Wedding Invitation Wording

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Text Box: WEDDING INVITATION ETIQUETTE GUIDE For truly formal events, there are certain rules of etiquette that are observed when writing an invitation. For less formal situations you can be more creative. Here are some things to remember when you're composing a formal invitation: Write out names in full, including middle names. Omit a middle name if necessary, rather than using an initial. It's appropriate to use the British spelling for "honour" and "favour", unless you prefer to use the American spelling of these words. Spell out all words, including the hour, the date and the year. Spell out all words in the address, including Street, Road and Avenue. The two exceptions to this rule in an address are Saint (St.) and Mount (Mt.) Use Roman numerals in names, rather than "the third" or "3rd." For ceremonies taking place in a house of worship, use "request the honour of your presence." Ceremonies taking place in a non-religious setting should say, "request the pleasure of your company." SAVE THE DATE WORDING SAMPLE: Miss Jane Smith and Mr. Stephen Richardson are very happy to announce our wedding date of September 23, 2004. We are sending this Save the Date Announcement to give you enough notice to reserve this day so you can spend it with us. Your formal invitation will arrive closer to the wedding date. We very much look forward to seeing you there! WEDDING INVITATION WORDING SAMPLES: RECEPTION CARD SAMPLES: The example on the top is for a reception taking place immediately following the ceremony. The example on the bottom is for a reception taking place later in the day. Example 1 Reception
immediately following the ceremony
Hopkinton Country Club
1 Country Club Road
Hopkinton, Massachusetts
Reply card enclosed Example 2 Reception Dinner
at seven o'clock
Hopkinton Country Club
1 Country Club Road
Hopkinton, Massachusetts

Reply card enclosed RESPONSE CARD SAMPLE: M______________________________________ Accept__________________Regret___________ for the ninth of June You can also include menu choices on the response card, if it's necessary to order the guests' meals in advance. You may also wish to include a separate sheet with a map or direction, if the ceremony or reception sites are difficult to find. ASSEMBLING YOUR INVITATIONS:
Traditionally, there is a specific order for assembling invitations for mailing. With the back of the large envelope and the front of the invitation facing you, put the invitation and its protective tissue sheet in, folded edge first. On top of that, put in the reception invitation also facing up. Last, put in the response card, also printed side up. It should be lying within the flap of the small response envelope (which faces down). Any other insertions, such as a map or directions, should go in last. Address the outer envelope and the response envelope by hand. Use calligraphy if possible. Choose an attractive postage stamp that will complement the overall look of your invitations. Mail your invitations at least six to eight weeks in advance of your event so that your guests have ample time to make plans to attend. If you bring your invitations to the post office, you can request that they be hand cancelled that will minimize any unsightly marks or damage caused by machine cancelling. WORDING & ETIQUETTE for WEDDING ANOUNCEMENTS
Announcement cards are sent on the day of or shortly after a wedding if there were no invitations sent. They are often sent instead of invitations to friends who live at too far a distance to easily attend the ceremony. Announcements require no acknowledgment although it is customary for the recipient to send either a brief note expressing their best wishes; a gift is always appropriate but not required. The announcement can either be made on a formal invitation card or on fine cotton-fiber wedding stationery. This is the preferred form for the announcement card: Mr. and Mrs. Henry Jones
announce the marriage of their daughter
Amy Rachael
with
Mr. Michael Allan Richardson
on Thursday, May the first
two thousand and four When responding to a wedding announcement, you should first call the mother of the bride and then the bride herself to offer your good wishes.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Evans Smith
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Jane Elizabeth
and
Mr. Stephen James Richardson
son of
Mr. and Mrs. John Tyler Richardson
on Saturday, the ninth of June
two thousand and four
at two o'clock
First Church of Christ
219 North Granby Road
Granby, Connecticut

Together with their families
Jane Elizabeth Smith
and
Stephen James Richardson
request the honour of your presence
at their marriage
on Saturday, the ninth of June
two thousand and four
at two o'clock
First Church of Christ
219 North Granby Road
Granby, Connecticut