7 Tips for Wording Formal Wedding Invitations

Whether you are just beginning the wedding planning process or well on your way; one of the main things you’ll probably consider are your wedding invitations. This important element helps set the tone for guests as they’ll be able to get an overall feel for your event. Consequently, the style and colors incorporated in the invitation are key in giving an idea of what the guest can expect at the wedding. The wording is also very significant as another way to portray your wedding’s ambiance.

If you are more traditional and want to host a formal wedding for your friends and family; you’ll want to follow the rules of formal wedding invitation etiquette. We understand it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the myriad of choices that come with planning a wedding, so we wanted to give you these simple rules that will take some of the stress out of wording your invitation correctly.

1. Spell out all names in full, including middle names. Do not use initials. It’s better to omit a middle name rather than abbreviate it.

2. Going along with rule #1, abbreviate nothing at all. The date, hour and year should all be fully written out. The only exceptions to this rule are "St." (as in Saint, not Street) and "Mt." (as in Mount.)

3. British spellings of the words “honour” and “favour” are more formal version of their American counterpart and add an extra touch of elegance. However, both the American or British spellings are acceptable.

4. Use Roman numerals in names, rather than "the third," or "3rd."

5. Ceremonies taking place in any house of worship "request the honor of your presence."
Ceremonies taking place anywhere else - someone's house, outside, a banquet hall - "request the pleasure of your company."

6. When the parents of the bride (the most traditional form) are hosting the wedding, here is one example of how the invitation might be worded:

Mr. and Mrs. John Michael Smith
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Jane Anne
and
Mr. James Peter Doe
on Saturday, the seventeenth of June
two thousand and ten
at two o'clock
First Presbyterian Church
123 Main Street
Anytown, Utah

7. One may also include the names of the groom-to-be's parents in such an invitation, like so:

Mr. and Mrs. John Michael Smith
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Jane Anne
and
Mr. James Peter Doe
son of
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick James Doe
on Saturday, the seventeenth of June
two thousand and ten
at two o'clock
First Presbyterian Church
123 Main Street
Anytown, Utah

There are of course other options in the case of divorced or remarried parents, but this will give you an idea of the formal wording that you’ll want to include in your traditional wedding invitations. For custom wedding invitation, be sure to visit Pink Piggy in Riverton Utah!

We hope these tips are helpful as you work on creating this significant piece of your event. If you are still looking for a reception venue, we encourage you to consider The Woods on Ninth! We provide excellent service and a stunning venue that is sure to make your wedding even more memorable.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have or to get started!


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Premier Wedding Reception Venue in Salt Lake City

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