What to say for an invitation to a wedding meal & reception

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"There's something special about a church wedding, but most of us here have to admit that we rarely set foot inside a church these days. In fact ..."

Selecting the right wording for your wedding invitation can be challenging. There are several etiquette rules to take into consideration, and you also want the invitation to set the proper tone for the level of formality of your event. Invite guests to dinner and a reception after a wedding ceremony by making it clear on the invitation.

1. Basic Wording

   • Use basic wording for a traditional wedding invitation that invites guests to a meal and reception following the wedding ceremony. After all of the necessary information about hosts, the bride and groom, the ceremony date, location and time, a simple sentence at the end of the invitation can clue guests in that a meal and reception will take place. All you need to write is, "Dinner and reception to follow." If you'd like to elaborate, simply state the location of the dinner and reception at the end of the sentence, such as "Dinner and reception to follow at the Carlson Towers."

   Reception Only

   • If you plan to get married in a private ceremony and just want to invite guests to a reception and meal, indicate that you are having a meal and reception rather than a ceremony through careful invitation wording. Announce clearly that the ceremony is private, and then include the invitation to the reception. For example, "Please join us for a reception to celebrate the marriage of Lisa and Joe, who were married in a private ceremony on July 22."

   Reception Card

   • Give guests all the necessary details for the dinner and reception by adding a separate reception card enclosed within the invitation. This is especially appropriate if the reception and meal do not take place at the ceremony location. On the reception card, include an invitation to celebrate with the couple, stating that a meal and reception will occur, naming the location, the address and providing a time for those events. This is also where you can list a cocktail hour or a dance if you are having them.

   R.S.V.P. Line

   • Include an R.S.V.P. line with your wedding invitation, or provide a separate R.S.V.P. card if you like when having a meal and reception on your wedding day. By including these features, you will be able to get a better sense of the total number of guests, which will help you determine the amount of seating, tables, food and beverages to have on hand for your meal and reception. An R.S.V.P. line consists of a line addressing for the guest to fill in who will attend. It is also smart to provide a stamp and addressed envelope for guests to return their responses in a timely manner.

Source: www.ehow.com

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