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How to Word Your Wedding Invitations

Gracious Host

Are you the gracious host to your guests?

So you are now becoming an expert on invitations. Why are we spending so much time on this, WELL.. this will be one of the first things people see for your wedding.  The Save the Dates, if you use them, and most definitely the invitation, will set the tone for the day.  It also plays a big role in your budget.  There are so many options.  Have you ever looked at wallpaper books to decorate?  I know back in the day when everyone had wallpaper, I was so excited to remodel.  Yeah, let’s go look at wallpaper books!  I will say that after an hour, I couldn’t see straight.  That is how I feel with invitations.  So, if I, the planner, get overwhelmed, I know my brides do.  “An educated consumer is your best customer”.  Great motto from “Syms” (a clothing store we loved in Michigan).  Know what you are buying and why you are paying that price.  Why is this invitation $12.60 and this one $1.26.

Wording:  What goes in a Wedding invitation?

There are a few issues that can come up when trying to figure out how to word your invitation.  Divorced parents, deceased parents, raised by Grandparents…. This is the day you are being married, it is no time to make statements in life!  This is the time to bring families together and possibly heal wounds that need to be healed, not create new ones.  Think about this if your situation is not perfect.  You can find so much information online about proper etiquette.  This is a source I send girls to when it comes to their invitations.  Social graces…so lacking in our society, wouldn’t you agree? You are inviting guests to dinner and an evening of entertainment.  This is the first social event as Husband and Wife. You and your spouse are the host of your first party.  Grace and elegance, what happened to that?  This is a day you will remember all your life. Think for a moment when twenty years go by, you are picking up the kids from High School and run into an old friend.  How will that friend remember the day they went to your wedding?  Will they remember it at all?  Grace and elegance go hand in hand.  Be gracious and you will be elegant.

If you get a chance, read this article over at  http://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Good-Host-in-the-Southern-Tradition

http://weddings.about.com/od/weddinginvitations/a/invitationwordi.htm About.com has some great information!

Here is the basics that we have gleaned:

Composing YOUR INVITATION, RESPONSE AND RECEPTION CARDS

For truly formal events, there are certain rules of etiquette that are observed when writing an invitation.  For less formal situations, you can be more creative.  Here are some things to remember when you’re composing a formal invitation:

  • Write out names in full, including middle names.  Omit a middle name if necessary, rather than using an initial.
  • It’s appropriate to use the British spelling for “honour” and “favour”, unless you prefer to use the American spelling of these words.
  • Spell out all words, including the hour, the date and the year. Spell out all words in the address, including Street, Road and Avenue. The two exceptions to this rule are addresses containing Saint (St.) and Mount (Mt.)
  • Use Roman numerals in names, rather than “the third” or “3rd.”
  • For ceremonies taking place in a house of worship, use “request the honour of your presence.”  Ceremonies taking place in a non-religious setting should say, “request the pleasure of your company.”

What if your parents are divorced and remarried?  What if the bride’s parents are not paying for the wedding, who does the inviting?  Should I include my Fiance’s parents?

We could spend days on this, so here is another about.com url to read.

http://weddings.about.com/cs/invitations/a/invitationword.htm

Remember, Keep things in Perspective!  Tomorrow:  Personal Wedding Websites.

2011 Margaret Moore, www.simpleeleganceeventsandweddings.com
Want to use this article in your E-zine or website? You can as long as you include this complete statement:

Event Planning entrepreneur Margaret Moore with Simple Elegance Events and Wedding Designs publishes this weekly e-zine. Get your FREE “My Dream Wedding without the Nightmare” at www.simpleeleganceventsandweddings.com

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