wedding invitation wording examples
I put together some examples to help you write your invitation wording. If there is anything I missed please don't hesitate to ask questions, I am happy to help and I am always adding to my list of ideas and examples.
general questions:
what is the difference between "honor" & "honour"?
Honour is the British spelling of honor. It is traditionally used for formal wedding invitations when the ceremony is held in a church or place of worship. Be aware that honour will come up in spell check as misspelled!
what time of day do you use "afternoon" vs. "evening"?
Morning: 5am - 11:59am
Noon: 12pm - 1pm
Afternoon: 1pm - 5:59pm
Evening: 6pm - 8:30pm
Should I include the address on the main invitation and reception card?
If you are not planning to have a map insert card that includes the addresses, it would be a good idea to include the addresses on the main invitation and reception card. It is most formal to write out everything rather than abbreviating it; Street, Illinois, Avenue, etc.
should I include the groom's parents?
Including the groom's parents is optional. Please see examples below for placement options.
Everyone knows me by my nickname, Liz, but my real name is Elizabeth, for a monogram do I use "L" or "E"? For my wedding invitation, can I put my nick name rather than my given name?
For a formal wedding invitation and ceremony programs, traditionally should list you full given names (first, middle, and last). So, you should use your given name (Elizabeth) rather than a nick name (Liz) and same would follow for your monogram (E rather than L). On your save the date and/or day of paper (other than the ceremony programs), you can use a nick name for a more casual look.
How do I convey who is hosting the wedding?
The host's name usually is listed first on the invitation. I included notes about who is hosting for each example below.
Main Card wording examples:
example #1:
- Religious ceremony ("honour" rather than "honor" denotes religious ceremony)
- Hosted by the Bride's parents
- Attire included
Dr. and Mrs. David S. Duda
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Casey Craine
to Keane Burke Harris
Saturday, the third day of August
two thousand thirteen
at half past three o'clock in the afternoon
Saints Faith, Hope and Charity Church
191 Linden Street, Winnetka, Illinois
Black Tie Optional
example #2:
- Catholic ceremony with mass included ("honour" rather than "honor" denotes religious ceremony and "nuptial mass uniting" and "in the sacrament of holy matrimony" are used as formal wording for ceremonies with a Catholic mass included)
- Hosted by the Bride's parents
- Groom's parents included
- Middle initials only used for the parent's names, keep it consistent throughout
Mr. and Mrs. John N. Simons
request the honour of your presence
at the nuptial mass uniting their daughter
Samantha Rose
to
James Thomas
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Reidy
in the sacrament of holy matrimony
Saturday, the tenth of February
Two thousand eighteen
at three o'clock in the afternoon
Saint Clement Church
642 West Deming Place, Chicago, Illinois
Example #3:
- Non religious ceremony, (not in a church, "honour" rather than "honor" denotes religious ceremony)
- Hosted by the Bride's parents
- Groom's parents names are included
- Groom's parents are divorced
- Reception and ceremony are at the same location
- Middle names used for the parent's names, initials are fine too just keep it consistent throughout
Mr. & Mrs. Charles Edwin Binkholder
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their daughter
Melissa Nicole
to
Michael Allen
son of Mr. Thomas Allen North
& Ms. Joan Hinkes North
Sunday, the eighteenth of May
Two thousand and fourteen
at five o’clock in the afternoon
Mavris Arts & Events Center
Indianapolis, Indiana
Reception to follow
Example #4:
- Religious ceremony ("honour" rather than "honor" denotes religious ceremony)
- Hosted by both the Bride's and Groom's parents
- Middle names used for the parent's names, initials are fine too just keep it consistent throughout
Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey William Engle and
Mr. & Mrs. Franklin James Edgeworth
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Sarah Lynn
and
Francis Anthony
Saturday, the ninth of November
two thousand and thirteen
at half past three o’clock in the afternoon
Trinity Lutheran Church
3637 Golf Road, Evanston, Illinois
Example #5:
- Religious ceremony ("honour" rather than "honor" denotes religious ceremony)
- Hosted by the Bride and Groom or their families together
- Map card was included in the invitation suite so the address was not on the invitation
Together with their families
Elissa Anne Henricks
and
David Andrew Anderson
request the honour of your presence
at their marriage
Saturday the twenty-first of June
Two thousand and fourteen
at two o'clock in the afternoon
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Glenview, Illinois
Reception Card wording examples:
Example #1 standard Reception wording:
Please join us for
Cocktails, Dinner and Dancing
at six o'clock in the evening
The Drake Hotel
140 East Walton Place
Chicago, Illinois
example #2 reception at a private residence:
Dinner and Dancing
immediately following
Home of the Bride
123 Indian Hill Road, Winnetka, Illinois
or
Reception immediately following the ceremony
The Donovan Residence
123 West Calumet Court
River Hills, Wisconsin
Response Card wording examples:
example #1 standard response card:
Kindly respond by the twentieth of May
M __________________________________________
__ accepts with pleasure
__ declines with regret
example #2 food choices:
- It is important to ask for guests initials when giving food choices, so we know which guest gets which meal when we are designing the escort cards.
Kindly respond by the first of June
M_____________________________________________
____ accepts with pleasure ____ declines with regret
Please initial your choice of entrée:
____ beef ____ salmon ____ vegetarian
example #3 dietary restrictions:
Kindly respond by the twentieth of May
M __________________________________________
__ accepts with pleasure
__ declines with regret
Please inform us of any dietary restrictions
example #4 multiple events:
Kindly respond by the twentieth of May
M __________________________________________
Please indicate the number attending:
__ welcome party on Friday
__ wedding on Saturday
__ brunch on Sunday
__ unable to attend all events
info card wording examples:
These are examples of cards that include a variety of other information; welcome party, brunch, website, accommodations, transportation, parking, etc.
Example #1 Welcome party, brunch and website:
Welcome Party
Miller's Dockside Bar and Grill
220 Harbor Drive, Boca Grande, Florida
six thirty in the evening
Friday, December 15th
Hosted by Connor's parents
Farewell Brunch
BZ's in the Gasparilla Inn
500 Palm Avenue, Boca Grande, Florida
nine to eleven o'clock in the morning
Sunday, December 17th
Hosted by Connor's aunts
For more information and accommodations please visit:
www.weddingwesbite.com
Example #2 short and sweet website card:
For more details
www.weddingwebsite.com
example #3 accommodations, transportation and website:
- For your accommodations info, make sure to give guests a book by date. It is a good idea to give guests a false deadline of a couple days before the actual book by date, so if they are a little late in booking they are not totally out of luck.
Accommodations
For your convenience, a block of hotel rooms have been reserved at:
The Deer Path Inn
255 East Illinois Road, Lake Forest, Illinois, (847) 234-2280
The Westin Chicago North Shore
601 Milwaukee Avenue, Wheeling, Illinois, (847) 777-6500
Please mention the Novak/Stuart wedding when making your reservations.
The wedding block rates will be honored until April 15, 2018.
Transportation
Shuttles will be provided from The Westin to the ceremony
and back to The Westin at the end of the night.
Please refer to our website for details
www.weddingwesbite.com
example #4 Accommodations, Parking, Brunch and Website:
Weekend Details
Accommodations
Chicago Athletic Association Hotel
12 South Michigan Avenue | 844-312-2221
The Wyndham Grand
71 East Wacker Drive | 312-346-7100
The Wit Hotel – Hilton
201 North State Street | 312-467-0200
Please book by May 4th and book under the Lentino/Harris room block.
Wedding Night Parking
Please check our website for details.
Farewell Breakfast
Sunday, June 2nd from 9-11 am
The Chicago Athletic Association Hotel
12 South Michigan Avenue
For more wedding details visit:
www.weddingwesbite.com