One of the things my couples ask me time and time again is how to word their invites. There really are no hard and fast rules this day in age; it's all a matter of preference to be honest...and also, how traditional your wedding, or your family, are.
There are some points you may wish to consider, and these all really boil down to whether you or your families are hosting/paying for the wedding itself. Traditionally, either one set or both parents would host, but it is more commonplace these days for the couple to host.
If the brides parents are hosting the wedding, it is commonplace to leave off the brides surname and include the grooms full name:
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Jenkinson
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their daughter
Jessica Natalie
to
Anthony James Jackson
If the both sets of parents are hosting the wedding, the bride and groom's first and middle names (if any) are included but neither surname:
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Jenkinson &
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Jackson
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Jessica Natalie
and
Anthony James
If you and your partner are hosting the day yourselves, then you don't need to include your parents names. You could word your invitations in the following way, which is really popular:
The honor of your presence
is requested at the marriage of
Jessica Natalie Jenkinson
to Anthony James Jackson
This may be too formal for you both; if you want to be more relaxed, you may prefer to replace the first two lines with:
Together with their families
Jessica Natalie Jenkinson
and Anthony James Jackson
invite you to join them as they celebrate
the happy occasion of their marriage
OK...we've decided on the opening lines, now what?
On your invitation, you need to include all the really important information...the date, time and the location of your wedding. You may also want to include the full address of your venue and also, a line for guests to arrive by a certain time to be seated ready for the ceremony.
In terms of further information, a details card to go with your invite would be a good idea. Here is what you should consider sharing with your guests...
Guest Information
Your guests may be travelling to your wedding from some distance, so it is always a good idea to provide them with some additional information to make it super easy for them to attend your wedding.
I always recommend including:
- Local hotels and accommodation options (you can include codes here for hotels if you have an agreed discount for your guests)
- Taxi services - if your guests don't fancy driving and would prefer to let loose at your wedding, they may require taxis to take them home or to their hotel. Include a list of 2-3 local taxi services but advise your guests to book in advance - some cab companies may get booked up on the night itself!
- Dress code - are there any requirements for your big day? Will people need to wear sensible shoes due to rough terrain? Let your guests know if there is a dress code.
- Menu options - if you want your guests to choose from a menu for the wedding breakfast, then you may wish to include it here.
- Gifting - do you want guests to come bearing gifts, or would you just prefer their company? Let them know so they know the etiquette for your day. Perhaps you have a Prezola gift list, or just want money towards your honeymoon...
- Children - some venues have number restrictions, or deep water on site which isn't suitable for children. Or you may not want children at your wedding. Which is cool...just let your guests know!
If you are having a destination wedding, you may wish to include things like flights, transfer information, best places to eat locally, day trips, etc.
RSVPs
So you have your invite wording down, and you have provided your guests with all the information they need to attend. But will they attend?
If you are sending an RSVP with your invites, be sure to include:
- and RSVP return date and address
- a tick box to say whether the guests can come or not
- a line for them to fill in any dietary requirements or meal options
You may also wish to include a line for song requests - that's always a popular one!
Should you still feel stuck, feel free to get in touch...I have seen most ways of wording invitations after four years in the industry! But otherwise, best of luck prepping your invitation wording!
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