In older days, all communication was written in formal language so writing wedding invitations were a simple task. In modern days it is important to use such decorum. Following are simple steps for writing one's wedding invitations.
Step 1: Who is Hosting?
The first names that guests will observe on one's wedding invitation are those of the people who are paying for the event. Traditionally, that is the bride's parents, and so it reads as:
Mr. and Mrs. John Smith
or
John Smith and Julie
If the bride and groom are hosting the event, then the line reads:
Ms. Jane and Mr. Sam
or
Together with their families,
Jane and Sam
Step 2: The Request
The second line in a wedding invitation is the one that requests that your guests attend. If your ceremony is at a place of worship, then the line should read:
Request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of our daughter/son
On the other hand, if the ceremony is at home or in any other secular location, then the line should be composed like:
Request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of our daughter
or
Would be delighted for you to attend
the marriage of our daughter
If the couple is hosting the ceremony:
We invite you to join us at the celebration of our marriage
Step 3: The Happy Couple
It is decorum to say that the bride should be listed first, using first and middle names only. Then the groom should be listed, using both title and middle name.
For example:
Jane Calvin
to
Mr. Scott Jackson
A more recent trend is simply:
Jane Calvin
to Scott Jackson
Step 4: Date and Time
Traditionally, the date and timing are spelled out in the invitation:
Sunday, the Ninth of June
two thousand and ten
at five o'clock in the afternoon
The month and day should be capitalized. If the timing of the ceremony is 5:30, the time would read at half after five o'clock in the afternoon.
But it can also write:
Sunday, June 9, 2010
at 5 p.m.
Step 5: The Location
If the ceremony takes place in a well known location there is no need to include the address:
The Museum of Fine Arts
Houston, Texas
But it is necessary to the write the address if it is a smaller and unfamiliar location:
The Art Club
49 Marquis Road
Blair, Utah
Step 6: Time for the Reception
If there is a reception following the ceremony it can be included on the wedding invitation or on a separate reply card.
On the wedding invitation, one can word it as:
Reception to follow at the Rotary Hills Country Club
If there is no full meal it is fine to let guests know. You might write in your invitation:
Dessert and dancing to follow
It is always better to use the separate card for the ceremony and reception if it takes place in different places or if the reception doesn't immediately follow the ceremony. It might read something like:
Reception
8 o'clockPark Royal Hotel
Pike, Oregon
Step 7: Get Them to RSVP
In older days R.S.V.P. was written on the invitation, and guests would reply to it on their own stationary. In recent trends, most couples find that they get responses more promptly if they include a separate reply card.
Please reply before the first of June
[Mr/Mrs] [Insert name(s)]
[Insert name(s)] will attend
[Insert name(s)] will not attend
Step 8: Optional details
One can include the optional details include such as type of dresses one can wear for the ceremony.
