The rules of wedding etiquette are constantly changing, making it difficult for modern brides and grooms to stay on top of wedding do’s and no-nos. I constantly stress to couples when meeting for our initial consult, it’s my job to help make their lives easier when it comes to wedding planning. I understand the wedding stationery process. I was a bride myself, and with 5+ years under my belt I’ve learned how to properly approach subjects when it comes to your wedding. Enter #mannersmonday. Each Monday, I’ll cover a new wedding etiquette topic, with the help of my trusty guest blogger, Kailyn Clay! She’s an incredibly talented mommy-to-be that has a special way with words (you can tell where my writing stops and hers begins…bear with me). Kailyn and I have worked together to make it possible to provide you some helpful, and entertaining blog posts! Are you in the midst of a Big Day dilemma? Send me your etiquette-related question(s) via Facebook with the hashtag #MannersMonday and we’ll get you some answers. Check out this week’s topic below!
#MannersMonday: The Right Wording for Your Wedding Invitation | by guest blogger: Kailyn Clay
One of the most challenging aspects of constructing the perfect wedding invitation isn’t necessarily the colors or the design, it’s the words on the page. The language you use on your invitations speaks volumes about the wedding. When considering how to word your invitations, ask yourself a few questions:
- Who is hosting the wedding?
In other words, who’s paying? Traditionally, the one funding the big day gets the honor of their name (or names) first on the invitation. If you and your fiancé have saved up to throw your own wedding bash, then start off the invitation with your names and something like “Together with their families, Kimberly Fields and Zachary Amos invite you…” However, if your parents are doling out the big bucks to make your wedding a success, you should start with something closer to, “Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Fields request the honor of your presence…”
- Are the parents of the bride and groom married, single, or divorced?
This question is probably what confuses and frustrates people the most. What language should you use if you’ve been raise by a single parent or if your parents are no longer together? Never fear, because there are a few correct ways to signify familial relations for all sorts of family styles. Here are just a few:
Divorced parents hosting: Mrs. Emily Richardson and Mr. Daniel Richardson request the honour of your presence..
The hosting parents are remarried: Mr. and Mrs. William Anderson request the honour of your presence at the marriage of his daughter…
A single parent is hosting: Ms. Emily Richardson requests the honour of your presence at the marriage of her daughter…
One of the couple (or both) have children: Kimberly Fields name and Zachary Amos, along with their children, invite you to celebrate…
- What are you asking for from your guest?
This part of the invitation can range from very traditional to phrases that are completely your own. So explore a few phrases that might fit the tone and style of your wedding, from very formal to “let’s just party.” Here are a few suggestions to get you started:
“Mr. and Mrs. William Anderson request the honour of your presence…”
“Please join Mr. and Mrs. William Anderson in celebrating…”
“John Michael Smith and Kelly Louise Anderson joyfully invite you…”
“Mr. and Mrs. William Anderson request the pleasure of your company…”
“John Michael Smith and Kelly Louise Anderson have chosen the first day of their new life together as May 21, 2016. You are invited…”
“You are joyfully invited to witness and celebrate the marriage of…”
Also keep in mind that this part of the wording typically gives a hint to the guests whether or not the wedding will take place in a house of worship. Traditionally, if the ceremony will take place in a church or other religious location, “request the honour of your presence” is used. If the wedding will take place outside, at a banquet hall, or somewhere else, then the wording can be less formal.
Though it’s great to follow tradition and keep to wedding etiquette, ultimately, the purpose of an invitation is to fill the seats at your wedding with the ones you love. Keep this in mind as you mine endless samples of wedding invitation wording looking for the perfect turn of phrase for you and your fiancé. Hopefully, the information here will be useful as a launching pad toward wedding invitation success. And don’t be afraid to ask for help. Jamie Lynne Creative has the industry experience and technical know-how to make the wording—and design—of your wedding invitations exquisite.
