and Who Gets a Mention?
Traditionally, parents of the bride are the ones hosting the wedding. However, more and more couples these days are hosting along with their parents, or on their own. Mentioning both sets of parents can be tricky, but it is also showing off respect for them.
There are some situations where you should think twice and consult with your parents about the mentioning:
Parents are divorced or remarried – you can include them all as hosts, just keep your every parent on a separate line.
Parents are deceased – rephrasing a wording would be the right thing to do (Julia French, daughter of Mr. Adam French and the late Iris French).
Names of Bride and Groom
If the bride and groom’s names weren’t listed in the host line, then you should include them in the central stage of the invitation. If you are wondering which name should go first, you can either do it traditionally – which means mentioning the bride’s first and middle names, before the groom’s full name or title. However, consulting with your partner is the best way to go, if you want a modern wedding.
For the same-sex marriage this rule, of course, is not applicable. You can either do it in alphabetical order or in agreement with your partner.
Date, Time, and Location
The writing of date and time depends on how your invitations and wedding theme is. If you want it to be super formal, then you shouldn’t write numerals. However, if you’re going to make it exciting and definitely less formal, write it in numbers. The use of a.m. or p.m. is optional.
The street address of the venue is not necessary to write, but city and state should definitely be written out in full.
Information About Reception
Some couples decide to include information about reception on the separate card. However, you don’t have to do it. If the ceremony and reception are held at the same location, then print ‘reception immediately following.’ If the reception is elsewhere, make sure to note it on a new line on your invitation.
Separate RSVP Card
In some countries, couples choose to include a special RSVP card that their guests should fill in and return in the mail. Nowadays, you can find couples that make their own wedding website, so you can contact them directly there and tell them if you are coming or not.
Bonus: ‘Thank You’ Card!
You can think about sending. Thank you card two weeks after the wedding day. It would mean a lot to your guests, and it is a wonderful way to thank them for all the gifts.
