Tips and Etiquette: Samples of Formal Invitation Wording
Bride’s parents, who are divorced and remarried, host the wedding together:
Mr. and Mrs. Ronan Videla
and
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Andreason
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Kelly Grace Andreason
and
Mr. Garrett John Hanna
Saturday, the twenty-second of March
two thousand seventeen
at six o’clock
Temple Sinai
Granville, Ohio
Bride’s mother and stepfather host:
Mr. and Mrs. Ronan Videla
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of her daughter
Kelly Grace Andreason
to
Mr. Garrett John Hanna
Friday, the seventeenth of May
two thousand sixteen
at seven o’clock
Viansa Winery
25200 Arnold Drive
Sonoma, California
Bride’s only living parent hosts:
Mr. [or Mrs.] Michael Thomas Fitzloff
requests the honour of your presence
at the marriage of his [or her] daughter
Shannon Michelle
to
Lieutenant Roger Stephen Manning, U.S. Navy
Saturday, the seventeenth of May
two thousand sixteen
at two o’clock
New Haven Community Church
New Haven, Georgia
Groom’s parents host:
Mr. and Mrs. George Dempsey
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of
Miss [or Ms.] Beth Ann Boomgarten
to
their son
Mr. Alexander Graham Dempsey
Friday, the fourteenth of November
two thousand nineteen
at six o’clock
St. Thomas Cathedral
Spokane, Washington
Both bride and groom's parents host:
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Wilfork
and
Captain and Mrs. William James Plett
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of
Matilda Renee Wilfork
and
Timothy James Plett
Saturday, the twenty-fifth of August
two thousand seventeen
at four o’clock
St. James Catholic Church
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Bride's parents host, but include groom's parents' names:
Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Jeremiah Crenshaw
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Hillary Jo
and
Mr. Anthony Patrick Ames
son of
Captain and Mrs. Patrick George Ames
Saturday, the twenty-fifth of August
two thousand seventeen
at four o’clock
St. James Catholic Church
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Bride and groom host:
Miss [or Ms.] Elizabeth Marie Carrington
and
Mr. Richard James Handlin
request the honour of your presence
at their marriage
Saturday, the tenth of July
two thousand seventeen
at half after four o’clock
First Congregational Church
Richmond, Virginia
The honour of your presence
is requested
at the marriage of
Miss [or Ms]. Elizabeth Marie Carrington
to
Mr. Richard James Handlin
Saturday, the tenth of July
two thousand seventeen
at half after four o’clock
First Congregational Church
Richmond, Virginia
The families host together:
Together with their families
Miss Macey Leigh Kirkland
and
Mr. Will Ronald Germundson
request the honour of your presence
at their marriage
Saturday, the tenth of July
two thousand seventeen
at half after four o’clock
First Congregational Church
Richmond, Virginia
Bride’s other family members host:
Mr. Eric Henry Evans
requests the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of his sister
Lisa Marie
to
Mr. Ian John Wyskowski
Saturday, the fourth of June
two thousand seventeen
at one o’clock
The Ritz-Carlton
St. Louis, Missouri
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Elliott
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their niece
Miss [or Ms.] Samantha Jane Richards
to
Mr. Scott Randolph Markham
Saturday, the fourth of June
two thousand seventeen
at one o’clock
The Ritz-Carlton
St. Louis, Missouri
Tips
Jewish wedding invitation wording differs only in that "and" is used instead of "to" between the bride and groom’s names.
Invitations may include "and your participation in the offering of a Nuptial Mass" beneath the groom’s name, when a Roman Catholic mass is being celebrated as part of the ceremony.
Allow plenty of time to carefully address, assemble, and mail your invitations.
Organize your master guest list in a functional form (file cards, computer database, work sheet.)
Using your finalized guest list, stay organized by developing a system for addressing and mailing your invitations.
Create an assembly line of sorts by arranging each piece that goes into an invitation in the order they will be picked up, assembled, and inserted into the envelope.
If needed, enlist the help of family, bridal attendants, or friends to help with the assembly.
Include enclosures such as map cards and accommodation cards for out-of-town guests.
Never include registry or gift information with (or on) your invitation. If someone asks, you, your family, bridal attendants, and friends can let them know by word of mouth.
Attire or dress code should not be mentioned on the wedding invitation. You may include "Black tie" in the lower right on a reception invitation, if necessary.