Wedding Invitations: Ideas, Tips, Wording, Etiquette

Wedding Invitations: Ideas, Tips, Wording, Etiquette

Wedding Invitation and Getting Started

A wedding invitation is a letter asking the recipient to attend a wedding. It is typically written in a formal, third-person language and mailed five to eight weeks before the wedding date.

We believe that the first moment of your wedding day begins when the first guest receives their wedding invitation. It sets the tone for the event.

Like any other invitation, A wedding invitation is the privilege and duty of the host.

Historically, for younger brides in Western culture, is the mother of the bride, on behalf of the bride’s family to issue invitations, either by sending them herself or causing them to be sent, either by enlisting the help of relatives, friends, or her social secretary to select the guest list and address envelopes or by hiring a service.

With computer technology, some are able to print directly on envelopes from a guest list using a mail merge with word processing and spreadsheet software.

Your wedding invitations are the first glimpse your guests will have of your day, so you want them to impress. As well as listing the date and location, your invites can showcase the formality and theme of your wedding, letting your guests know what to expect and look forward to.

So, it’s a good idea to think about the style of event you’re planning before you shop for stationery – are you going glam and glitzy or simple and chic? If you have a color scheme in mind, see if you can carry that hue through your stationery.

How To Choose Your Wedding Invitation

First impressions last, choose your wedding invitations properly.

Set a budget and be creative. As well as there are beautiful expensive invitations, there are also inexpensive but equally beautiful ones in the market. You just got to be creative and know where to look.

Decide on a theme and color motif for your wedding. Your invitation should suggest the theme or the color motif of your wedding.

Do your guest list so that you will know how many invitations to order. You can order online at the  Amazon site. If you need the invitations personalized at Amazon they are on a different web page you need to go here.

Select a style that reflects your personality as well as it should give an idea of the wedding that you are planning.

Begin as early as eight months before the wedding. This means that you will have plenty of time paying attention to perfect the wording, and should something goes wrong, you will have ample time to revise it and make sure that it is “the way you want it” before sending them out.

Before you order your invitations, make sure that all of your wedding details such as the date, time, and place of the ceremony and reception are already confirmed.

Asking help from professionals on the look and style of your invitation will help you pull your ideas together for a more beautiful outcome.

With regards to the proper wording and etiquette, a professional should be consulted to make sure that everything in the invitation is properly placed.

Order more invitations than the amount that you really need. This will give you a few extras in case you miss anyone out.

When giving the shop your wording, it is best that you give it to them typewritten, so they can clearly read it.

Do it with style. Be creative and try to combine materials to achieve your own personal touch.

 

Discount Wedding Invitations

Choosing a wedding invitation is very important because it will give your guests a first impression or glimpse of what your actual wedding will be like. A wedding invitation must, first and foremost, reflect your wedding theme and motif. Wedding invitations also often serve the purpose of being delightful keepsakes.

However, the right wedding invitation need not cost an arm and a leg. It is not wise to spend a fortune that can be used somewhere else. The range of kinds and styles of discount wedding invitations is vast. Choosing a particular one can be very confusing.

There are discount wedding invitations and if you follow the guidelines below you will definitely never go wrong in choosing one. The key is to be prudent and not let yourself get carried away. You can even save more money if you follow these guidelines.

Choose wedding invitation style well. As mentioned earlier, your primary consideration in choosing a wedding invitation style is the theme and motif of your wedding. Is your wedding grad or simple? Will your wedding be light or formal? Other than that, it all depends on personal taste and budget.

But whatever your taste or budget range is, you will definitely be able to find a good wedding invitation. If you want, you can even buy some cards and design your own invitation by buying a printing kit which is offered by some wedding service providers.

Determine the kind of wedding you’ll have. Your type of wedding invitation will largely depend on whether you will have a traditional or modern wedding. Traditional weddings would require a more formal invitation. On the other hand, a modern wedding will call for a more modern kind of wedding invitation.

Traditional wedding invitations would only contain texts. It wouldn’t contain any graphics. Traditional wedding invitations are usually upright and folded with the words engraved on the right side. Cards used in traditional wedding invitations are usually white or cream and the letterings are in silver and black.

If you are having a themes wedding then choose a wedding invitation that is appropriate for your chosen theme. For example, you can have a sixteenth-century scrolled parchment wedding invitation if the theme of your wedding is Tudor.

Choosing a supplier. Wedding invitations can be obtained by mail order, printer, stationers, and stationery designers or you can buy online. Choose a supplier that provides value-added services and features so you will get real value for your money.

Some suppliers will help you right the wording in your wedding invitation. Some will even help you with wedding etiquette rules and would help you if you are confused about all the etiquette rules involved in sending out wedding invitations.

It would also be nice if the supplier has trained and experienced wedding etiquette and social correctness experts. Choose a supplier that offers personalized service so you can be sure that you are not getting run of a mill wedding invitation.

A good discount wedding invitation supplier will also respond to your inquiries and requests promptly either through email or by phone.

But your privacy must always be requested to make sure that any personal information you provide to them is used for the sole purpose of processing your order. Your order must be transmitted to a secure server, so your billing information is kept private.

 

Wedding Invitation Etiquette

When the ceremony and the reception will be held at different locations, you can enclose a reception card along with your invitation. The reception card should also be provided with an envelope and contain specific information about the reception.

Mail your invitation six to eight weeks before your wedding date. If however, your wedding date is set, on a holiday season or you are inviting a lot of guests that are from out of state, you should mail the invitations sooner to give them ample time to plan and make hotel reservations and organize their schedule.

Position the word “black tie” in the lower right-hand corner of the invitation if you are planning a formal wedding so that your guests can dress accordingly.

 

Wedding Invitation Address Etiquette

Etiquette regarding the text on a formal wedding invitation varies according to country, culture, and language. In Western countries, a formal invitation is typically written in a formal, third-person language, saying that the hosts wish for the recipient to attend the wedding and giving its date, time, and place.

Do not address envelopes as Mr. and Mrs. William Cooper and Family. This is not proper. The names of children under eighteen years old should be included in the invitation, while children over eighteen should be sent their own invitation.

You can use casual names such as “Uncle Henry and Aunt Beth” or “Grandma” to relatives that are close to you, in addressing the inner envelope as this will show how much you mean to them, even if you are planning a formal event.

As the bride’s parents are traditionally the hosts of the wedding, the text commonly begins with the names of the bride’s parents as they use them in formal social contexts, e.g., “Mr. and Mrs. John A Smith” or “Dr. Mary Jones and Mr. John Smith”. The exact wording varies, but a typical phrasing runs as follows:

A modern wedding invitation

 

Mr. and Mrs. John A Smith request the honor of your presence at the wedding of their daughter Jessica Marie

to

Mr. Michael Francis Miller on the first of November at twelve noon Christchurch Hall
Richmond, Virginia

 

Note the seemingly anglicized spelling ‘honor’; this derives from a ruling laid down by Emily Post in the 1920s.

In the United States, the line “request…presence” is used when the ceremony is held in a house of worship; “pleasure of your company” is used when it is held elsewhere.

If the groom’s parents are also hosts of the wedding, then their names may be added as well.

If the parents are not the hosts of the wedding, then the host’s name is substituted in the first line, or, especially if the bride and groom are themselves the hosts, it may be written in the passive voice: “The honor of your presence is requested at the wedding of…”

Formal announcements, sent after the wedding ceremony, omit the time and sometimes the place, but usually retain the same general form.

Informal invitations, appropriate to less formal weddings, are issued by word of mouth or by hand-written letter. So long as they convey the necessary practical information about the time and place, there is no set form for these invitations.

How To Address Wedding Invitations

Make sure those formal invitations are addressed properly

Married Couple

It is proper to use Mr. and Mrs. Dean Wooley. Spell out the husband’s first name. If you decide to include the husband’s middle name, it should be spelled out, not abbreviated as an initial.

Single Female

In the case of a single female guest, it is proper to use Ms. if she is over age 16 or 18. If she is younger than Miss is the acceptable choice.

Hyphenated Last Name

In the case of a wife who has chosen to hyphenate her last name, then she should be addressed using Ms. (Mrs. is also acceptable) + her first name + maiden name + married name: Mr. David Crosby and Ms. Lynn Carter-Crosby.

Unmarried Couple Living Together

The word “and” was once used to represent a marriage, a union. This rule no longer applies. In the case of a couple who is living together, address the male first, followed by the female: Mr. Luke Davis and Ms. Mary Carter.

Divorced Female Who Kept Her Married Name

After a divorce, a woman might keep her married name. In this instance, it is okay to use Mrs. or Ms. to address the guest and use her first name (spelled out). It is often best to find out what she prefers to go by.

Same-Sex Couple

In this case, it is totally acceptable to put either guest first. If you can’t decide, address them in alphabetical order.

Widow

Traditionally, a widow retains her husband’s name until she remarries. Some widows prefer to use their own first names as well. In this case, it is best to ask what she prefers. Mrs. John Dunlop or Mrs. Jane Dunlop would be acceptable.

Divorced Female Who Uses Her Maiden Name

After a divorce, a woman often stops using her husband’s last name. Addressing her by either Ms. or Mrs. is acceptable.

Married Couple, Both Doctors

In the case of married doctors and the wife has taken her husband’s last name, it is proper to use: The Doctors. Another acceptable option: Drs. Barbara and John Kline.

My wife is a Doctor

If her husband is not a “doctor,” address invitations to Dr. Linda Smith and Mr. Mark Smith. Her name comes first because her professional title “outranks” his social title.

Married Doctors With Different Last Names

If both guests are doctors, but she has chosen to keep her last name, it is appropriate to address her first and with both full names: Doctor Maura Lydel and Doctor John Morris.

Wife is a Commissioned Officer

If her husband is not a “Captain,” address invitations to Captain Sara Trace and Mr. Jake Trace. Her name comes first because her professional title “outranks” his social title.

Husband is a Retired Commissioned Officer

It is important to recognize the husband’s position or ranking: Colonel and Mrs. Kurt Shaw.

Husband is a Judge

It is appropriate to recognize a title, such as the judge: The Honorable Judd Walter and Mrs. Walter.

Wife is the Judge

If her husband is not a judge, address invitations to the Honorable Ann Lewis and Mr. John Lewis. Her name comes first because her professional title “outranks” his social title.

 

Wedding Invitation Ideas

Invitation assembly

1. Place the invitation inside the large envelope along with its protective tissue and make certain that the invitation is facing you.

2. Place in the reception invitation on top of the invitation, also facing you.

3. Position the response card in, and leaning within the flap of the response envelope, which is facing down.

4. The last to go in are the directions or map which guides the guests.

5. When addressing the outer envelope, it is best that you use calligraphy.

6. For an added touch, choose a postage stamp that well compliments the general appearance of your invitation.

7. If possible, bring your invitations to the post office and ask for them to be hand canceled, to avoid unattractive marks or scratches that a machine canceling can cause.

 

Wedding Invitation Tips

Great tips on Wedding Invitations

One of the most important things whenever somebody wants to get married, is to have a complete line-up of the couple’s guests. Along with this preparation is the creation of wedding invitations that should reflect your earnest desire to invite those you want to be present on your very special day.

For so many years now, it has long been a part of the tradition that wedding invitations should be distributed so that the people will know that they are invited. It also makes them feel special because of the fact that the couple had included them as their guests.

Today, wedding invitations need not be the usual unfussy cards that our ancestors had long been using. The concept of the modern wedding invitations lies on the premise that they are a part of the wedding and any neglected details of the invitation would reflect how haphazard the wedding plans were made.

So, for people who wish to know some useful tips regarding wedding invitations, here are some pointers that you may use.

* Use a reply card with your wedding invitation.

In reality, the main reason for creating and giving out wedding invitations is to approximately determine the number of guests that will attend on your wedding day. Hence, it would be better if you place a reply card along with the invitation card. In this way, you will get to know the estimated number of guests that you will be expecting.

* Specify on the wedding invitation what type of occasion you will use.

In most cases, weddings are formal events. However, there are instances wherein the couples prefer informal celebrations. So, it is best to specify exactly what type of celebration will be imposed.

Moreover, it is also important to specify the dress code so that the guests will know if they need to comply or not as far as clothing is concerned.

* For, a small wedding, it is best to have the wedding invitations personalized.

In cases where the wedding celebration entails only quite a few numbers of guests, it would be better to make your own wedding invitation.

Usually, wedding invitations are more expensive and require the least number of orders. So, if you would not be ordering a lot, then, it would be better to make your own wedding invitation.

* For a more innovative look, choose the colors you will use, with your wedding invitation.

White will always be the color of the wedding and will never go out of style. However, because of the continuous change that technology is bringing us, it is best to try some bright colors that will reflect your personality or your partner.

The key point is not to use one color but a conglomeration of all the bright colors you can use.

* Choose a design that will best reflect your taste or your partner’s personality.

Before, wedding invitations come in the traditional rectangular adorned with laces and flowers. It has been deemed a good design for so many years now but the fact remains the same: it is dull and lifeless.

What you need to present them is the beauty of life that you and your partner had agreed to cherish forever. Hence, it is strongly recommended to come up with a modern design embedded with pure beauty.

Boiled down, wedding invitations are not just mere invitations that you usually have on your other occasions like birthday parties or victory parties. Wedding invitations are ways of inviting somebody whom you want to be a part of your wonderful moment with your partner.

As they say, wedding invitations are not just papers, they are the breath of the couple’s desire to tell the whole world how much they love each other, and they want their guests to witness that.

 

Wedding Invitation Wording

The value of wedding invitation wording

Art, in general, is the appreciation of beauty. It implies the order and harmony of parts in a given whole.

Human life does not imply merely physical survival. It is a vocation towards the refinement of the spirit. Hence, the demands of daily life include and derive meaning from the cultivation of those traits that truly reflect man’s innate dignity.

In this context, ethics is considered an art. However, there are art forms that are different from those that are considered ethical

For this reason, certain actions of man must be in proportionate to the ethical standards as dictated by man’s innate dignity. One of which is how we should use words in different functions.

Take for example the wordings in a wedding invitation. Careful use of words and establishing them correctly is very crucial in wedding invitations. This is because wedding invitations are the first-hand symbol of the wonderful celebration that is about to take place.

Any misused, abused, or unethical choice of words may result in misunderstandings or misinterpretations between and among the guests.

Generally, wedding invitation wording should be clearly established to avoid confusion and misconception. There are instances where words may have several meanings depending on how it is used in a sentence.

Moreover, the wording must accurately define the details of the wedding like the date, the exact time, and the place where the wedding ceremony will take place.

These things should be clearly stated because there are cases wherein most guests directly assume that once they are invited, it means that they are asked to attend the wedding ceremony and the reception.

However, there are some weddings that the couple would usually invite people to, just for the reception. In this case, the couple has decided to make the wedding very private and that they only want their immediate relatives present during the ceremony. The guests are asked to attend the reception already.

Hence, to avoid confusion and delusion, it is best to carefully state in the invitation the purpose of the invitation.

On the other hand, wedding invitation wordings may also vary depending on certain circumstances that the couple has no control of. An example is the concept of who paid for the wedding.

In this instance, it is best to choose words that would pay respect to the party whom the recognition is due but should also be made in conformity with the ethical standards, in which the feelings of the other party should be considered also.

For example, if in case the bride’s parents are the ones who had paid for the wedding, then, the wording on the wedding invitation should state that it is the bride’s parent’s who are requesting the presence of the guests.

Alternatively, the setting of the wedding should also be considered when establishing the wedding invitation wording.

If the wedding is informal and will only take place in a home, then it is best to replace the usual words being used in formal invitations with a more casual tone but still with respect.

Boiled down, any kind of wording will do when making wedding invitations, as long as the words are in conformity to the ethical standards set by the society and as patterned on the innate dignity of man.

Best of all, the details of the wedding should be clearly stated, otherwise, the wedding invitation will definitely lose its main purpose.

 

Do Not’s When Placing Invitation Wordings

* Don’t use nicknames. Always use the first, middle, and last names. Some people do not want their middle names included in the invitation; don’t use initials, simply do not include their middle names.

* Don’t make abbreviations. Only “Mr.”, “Mrs.”, or “Dr.” can be abbreviated. All other titles should be written completely.

* Don’t abbreviate dates, addresses, and times.

* Don’t write the word “and” as “&”.

 

Happy wording!

 

Wedding Invitation Items

 

[wpas_products keywords=”wedding invitations”]

 

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedding_invitation

https://www.realsimple.com/weddings/weddings-etiquette/how-address-wedding-invitations