Wedding etiquette for wording on invitations

It's interesting:
"It was a stipulation for the wedding that the groomsmen weren't allowed to look better than the Best Man today and I'm pleased to say they have accomplished ..."

Sending wedding invitations are an integral part of the wedding planning process, and the invitations can also serve as sentimental keepsakes. It's important to refer to proper etiquette when it comes to wording the invitations, as the wording will make for good presentation and serves to inform the guests of important wedding details.

1. Use of Names

   • It is appropriate etiquette to use the full names (first, middle and last) of the bride and groom. If the bride or groom prefer not to use a middle name, a middle initial should not be used--the name should just be omitted from the invitation altogether. The names of the parents of the bride should also be on the invitation, i.e. "Mr. and Mrs. (bride's maiden name) invite you to the marriage of their daughter." If the parents of the bride are divorced, their names should be listed on different lines. Roman numerals should be used for names as well. For example, it should be written "James Roberts, III" as opposed to "James Roberts the third."

   Wording for Ceremony Location

   • If the wedding is held in a church or place of worship, proper etiquette suggests that the phrase "Mr. and Mrs. (parents of the bride) request the honor of your presence." If the wedding is not held in a church or chapel, phrases like "Mr. and Mrs. (parents of the bride) request the pleasure of your company" or "Mr. and Mrs. (parents of the bride) invite you to celebrate the marriage of their daughter to (groom's name)." It is also acceptable to use the British spelling of "favor" (favour) for wedding invitations.

   Dates and Times

   • The date and time of the wedding ceremony and reception should be completely spelled out in the invitation, i.e. June the sixteenth, two thousand and ten, at four o'clock in the afternoon. This information should be included near the center of the invitation, right above the name of the ceremony location, so that it will be easy for guests to spot.

   Reception Announcement

   • It is acceptable to print the words "reception to follow ceremony" at the bottom of the invitation. A separate reception invitation should be sent if the bride and groom want to have a small reception, or if there are individuals who are invited to the ceremony but not the reception or vice versa. Since the reception is not held in a house of worship, it is not necessary to use the phrase "requests the honor of your presence." Reception cards can also be included in the wedding invitation and should include the name of the reception location and the address of the location, without the ZIP code.

   Wording for Addressing Envelopes

   • When sending an invitation to a married couple, it is acceptable to simply address the envelope "Mr. and Mrs.(couple's last name)," although "Mr. and Mrs. (man's first name) (couple's last name)" is also acceptable. When addressing an invitation to an unmarried woman over the age of 18 the prefixes "Ms." or "Miss" should be used before the woman's first and last name. Children who are still living with their parents and are over the age of 18 should receive a separate invitation. If sending invitations to judges or doctors, the titles "honorable" and "doctor" should be used before the invitee's first name- the word "doctor" can be spelled out completely or abbreviated.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: parents bride, bride groom, last name, should used, wording invitations