Invitation
Wording l
Reception Card Wording
l Reply Card Wording
Envelopes
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Assembling Your Invitations
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With so
many different types of families out there, wedding
invitation wording can be complicated. Below are several
formal wedding invitation wording examples for different
family situations. If you're composing a formal party invitation, include the names of those giving the party, the invitation phrase "request the pleasure of your company" in lieu of "request the honor of your presence", the type of party, the purpose of the party, the date, hour, place and RSVP information. |
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| Wedding invitation wording examples for when the parents of the bride are issuing the invitation: | |
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Mr. and Mrs. John Jackson
request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Sara Lynn and
Mr. William Davis
on Saturday, the second of May two thousand and seven at five o'clock First Presbyterian Church 1000 Main Street Lynnville, Georgia |
Mr. and Mrs. David Wilson
request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Marie Rebecca and
Mr. Larson Lee James
son of
Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Lee
James
on Saturday, the twenty-second of March two thousand and seven at two o'clock St. Bart's Episcopal Church 401 Bryce Avenue Fredricksburg, Texas |
| Wedding invitation wording examples for when the couple is issuing the invitation: | |
|
Alma Marie Johnson and John Briggs request the honor of your presence at their marriage on Saturday, the eighteenth of July two thousand and seven at six o'clock Marshall Hall 11252 Killian Drive Haven, Oklahoma |
Together with their
families
Brenda Ann Jameson
and William James Smith request the honor of your presence at their marriage on Saturday, the fifth of September two thousand and seven at five o'clock First Baptist Church 8744 West Grand Road Smithfield, Vermont |
| Wedding invitation wording examples for when the groom's parents host (left) and for when both sets of parents host (right). | |
|
Mr. and Mrs. Jason
Franklin
request the honor of your presence at the marriage of Ms. Janet Sadie Hagerman to their son
Donald Lynn Franklin
on Saturday, the first of April two thousand and four at one o'clock First Methodist Church 1042 East Jacksville Road Warrick, New Jersey |
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ransfield
and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bridges request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their children
Harley Marie Ransfield
and
Joshua Bridges
on Saturday, the third of February two thousand and seven at five o'clock Bradbury Church of Christ 2000 Bradbury Lane Carlson, Nevada |
| Wedding invitation wording examples for when the bride's divorced and remarried parents co-host (left) and for when the bride's remarried mother and husband host (right). | |
|
Mr. and Mrs. Bart James
and
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Wilson
Markison
request the honor of your presence at the marriage of Leslie Ann James to
Mr. Carl Lee Markison
on Saturday, the fourteenth of October two thousand and seven at one o'clock First Church of Christ 6744 Gibbons Drive West Martha, Wyoming |
Mr. and Mrs. David James
request the honor of your presence at the marriage of Mrs. James' daughter
Michelle Kathryn Revelle
and
Mr. Benjamin David Hanson
on Saturday, the twenty-second of December two thousand and four at six o'clock First Methodist Church of Cranston 4000 Haverly Lane Cranston, Oregon |
| Wedding invitation wording examples for when the bride's divorced mother (not remarried) hosts (left) and for when the bride's widowed mother/father hosts (right). | |
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Ms. Kathryn Jackson
Kearney
(maiden and married surnames)
or
Ms. Kathryn Kearney
(maiden name)
requests the honor of your presence at the marriage of her daughter Amber Ann Kearney to
Mr. Gerald David Harvey
on Saturday, the seventh of November two thousand and seven at three o'clock St. William's Church 5003 South Perdido Road Oxford, Missouri |
Mr. (or Mrs.)
Douglas Upjohn
request the honor of your presence at the marriage of his (or her) daughter
Jennifer Ann
to
Mr. Carl James Berklin
on Saturday, the eighth of May two thousand and four at five o'clock First Baptist Church of Farmersville 64 Melody Drive Farmersville, Tennessee |
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Here are two examples of Reception Cards. The example on the left is for a reception taking place immediately following the ceremony. The example on the right is for a reception taking place later in the day.
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Reception immediately following the
ceremony Marion Hotel The Roman Room 1899 Jackson Road Littleton, Texas |
Reception Dinner at seven o'clock Leslie's on the Lake 12 Lakeshore Road Rockwall, Texas |
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Kindly respond before October 15, 2007 M___________________________________will be attending Number of persons ______________ |
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 directions, if the ceremony or reception sites are difficult to find. |
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Envelope Wording
Below are various examples of the wording for formal wedding invitation outer and inner envelopes.
| Outer Envelope | Inner Envelope | |
| ~ Single Guests ~ | ||
| Unmarried Woman over 18 or a Divorced Woman who retains her maiden name | Miss (or Ms.) Jane Smith | Miss (or Ms.) Smith and Guest |
| Divorced Woman who uses her married name | Mrs. Loretta Havers | Mrs. Havers and Guest |
| Unmarried or Divorced Man | Mr. David Kravers | Mr. Kravers and Guest |
| ~ Couples ~ | ||
| Married Couples | Mr. and Mrs. John Williams | Mr. and Mrs. Williams |
| Married Couple - when the woman kept maiden name | Mrs. Susan BransonMr. Robert Jung | Mrs. Branson Mr. Sijung |
| Unmarried couples who do not share the same residence. You should send the invitation to the closest friend | Miss (or Ms.) Donna Perkins | Miss (or Ms.) PerkinsMr. James |
| Unmarried couples who live together address alphabetically by last name | Miss (or Ms.) Wendy FranksMr. Jesse Randall | Miss (or Ms.) Franks Mr. Randall |
| Same gender couples - alphabetically by last name | Miss (or Ms.) Carrie WarnerMiss (or Ms.) Hannah Cupps | Miss (or Ms.) Warner Miss (or Ms.) Cupps |
| Children over 18 years old should be considered adults and receive their own invitation, even if still at the home of their parents who will also be invited to your wedding | Miss Ingrid Belkins or Mr. Ned Grand | Miss Belkins and Guest or Mr. Grand and Guest |
| ~ Other ~ | ||
| Judge | The Honorable James Lee (If Single)The Honorable and Mrs. James Lee (If married) | Judge LeeJudge Lee and Mrs. Lee |
| Doctor (Medical) | Doctor Jack Keller (If Single)Doctor and Mrs. Jack Keller (If married) | Doctor Keller and GuestDoctor and Mrs. Keller |
| Doctor (Ph.D.) | Dr. Richard Drives | Dr. KDrivesand Guest |
| Married Woman Doctor | Doctor Jessica Creslin Mr. William Freed | Doctor Creslin Mr. Freed |
| Married Couple, Both Doctors | Doctors Jack and Michelle Magrette | The Doctors Magrette |
| Clergy | The Reverend Harry Davis | The Reverend Davis |
| Officer - Male who is active duty or retired from the service | General and Mrs. Aurthur Helsing | General and Mrs. Helsing |
| Officer - Female who is active duty or retired from the service |
Captain
Nancy Richards, |
Lieutenant Richards Mr. Richards |
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Assembling Your Invitations
Traditionally, there is a specific order for assembling invitations for mailing.
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With the back of the large envelope and the front of the invitation facing you, put the invitation and it's protective tissue sheet in, folded edge first.
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On top of that, put in the reception invitation also facing up.
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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).
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Any other insertions, such as a map or directions, should go in last.
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Address the outer envelope and the response envelope by hand. Use calligraphy if possible.
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Choose an attractive postage stamp that will complement the overall look of your invitations.
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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.
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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.