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On this page, Halo Wedding Concepts has listed many examples for you to use on your wedding stationery. Please feel free to combine two that you like, or if nothing applies to your situation, Contact Us, and we will be happy to help you.
We have gone into much detail to explain the situations listed, to help you understand which example applies to you and your fiancé. Examples such as; Traditional and Informal Invitation Wording, Dress Code Definitions, RSVP Wording, Wishing Well Wording, and Love and Thank You Quotes.
Please browse through, and if you find an example that you need help with, click the link.
Traditional Wording - Click here
Grooms Parents Paying for the Wedding
Both Sets of Parents Paying for the Wedding
One Set of Parents Paying but Both Sets Being Acknowledged on the Invitation
Bride and Groom Paying for the Wedding
Illustrating Family Relationships on Invitations - Click here
Divorced Parents, no remarriage
Divorced Parents, one remarried
Divorced Parents, both remarried
Divorced Parent(s), significant other
Deceased Parent(s)
Dealing with Ceremony & Reception Locations on Invitations - Click here
Private Ceremony with Reception After (Same Day)
Private Ceremony with Reception After (Not Same Day)
Ceremony Held Abroad
Other Situations - Click here
Informal and Themed Wording
Double Wedding
Cultural and Ethnic Wording
Renewing Your Vows
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Other Examples
Dress Code Definitions - Click here
RSVP Wording - Click here
Save-the-Date Wording - Click here
Wishing Well Wording - Click here
Traditional Wording
The “traditional' invitation wording clearly reflects that the ceremony is all about the bride, but today that wording just is not always appropriate. In many cases, both sets of parents contribute to the costs of the ceremony and reception. Sometimes the bride and groom-to-be are paying for everything without the assistance of relatives. Other times there are family issues, such as divorce and remarriage, that may make properly wording the invitation as stressful as planning the wedding party. Not to mention that some people are throwing their second, third, or even fourth wedding celebrations and may not find the “traditional” wording above to be appropriate.
Brides Parents Paying for the Wedding
Mr. and Mrs. Steven Elliott
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Josie Lee Elliott
and
John Jacob Myers
at St. Paul's Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
Three o'clock in the afternoon
Example One
Grooms Parents Paying for the Wedding
While traditionally the bride's parents covered all of the wedding expenses, today that's not always the case. The groom's family sometimes has to foot the bill and, in that case, should be acknowledged solely on the invitation:
Mr. and Mrs. Bill Myers
request the honor of you presence
at the marriage of
Josie Lee Elliott
to their son
John Jacob Myers
at St. Paul's Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
Three o'clock in the afternoon
Example Two
Both Sets of Parents Paying for the Wedding
When the parents of both the bride and the groom are still married and when both are paying for the wedding, then both sets should be acknowledged on the wedding invitation:
Mr. and Mrs. Steven Elliott
and
Mr. and Mrs. Bill Myers
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Josie Lee Elliott
and
John Jacob Myers
at St. Paul's Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
Three o'clock in the afternoon
Generally, the bride's parents' names will come first regardless of who is covering a bigger percentage of the wedding costs.
Example Three
One Set of Parents Paying but Both Sets Being Acknowledged on the Invitation
Even though both sets of parents may not financially be able to cover the costs of a wedding, many couples want to recognize both of them on the invitations. The best way to accomplish this without diminishing the contribution of the parents who are paying is by using the following wording:
Mr. and Mrs. Steven Elliott
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Josie Lee Elliott
and
John Jacob Myers
son of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Myers
at St. Paul's Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
Three o'clock in the afternoon
or
Mr. and Mrs. Bill Myers
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of
Josie Lee Elliott,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Steven Elliott,
to their son
John Jacob Myers
at St. Paul's Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
Three o'clock in the afternoon
Example Four
Bride and Groom Paying for the Wedding
In many cases, the bride and groom will simply opt to pay for their own wedding, especially if one or the other has been married before. In that case, the invitation does not need to include the names of the parents at all. Instead, you can choose to use the following wording:
You are cordially invited
to celebrate the wedding of
Josie Lee Elliott
and
John Jacob Myers
at St. Paul's Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
Three o'clock in the afternoon
However, if you would still like to acknowledge your families on the invitations, you could instead choose the following wording option:
Together with their parents,
Josie Lee Elliott
and
John Jacob Myers
invite you to attend their wedding
at St. Paul's Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
Three o'clock in the afternoon
It's also not unusual for couples to already have children when their wedding day rolls around and there's also no reason not to include the children on the invitation, especially when the bride and groom are paying for the wedding themselves. Generally, there are two accepted ways of doing this:
Josie Lee Elliott
and
John Jacob Myers
together with their children,
invite you to attend their wedding
at St. Paul's Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
Three o'clock in the afternoon
Some parents don't like the option above because it doesn't demonstrate the importance of the children in their lives. The second option is, therefore, often preferred by parents:
Kelly Marie Myers
invites you to attend the wedding
of her parents
Josie Lee Elliott
and
John Jacob Myers
at St. Paul's Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
Three o'clock in the afternoon
The example above, however, is only appropriate if the couple getting married are the parents of the children listed on the invitation. That's also not always the case. If either the groom or the bride had a child prior to this relationship, the wording can be altered as follows:
Kelly Marie Elliott
invites you to attend the marriage
of her mother
Josie Lee Elliott
with
John Jacob Myers
at St. Paul's Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
Three o'clock in the afternoon
Or
Kelly Marie Myers
invites you to attend
the marriage of
Josie Lee Elliott
to her father
John Jacob Myers
at St. Paul's Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
Three o'clock in the afternoon
Illustrating Family Relationships on Invitations
Appropriately acknowledging the parents who paid for the wedding is only one issue that you'll have to contend with when you are wording your invitations. Divorced, remarried, and deceased parents don't fit neatly into the wording standards that most wedding etiquette specialists recommend. While it may be easier to leave off the names of step-parents or parents who've passed away, most couples want to include them on the invitations as a sign that they are or are still very much a part of their lives.
The difficulty, of course, is not usually in deciding who to include on the invitation. Examples of who to list and how to list them based on their financial contributions to the wedding appeared in the previous section, so that shouldn't be a problem. The problem is making the relationships between all of these family members clear to the recipients of the invitation. After all, you simply don't have room to draw your entire family tree, although that might be the easiest option in many cases.
Below are some examples of how to properly word the names of these family members on your invitations so that no one is left out and so that everyone's relationship is clear. Note: To simplify this section, I've chosen to focus only on one set of parents paying for the wedding and begin acknowledged on the invitation. If this is not the case, then you may need to combine some of the examples below with the appropriate example in the first section.
Example One
Divorce, no remarriage
When parents get divorced, one of two things usually happen: 1) Both parents are equal, loving parts of their child's life or 2) One parent takes on most of the responsibility for raising the child. For this reason, the child of the divorced parents will need to decide for him- or herself whether to include one or both parents on the invitation. Of course, if both parents are contributing financially to the wedding, then both names should be included. The example below illustrates how to include both parents' names on the invitation if they are divorced and neither has remarried:
Mr. Steven Elliott
and
Ms. June Elliott
request your presence at the wedding of
their daughter,
Josie Lee Elliott,
to
John Jacob Myers
at St. Paul's Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
Three o'clock in the afternoon
If the bride or groom decided only to acknowledge one parent on the invitation, then the following wording could be used:
Ms. June Elliott
requests your presence at the wedding of
her daughter,
Josie Lee Elliott,
to
John Jacob Myers
at St. Paul's Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
Three o'clock in the afternoon
Both methods are acceptable, but the bride and groom should select the option they feel most comfortable with.
Example Two
Divorced Parents, One Remarried
Remarriage is quite common in today's society, so it's not unusual for at least one of the parents to have found a new spouse. If the remarried couple is hosting the wedding, then one of the more “traditional” wordings will work. However, the bride or groom may also want to acknowledge the parent who did help pay for the wedding. In this case, the wording may look something like the following:
Mr. and Mrs. Steven Elliott
invite you to the wedding of
Josie Lee Elliott,
the daughter of
Mr. Steven Elliott and Ms. June Elliott,
to
John Jacob Myers
at St. Paul's Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
Three o'clock in the afternoon
If both the remarried parent and the still-single parent are both paying for the wedding, then the following example would be appropriate:
Mr. and Mrs. Steven Elliott
and
Ms. June Elliott
request your presence at the wedding of
their daughter
Josie Lee Elliott
to
John Jacob Myers
at St. Paul's Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
Three o'clock in the afternoon
Example Three
Divorced Parents, Both Remarried
When both sets of parents are remarried and are going to be acknowledged on the wedding invitation, there are two options to choose from. The child of the divorced parents will need to decide which of the two choices he or she feels most comfortable with:
Mr. and Mrs. Steven Elliott
and
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Baker
invite you to the wedding
of their daughter
Josie Lee Elliott
to
John Jacob Myers
at St. Paul's Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
Three o'clock in the afternoon
or
Mr. and Mrs. Steven Elliott
and
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Baker
invite you to the wedding of
Josie Lee Elliott,
daughter of
Mr. Steven Elliott and Mrs. June Baker
to
John Jacob Myers
at St. Paul's Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
Three o'clock in the afternoon
Some couples may also want to acknowledge the parents of the groom (or bride) along with the remarried parents. Unless the other parents are also helping to pay for the wedding, the best way to acknowledge all three sets of parents would be as follows:
Mr. and Mrs. Steven Elliott
and
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Baker
invite you to the wedding of
Josie Lee Elliott,
daughter of
Mr. Steven Elliott and Mrs. June Baker
to
John Jacob Myers,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Myers,
at St. Paul's Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
Three o'clock in the afternoon
Even though the parents remarry, the bride and groom are not obligated to include the new spouse's name on the invitations. They can simply state the name's of their parents as if they were only divorced. While some parties may be upset by being left off the invitation, the final decision on who to include is up to the bride and groom.
Example Four
Divorced Parent(s), Significant Other
Another change since the traditional and simpler times has been that some couples never get married but form long-term relationships. In these cases, the bride and groom may wish to acknowledge their parent's partner on the invitation. The following wording would be acceptable:
Mr. Steven Elliott and Ms. Becky Owens
invite you to the wedding of
Mr. Elliott's daughter,
Josie Lee Elliott,
to
John Jacob Myers,
at St. Paul's Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
Three o'clock in the afternoon
The other parent could also be acknowledged as in many of the other examples that appear in this section. The bride and groom should simply decide on the wording they feel most comfortable with.
Example Five
Deceased Parents
Typically, deceased parents are not included on invitations. The reason for this is that the invitation reflects who is hosting the event for the bride and groom, and a deceased parent cannot have been involved in the hosting. Some couples feel very strongly, however, about including the name of one or both deceased parents. In that case, the following wording would be appropriate:
Josie Lee Elliott,
daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Steven Elliott,
and
John Jacob Myers
invite you to attend their wedding celebration
at St. Paul's Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
Three o'clock in the afternoon
If only one parent is deceased, then the second line of the example above might read “daughter of Lorelei Smith and the late Bob Smith.” If the widowed parent has since remarried, then the following example might be more appropriate:
Mr. and Mrs. Steven Elliott
invite you to the wedding of
Josie Lee Elliott,
daughter of Steven Elliott and the late June Elliott,
and
John Jacob Myers
at St. Paul's Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
Three o'clock in the afternoon
Wedding invitations don't automatically have to include the bride or groom's parents either. If other family members, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. are throwing the wedding, then their names can be included on the invitation instead of the parents. Then, the word “son” or “daughter” should be replaced with a term that accurately reflects the relationship between the parties, such as “granddaughter” or “nephew.”
Dealing with Ceremony & Reception Locations on Invitations
All of the above examples have been “traditional” in the sense that they were inviting guests to attend a wedding being held at a church. Just as the bride's parents aren't always married or paying for the event, not all weddings are taking place in churches these days. In fact, some couples prefer to have a private ceremony and then follow it up with a reception for their friends and family members. There's nothing wrong with any of these possibilities, but many brides and grooms stress about how to properly word these choices on their invitations.
In this section, you'll find some wording examples that reflect these different situations.
Example One
Private Ceremony with Reception After (Same Day)
Many couples are opting for just going to town hall for a wedding because the costs of hiring a clergyman, renting a church, paying for flowers, choosing a dress, etc. are too time-consuming and too expensive. Others prefer a modest ceremony with just the closest family and friends, but they want to celebrate with everyone else at the reception. Regardless of how you are getting married, if you want to invite individuals to the reception but not to the ceremony, you can use the following wording:
Josie Lee Elliott
and
John Jacob Myers
are getting married on
Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
They cordially invite you to
celebrate their special day
at a reception following the ceremony
at Gallery Restaurant
67 Yerger Street, Brisbane
Five o'clock in the evening
The wording above can be modified to include the parents name as in some of the previous examples in other sections. If one set of parents has paid for the reception and the bride and groom want to acknowledge their contribution on the wedding, the following wording would be appropriate:
Josie Lee Elliott
and
John Jacob Myers
are getting married on
Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
Mr. and Mrs. Steven Elliott
cordially invite you to
celebrate this special event
with Josie and John
at a reception following the ceremony
at Gallery Restaurant
67 Yerger Street, Brisbane
Five o'clock in the evening
Example Two
Private Ceremony with Reception After (Not Same Day)
If a couple elopes or travels abroad for their wedding, many friend and family members will miss out on the ceremony so many families opt to hold a reception for the new couple when they return. Below is an example of how to properly word invitations to cover this situation:
On Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
Josie Lee Elliott
and
John Jacob Myers
will be married
They wish to invite you
to a reception to celebrate
Friday, the Sixth of July, two thousand and five
Five o'clock in the evening
at Gallery Restaurant,
67 Yerger Street, Brisbane
If the marriage has taken place before the invitations have been sent out, then the phrase “will be married” should be replaced with “were married.” In that situation, it's customary to also list when and where the couple was married.
Example Three
Ceremony Held Abroad
Today, many couples are finding it more special to go off together on a romantic trip to get married, then having a huge church wedding. In some cases, couples want to invite their friends and family members to attend these distant ceremonies. In other cases, they want their loved ones to celebrate their marriage at the reception which they hold when they return from their wedding/honeymoon.
If the couple is getting married and does not want to invite anyone else to the wedding, the invitation wording illustrated in the previous scenario would work fine. The couple should include the where and when of the ceremony on the invitations also.
If the couple does want to invite people to both the wedding and the reception, then the following wording would be appropriate:
Josie Lee Elliott
and
John Jacob Myers
invite you to attend their wedding
in Madrid, Spain
at St. Paul's Church, 11 Madre Street
Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
Five o'clock in the evening
A reception will be held
to honor the new Mr. and Mrs. Myers
Friday, the Sixth of July, two thousand and five
Six o'clock in the evening
at Gallery Restaurant,
67 Yerger Street, Brisbane
Most couples realize that few of their friends and family members can afford to pay the costs of a lengthy trip in order to attend their wedding. Sometimes, if the bride and groom are financially able, they can help cover the costs for the trips for some of the most special guests. In those cases, it's best not to include that contingency in the invitation wording. Instead, the bride and groom should compose a brief note on elegant paper that matches the invitation which explains the situation. Possible wording for such a note is below:
Jacob and I realize that traveling can be expensive, however,
we truly desire your presence at our ceremony. We would be more
than happy to contribute to or cover the costs of your trip so
that you can join us for our celebration in Spain.
Other Situations
Choosing More Informal Invitation Wording
All of the previous invitation examples have been very formal. However, there's no reason your invitations have to be that way. There's nothing wrong with being less formal when you are inviting the people you care about to share one of the most special days of your life. If your ceremony is not being held in a church, or the traditional venue for a wedding, or you just want to steer away from all the traditions and etiquette of a wedding, you may want to aim for a more non-traditional wording layout on your invite.
You may also relate the wedding to the location of your ceremony eg. A beachside wedding. Take away the traditional ‘request the honor of your presence’ and maybe replace it with ‘wish you could join them at their magical seaside wedding’. There are many poems or love quotes that you could include in your invite, or maybe you could make up your own. Include words from you and your fiancé’s favorite song, or have quotes that your fiancé wrote in a Valentines Day card for you once.
At the end of the day, you can write anything you want on the invite, as long as you include the host(s) name; whose getting married; where the ceremony is; what time is the ceremony; reception address and time (if this is applicable); type of reception eg. dinner; cocktail party etc; dress attire; and RSVP details (if not included anywhere else on your stationery).
Example One
Informal Wording
Josie and John
would be delighted
if you would join them
for their wedding
at St. Paul's Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
on Saturday, June 30th, 2005
at 3:00 pm
A reception will follow
Or
A life of sharing and caring
An endless love of giving together
we
Josie Lee Elliott
and
John Jacob Myers
together with our parents,
invite you to share in the celebration
of our marriage,
at St. Paul's Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
Three o'clock in the afternoon
Or
Because you have shared in their lives
by your friendship and love
you are invited to share with our daughter,
Josie Elliott
and
John Myers
when they exchange marriage vows
and begin their new life together
at St. Paul’s Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
Three o’clock in the afternoon
With informal wedding invitations, you get to decide whether you want to use just your first names, just your first and middle names, etc. The wording sounds more natural and conversational also.
Informal wording is most appropriate for weddings that are held in non-traditional locations, such as the beach, for second marriages, and for weddings being hosted by the bride and groom themselves. However, if you simply prefer the informal touch because it more accurately reflects who you are as a couple and how you want your guests to perceive your wedding, then by all means, you should use it instead.
You could have a poem relating to the location you are having the wedding. The poem could be on one side of the invite, then the invitation on the other. Or you could combine the poem into the invite, as below:
Example Two
Beach Wedding Wording
As unique as a seashell
As deep as the sea
As eternal as the waves
Our love is meant to be
It is with joy that we
Josie Lee Elliott
and John Jacob Myers
invite you to share in the
celebration of our marriage
at St. Paul's Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
Three o'clock in the afternoon
Couples could also have their wedding date near a festive occasion and want to incorporate this holiday season into their invitation. If your wedding is near, or on, Christmas day you could have the wording below.
Example Three
Christmas Wedding Wording
The miracle of Christmas
and the magic of true love
brings joy to our lives . . .
You are invited to share our joy
as we exchange marriage vows
on Saturday, 30th June
at 3.00pm
St Pauls Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Josie Lee Elliott
and
John Jacob Myers
Remember, however, if you do want a very formal wedding, then your invitations also need to be very formal. Otherwise, you'll have guests arriving expecting an informal occasion and feeling uncomfortable in the non-casual environment.
Double Wedding Wording
What a great way to save yourself money and share the workload by having your wedding with another couple. Maybe you and your sister are getting married at the same time, maybe it’s together with close friends, or maybe it’s your fiancé and his brother.
In the case of sisters, traditionally the eldest sisters’ name will be listed first with her husband to be, then the younger sister. Or, if you would rather not decide on whose name goes at the top of the invitation, consider going with an invitation that has three panels. The middle panel should list the people invited, location, date, time, reception details, maybe a poem etc. Then the two side panels should be kept for each couple (one side each). This is also an easier option if you would like to have some separation from the other couple who are getting married.
Example One
When Brides are sisters:
Mr. and Mrs. Steven Elliott
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughters
Josie Lee Elliott
to
John Jacob Myers
and
Anna Kay Elliott
to
Alan Peter Jones
at St. Paul's Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
Three o'clock in the afternoon
Example Two
When Brides are not sisters:
Mr. and Mrs. Steven Elliott
and
Mr. and Mrs. Gary Smith
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughters
Josie Lee Elliott
to
John Jacob Myers
and
Rebecca Marie Smith
to
Scott James Bradshaw
at St. Paul's Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
Three o'clock in the afternoon
Cultural and Ethnic Wording
It can be hard to find examples on wording when two different cultures are getting married. Usually, you will want to incorporate both nationalities on their invite, so as not to leave anybody out.
If you were an American girl marrying a Spanish male, you may come across an obstacle with parts of the family not even understanding the invitation. It is difficult if one part of the family can’t understand English, and the other can’t understand Spanish. An idea to overcome this problem is to have a two paneled invitation. One side would have the English language, and the other would be in Spanish. Both sides of the family can easily read this, and both cultures are included equally.
But to have something ethnic orientated and still in English, is a little different. Below are some examples of what you could have, but it all depends on your nationalities.
Example One
Cultural Wording
A fresh new day and it is ours
a day of happy beginnings
when we,
Josie Lee Elliott
and
John Jacob Myers
pledge our love as one
in the tradition of our African ancestors
on Saturday, 30th June, 2005
at 3.00pm
St Paul’s Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Our joy will be more complete
if you can join us in this celebration of life
Or
Let's join our hands - form a ring
let's stamp our feet - dance and sing!
With joyful praise to
the Loving One who created us
Josie Lee Elliott
and
John Jacob Myers
invite you to join the circle of celebration
as we unite our hands, hearts, and heritage
on Saturday, 30th June, 2005
at 3.00pm
St Paul’s Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Renewing Your Wedding Vows Wording
More people these days are renewing their marriage vows as they get older. Maybe you want to do it as a special anniversary present, or you could even hold it every 7 years to remind you of that ‘special day.’ Your first ceremony may have even been an elopement, and you have finally decided to put on that big traditional wedding. Whatever the reason, renewing your vows can bring back special memories, and gives you a great excuse to have a party. Below are some examples of what you can use.
Example One
The honour of your presence
is requested at
the reaffirmation of wedding vows of
Mr. and Mrs. John Myers
Saturday, Thirtieth of June, 2005
at three o’clock in the afternoon
If you renewed your vows on a holiday, or just wanted it to be private, but wanted to hold a reception with loved ones, you could word your invitation like this.
Example Two
The pleasure of your company
is requested at a reaffirmation reception
celebrating the recent renewal of
wedding vows of
Mr. & Mrs. John Myers
Saturday, Thirtieth of June, 2005
at three o'clock in the afternoon
Religious Ceremony Wording
Religious ceremonies can use rituals, prayers and traditions that relate to that one particular religious organization. You and your partner may want to have the marriage blessed by calling upon a ‘higher power’, or include prayers and hymns that you have at your local church. Whatever religion you are, or what set of beliefs you follow, you can incorporate it into your invitations.
If you and your spouse do not share the same religion but want to include both, then you may need to combine them into the wording. Or, you could send out an invitation that relates to one religion to the appropriate guests, and the other religion to the other guests. For couples who want their invitation religious in minor ways, you could have a prayer or hymn on one side of the invite, and then just the standard invitation wording on the other side. Below are some examples of including religion into your wording.
Example One
God gives life as a chance to give love
Mrs. June Elliott and Mr. Steven Elliott
request you share in their joy as their daughter
Josie Lee Elliott unites for eternity in Christ with
John Jacob Myers
son of Mrs. Barbara Myers and Mr. Bill Myers
on Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
at St. Paul’s Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Three o’clock in the afternoon
Or
Mr. and Mrs. Steven Elliott
request the honor of your presence
at the ceremony in which their daughter
Josie Lee Elliott
and
John Jacob Myers
will vow their lives to one another
and become united as one in Christ
on Saturday, the Thirtieth of June, 2005
at St. Paul’s Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Three o’clock in the afternoon
Second Wedding Wording
Second and third time marriages are becoming more popular nowadays, and couples wonder should the invitation be worded as if this was the first time they were getting married, or should it have a different layout altogether. Usually because both or one of the spouses getting married has already done so in the past, they tend to host the wedding themselves, therefore their names will be at the top of the invitations.
Two families may be joining into one, so the couple getting married will usually want to include their childrens’ names. Or you could even have the children acting as hosts for your wedding. The choice is totally up to you, but below are a couple of examples.
Example One
Please join us in celebrating
as we exchange marriage vows
on Saturday, the thirtieth of June, two thousand and five
at three o’clock
St. Paul’s Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Josie Elliott and John Myers
Or
Ms. Josie Lee Elliott
with her daughter Belinda Lee Elliott
and her son Matthew William Elliott
and
Mr. John Jacob Myers
with his daughter Jennifer Ann Myers
and his son Paul Michael Myers
request the pleasure of your company
at the union of their families
at St Pauls Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
Three o’clock in the afternoon
Other Examples
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Steve and June Elliott together with
Bill and Barbara Myers
have much pleasure in inviting
Joe and Renae
to celebrate the marriage of
Josie and John
at St Pauls Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
On Saturday, 30th June 2005 at 3.30pm
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Steve and June Elliott together with
Bill and Barbara Myers
are pleased to invite
Joe and Renae
to share their joy in the marriage of
Josie and John
at St Pauls Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
On Saturday, 30th June 2005 at 3.30pm
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Steve and June Elliott together with
Bill and Barbara Myers invite
Joe and Renae
to share with us a day of great happiness when
Josie and John
are joined in marriage
at St Pauls Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
On Saturday, 30th June 2005 at 3.30pm
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Steve and June Elliott together with
Bill and Barbara Myers invite
Joe and Renae
to share in the love and happiness as
Josie and John
exchange vows of marriage and
begin their new life together
at St Pauls Church, 11 Edward Place, Brisbane
On Saturday, 30th June 2005 at 3.30pm
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Dress Code Definitions and Wording
Today, dress attire is included and needed on nearly every wedding invitation. It tells the guest what kind of clothing they should wear, and shows them the formality of the wedding. In saying this, there are a few definitions of dress codes, and people do get confused on what code represents what type of clothing. It is a good idea to put your dress code on the bottom of the invitation, plus a brief description of what is to be worn eg: Black Tie – Black tuxedos and evening dresses.
Wedding attire does differ in different countries, but these codes do have general basic guides that are recognizable to everyone. Here are some definitions of what the main dress codes mean:
Black Tie : Men can wear black tuxedos, and women wear long cocktail or evening dresses (elegant suits are also acceptable).
White Tie : This is the crème de la crème of dress attire, therefore not the most popular dress code. Men wear full tuxedos with tails, white tie and vest. Women wear ball and evening gowns.
Formal : The most popular dress code today. Similar to Black Tie, but meaning a little trendier. Guests can wear maybe a black shirt, tie (optional), jacket and dress pants. Women wear evening dresses or suits.
Black Tie Optional : Meaning guests have the option of wearing a tuxedo, but it is not necessary. A dark suit and tie would be your other option. Women wear long cocktail, evening dresses, or suits.
Semi-Formal : Usually means tuxedos are not required, but you can wear dress pants, shirt, tie (optional), no jacket. Women wear either a dress or a suit.
Cocktail Attire : Women can wear short, classy dresses. Mean wear dark suits.
Dressy Casual : No jeans or shorts, but you don’t need a tuxedo either. Similar to Semi-Formal, but this code will definitely need some details on your invite to what you think should be worn.
Casual : This implies that guests can choose to wear whatever they wish.
Informal : Similar to Casual, but usually hints to the guest to make an effort in their appearance, since it is a wedding.
Themed : This obviously depends on what theme you are having for your wedding. You may need to give your guest some ideas on what to wear. Maybe suggest costume hire places, or websites to explore so they know what is needed. Encourage your guests to dress up, but make it clear they can still attend your wedding if they don’t wish to be in costume eg. Renaissance dress requested, but not required.
RSVP Wording
R.S.V.P or response cards are usually included in the invitations and are useful because they allow you to find out who is planning on attending your wedding and/or reception. Generally, the response card is used more for the reception, because you'll need a fairly accurate idea of how many people are coming so you can inform your caterer, create seating plans, order alcohol, etc.
Most couples have their response cards printed up along with the rest of their wedding stationery. If you are making your own invitations, however, you can make your own response cards as well. Most office supply stores sell blank postcards that can be used in your home printer and which will serve as appropriate R.S.V.P cards.
Traditionally, it is not acceptable to ask for responses by telephone or by e-mail. One of the reasons for this is that some guests may feel uncomfortable contacting you if they don't know you very well. They may simply put off the task of calling or sending an email but may show up at the reception anyway which can cause you problems. Another reason is that the response cards give you something tangible to hold on to. A quick phone call from a guest may be forgotten in the hectic last days up to the wedding, so he or she may not be counted appropriately. When a guest simply has to drop the response card in the mail, the response rates are higher and are usually more accurate.
Many couples make the mistake of not listing a deadline for responses. Therefore, guests may procrastinate and not send their cards back until the very last minute which may be too late. You should always set a deadline, usually two weeks before the wedding gives guests enough time to check the appropriate box and drop the card into the mail.
There are a number of ways to word you response cards, but they should include the following information:
- space for the guest's name
- number of people attending
- check mark spots for attending or not attending
- deadline for responding
- menu choices, if applicable
Example One
Please respond by April 1, 2005
M______________________________
Number of People Attending ____
_______ accepts ______ regrets
Example Two
Kylie and Brian
I/We Will Be Attending
I/We Are Unable to Attend
Please RSVP by April 1, 2005
____________________________
If you have not heard from a person who received an invitation by the deadline, you can and should give them a call personally to find out whether or not they will be attending. No matter how easy you make it to respond, there will still usually be some guests who intend to come but who simply forget to return the card. Calling will make sure they get a fairly accurate guest count, but you should always plan for an extra couple of people so that you're prepared in case non-responding guests still show up or a person changes his or her mind about attending at the last minute.
Save the Date Card Wording
Because Save the Date cards aren't a substitute for formal invitations, they don't have to include as much information nor do they have to be so formal in their wording. Some basic information does need to be included on the cards, including all of the following:
You do have some options when deciding how to word this information on the Save the Date card. For example, you could go with a very basic message, such as the following:
Please Save the Date of June 30, 2005
for the wedding of
Josie Elliott and John Myers
in Brisbane
Formal Invitation to Follow
Alternately, you can go for something a little less formal, such as:
Because we want all of our friends and family with us
on our wedding day,
please Save the Date of June 30, 2005.
The big event will be held in Brisbane.
Invitation to Follow
A more formal approach to the wording would also be acceptable, especially if your wedding is going to be very formal. Below is an example:
Miss Josie Lee Elliott and Mr. John Jacob Myers
respectfully request that you reserve
the date of June 30, 2005
for their wedding in Brisbane.
Formal Invitation to Follow
Wishing Well Wording
It is quite hard for anyone to ask for money without feeling uncomfortable. But these days, couples aren’t in need for the normal household gifts. Usually they have lived together for awhile, and have acquired all the day to day household items already. It is quite common for most couples to instead request a gift of currency for their special day.
You will find some of the more traditional guests will ignore your request, and still purchase you a gift of their own choice, but you are not telling your guests that they have to get you money or don’t come! You are just telling them that, if you need some help in choosing us a gift, we would really appreciate cash to put towards our future house, or our honeymoon, or something we are saving towards.
Below are some tactful examples you can use to put on your wishing well card. Feel free to combine 2, 3, or 4. They may just help guide you along to create your own wording.
Example One
Friends, as you are aware we already have most items needed to 'set up house'. This is the reason for us choosing a wedding wishing well. At the reception there will be a wishing well in which we would love to receive your greeting card and contribution. This will be a great way for us to pool together and buy ourselves something quite luxurious, or to make our honeymoon even better.
Example Two
This wishing well is here today for family and friends. Take an
envelope, make a wish and please drop it in. As it falls into the
well your wish, for the couple, will come true. A token for the
couple, to help them begin, will be welcomed, too. Please take the
time to make a wish before the day is through.
Example Three
Now we are to be Mr & Mrs
We don't need a wedding list of dishes
we have two kettles, two toasters, two microwaves
We require a house for which we have to save.
If you would like to give us a gift,
A cheque or vouchers would give us a lift
We like to think of it as our 'Wishing Well'
Which will be filled with your love, we can tell.
Example Four:
"We've been together a few years now;
we have pots and pans and linen and towels;
we have glasses and toasters, really quite a few;
so instead of more gifts, we suggest this to you;
if it doesn't offend and it won't send you running;
what we would really appreciate is quite simply money;
we know choosing gifts can be such a pain;
and this way there is no chance of bringing the same."
What do you think?
Example Five:
"If you were thinking of giving a gift, to help us on our way.
A gift of cash towards our house, would really make our day.
However, if you prefer to purchase a gift, feel free to surprise us in your own way."
Example Six:
To save you looking, shopping or buying.
Here is an idea, we hope you like trying.
Come to our wedding, to wish us both well.
And bring this small sack, to throw in our wishing well.
Fill it with paper all colours will do, gold is our favourite but silver will do.
Now that we have saved you, all of that fuss.
We hope you will come, and celebrate with us
Example Seven:
We don’t want to offend but we have it all,
all household goods and so much more.
To save you shopping, sit back and rest,
a gift of currency is our request.
Don’t go overboard or rob any banks,
any little thing will make us smile with thanks.
We supply the wishing well,
no wrapping, an envelope, and who can tell.
Now that we have saved you all the fuss,
it would be appreciated if you would come
and celebrate with us
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