Last week I told you that the kids chose print-them-yourself wedding invitations. So next they had to decide on what wording they wanted. Aaron left Summer in charge of those decisions and she asked for my help. We scoured the Internet for ideas and etiquette rules. Summer decided that because of her family situation and the fact that she and Aaron are paying for the bulk of the wedding, that no parents will be named on the invitation and I agreed 100%. In case you are also printing or making your own wedding invitations I thought I’d share some of the information we learned here in one place to save you time.
Wedding Invitation Etiquette
- Always send a physical invitation. An e-vite is fine for the save the date but not for a wedding invitation.
- If you sent a save the date you must send an invitation.
- Mail your invitations 6-8 weeks in advance of the wedding.
- NEVER include registry information in the wedding invitation. It belongs in the shower invitation and on the wedding website.
- NEVER include shower information in the wedding invitation. Separate events require separate invitations.
Wedding Invitation Wording
From top to bottom:
Host line:
- If one or more parents are hosting this information goes on top beginning with the bride’s parents.
- If the couple is hosting with the parents you can say “Susan Smith and Bob Jones, along with their parents”.
- If the couple is hosting by themselves you can start with a brief saying or Scripture or just but the bride and groom’s names here.
Request line:
- Request the honor of your presence…
- Request the pleasure of your company…
- Invite you to join them in celebrating…
- Invite you to share in their joy…
The Couple
- Usually this is printed larger and in a fancier font.
- Bride’s name then Groom’s name.
Date and Time
- This is spelled out:
- The Fourteenth of July
- at One O’Clock in the Afternoon
Venue Address
- Complete address of where the ceremony is taking place.
Reception Line
- If the reception is being help at the same venue as the ceremony, the invitation should include a reception line alerting guests to what is planned.
- Cake and Punch Reception to Follow
- Dinner and Dancing to Follow
- Reception to Follow
Those are the parts to a basic wedding invitation.
Most invitations include additional cards.
RSVP Card
- This card includes a self-addressed, stamped envelope for ease of response.
- Include a respond by date so that you have ample time to get your head count to your caterer.
Lodging Card
- If you are inviting several out of town guests, a lodging card with information about local hotels is a nice addition to your invitation.
Addressing Your Wedding Invitations
- It may be 2014 but wedding invitation envelopes must still be hand written.
- If you are using just one envelope, write the names of each person you are inviting on the envelope.
- If you have an outer and inner envelope-the inner envelope is where all the names go. The outer envelope is to Bill and Jane Smith or Bill and Jane Smith and Family.
- The return address on the invitations and the RSVP cards should be the bride’s or the bride’s parent’s if they are throwing the wedding.
That should cover all of the basics of wedding invitation etiquette and wording for your DIY wedding invitations. I hope you found this post helpful.
Wow! This is super helpful for wedding invites. With so many different family situations and structures, it’s often difficult to figure out wording on these things– great resource for the bride and groom!
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Thanks for all of helpful information. Wedding invitations can take some thinking and planning on how to say what is wanted..
I have seen some invitation, lately, not just wedding, that had so many fonts you could almost not read it. At least that is how I felt. Of course I am a ‘keep it simple’ person. To much information is confusing also.