People have been accustomed to using wedding invitations as a way to express their excitement and joy to be finally married to the ones they love. Even though they’re supposed to be romantic in theme, wedding invitations don’t have to be mushy all the time.
Although a variety of wedding invitation styles and designs are already available to suit the modern couple’s preference, the standard wedding invitation wording is still most often employed. The wording needs to be readable in order to avoid confusion among the guests.
Listed below is the format for what is to be included in a typical wedding invitation:
1. The Hosts
Tradition tells us that the first names the guests will see on the wedding invitation are those of the people paying for the event, typically the parents of the bride. However, as times have changed, wedding tradition has evolved as well. Wedding expenses are being shared; consequently, the host line has adjusted from being that which contains the names of the bride’s parents, to that which lists the names of the groom’s parents, or both couple’s parents, or even the couple themselves, depending on what fits the situation. The host line would usually read:
Mr. and Mrs. John Doe
Or if both parents are hosting–
Mr. and Mrs. John Doe
And
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Smith
Or if the bride and groom are hosting, then it would be—
Ms Laura Moore and Mr. Clark Jones
Or
Together with their families,
Laura Moore and Clark Jones
2. The Request
In the next line of the wedding invitation, the guests are requested to attend the occasion. This line would imply the formality of the event. Typically, if the wedding will be held in a place of worship, it will read:
Mr. and Mrs. Sam Morris
Request the honor of your presence
At the marriage of their son
If the venue of the ceremony is at home or any non-religious location, then it should be–
Mr. and Mrs. Sam Morris
Request the honor of your presence
At the marriage of their son
Or
Mr. and Mrs. Sam Morris
Would be delighted as you attend
The marriage of their son
Or if the bride and groom is hosting, then the request line would be—
Ms Laura Moore and Mr. Clark Jones
invite you to join them in the celebration of their marriage
3. The Bride and Groom Lines
Since it is the couple’s most important day that will be celebrated, it is only reasonable that their names stand out among the rest in the invitation. Their names could be written in larger and more elaborate font to set them apart. Customarily, the bride’s name should be listed first:
Laura Moore to Clark Jones
4. Time and Date
The time and the date of the ceremony usually spell out numbers and time. For example—
Sunday, the eleventh of August
Two thousand and twelve
At nine o’clock in the morning
5. Venue of the Ceremony
Traditionally, if the location of the ceremony is well-known, then there is no need to include the specific address:
Peralta Adobe,
Berkeley
But if it is at a smaller place, you would have to identify the complete street address, such as this:
Moore’s Residence
132 Jones Road
Berkeley, California
6. The Reception
Clearly state that there is going to be a party afterward:
Reception to follow at Sta. Ana Hills from one o’clock
7. RSVP
Before, most RSVPs are written on the invitation. But now, including a separate card where guests can reply is being practiced, the card would typically read.
Please reply before the twentieth of July
Mr. _________________ will attend
Mr._________________ will not attend
8. Dress Code
Wedding invitations may also specify what type of attire the guests are required to wear:
Formal Attire
Or
Casual Attire
The format shown above serves as a guideline for a typical wedding invitation. Nevertheless, you can always make use of your creativity to make your wedding invitations more unique.
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