A top question we receive at A Regal Affair is how to gracefully and clearly compose wedding invitations. Invitation language can cause some stress, especially for couples who want to follow the rules and rites of social etiquette. Below are a few tips to help guide you in drafting your wedding invitation.
Photo by a la mode invite
Traditional invitation:
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lee Smith {the first line, or the host line, explains who is extending the invite}
request the pleasure of your company {the next few lines tells your guests what they are being invited to attend}
at the marriage of their daughter
Natalie Lauren {bride's name typically comes first}
to
Mark Henry Patterson
on Saturday, the sixth of October {spell all of the numbers and dates out}
two thousand and twelve
at six o'clock in the evening
Casa Del Mar
1910 Ocean Way
Santa Monica, California
Now this is the standard for most invitations, but I'd like to state that there are no hard rules in invitation wording, and if you would like to write the 6th of October because that looks better to you, please do!
There are also many variations to the host line wording, based on who is hosting. If the bride's married parents are hosting, invites typically appear as above.
Here are a few other scenarios you may find yourself in:
Bride's parents are hosting but you want to recognize the groom's parents, too:
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lee Smith
at the marriage of their daughter
Natalie Lauren
to
Mark Henry Patterson
son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael John Patterson
Groom's parents are hosting:
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their son
Mark Henry Patterson
to
Natalie Lauren Smith
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lee Smith
The couple is hosting the wedding:
request the pleasure of your company
at their marriage
The couple is hosting the wedding, but want to recognize both parents:
Together with their families
request the pleasure of your company
at their marriage
Divorced parents are hosting and are not remarried, or are hosting without spouse:
Mrs. Lauren Rivera / Mr. Robert Smith
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their daughter
Divorced parents and remarried:
Mrs. Lauren Rivera and Mr. Patrick Rivera
Mr. Robert Smith
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their daughter
A few additional tips:
- Use "request the honor of your presence" to signify a ceremony in a house of worship.
- Use "request the pleasure of your company" to signify a ceremony in a secular venue.
- Opt for "in the morning/afternoon/evening" rather than "a.m." or "p.m."
- If signifying a time on the half hour, opt for "half after five o'clock" (instead of "half past five" or "five thirty").
- Capitalize the first word on the invitation, and all proper nouns.
-
Commas are not necessary between lines.
