Wondering what to say on your wedding invitations?

 

The following is traditional wording for wedding invitations and includes different scenarios that are determined by

who is hosting the wedding and the wedding location.

  

Parents of the Bride hosting - ceremony is at a house of worship

Note: The phrase "honour of your presence" is reserved for a house of worship. The British spelling with a U is used for honour.

 

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Paul Mason

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of their daughter

Jane Audrey

to

Mr. Richard James Franklin

Saturday, the twenty-first of December

Two thousand and nineteen

at half after four o’clock 

Church of Christ

Westport, Connecticut

~

Parents of the Bride hosting - ceremony is NOT at a house of worship

Note: The phrase "the pleasure of your company" is used instead of "honour of your presence" and is equally formal.

 

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Paul Mason

request the pleasure of your company

at the marriage of their daughter

Jane Audrey

to

Mr. Richard James Franklin

Saturday, the twenty-first of December

Two thousand and nineteen

at half after four o’clock

Oak Ridge Country Club

Westport, Connecticut

~

Parents of the Bride hosting - less formal, using first names only

 

Patricia and Thomas Mason

request the pleasure of your company

at the marriage of their daughter

Jane Audrey

to

Richard James Franklin

~

Both sets of parents hosting

Note: the parents names are not separated by the word and. Bride's parents are lised first

 

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Paul Mason

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Joseph Franklin

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of their children

Jane Audrey

and

Richard James 

~

Jewish Wedding

Note: It is madatory to include the Groom's parents by adding the line "son of".

This custom has become quite popular and can be used on wedding invitations for any faith. Note the word "and" instead of "to".

 

Mr. and Mrs. Samuel David Freeman

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of their daughter

Robin Nina

and

Mr. Mark Robert Sussman

son of

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Walter Sussman

Sunday, the twenty-second of December

Two thousand and nineteen

at ten o’clock

Temple Beth Shalom

Westport, Connecticut

~

Catholic Wedding - Traditional  Nuptial Mass

 

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Joseph McCabe

request the honour of your presence

at the Nuptial Mass uniting their daughter

Mary Francis

and

Mr. Peter Paul O'Connell

in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony

Saturday, the twenty-second of December

Two thousand and nineteen

at half after four o'clock

Saint Matthew’s Roman Catholic Church

Westport, Connecticut

~

Divorced Parents

Note: The parents names are not separated by the word "and".  Bride’s mother is listed first.  

 

Mrs. Karen Anne Mason

Mr. Thomas Paul Mason

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of their daughter

Jane Audrey

and

Richard James Franklin

 

Divorced Parents  -  Parents have remarried and wish to list their new spouse

Note: It is not mandatory to include new spouses if the parents have remarried, however, in most scenarios it is recommended.

 

Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Randolph Peterson (Bride’s mother and her spouse)

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Paul Mason (Bride’s father and his spouse)

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of 

Jane Audrey Mason

and

Richard James Franklin

 

Divorced Parents  -  Parents not listed by name

Note: This is a great solution when there are divorced parents, remarriages and sensitive famiy situations. 

 

The honour of your presence is requested

at the marriage of 

Jane Audrey Mason

and

Richard James Franklin

~

Deceased Parents

Note: Except in Latin cultures, it is not proper to include a deceased parent on the invitation. Many people wish to acknowledge and remember a loved one during their wedding, and we encourage you to do so, during the service and in the wedding program. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~

 

Bride and Groom Hosting

 

The honour of your presence is requested

at the marriage of

Jane Audrey Mason

to

Richard James Franklin

Saturday, the twenty-first of December

Two thousand and nineteen

at half after four o’clock 

Church of Christ

Westport, Connecticut

 ~

Jane Audrey Mason

and

Richard James Franklin

request the honour of your presence

at their marriage

Saturday, the twenty-first of December

Two thousand and nineteen

at half after four o’clock 

Church of Christ

Westport, Connecticut

 

~ 

Bride and Groom Hosting with their Parents

Note: This is perfect wording for multiple hosts and/or divorced parents. It is very inclusive, welcoming and one of our

most popular invitation wording selections.

 

Together with their parents

Jane Audrey Mason

and

Richard James Franklin

request the honour of your presence

at their marriage

Saturday, the twenty-first of December

Two thousand and nineteen

at five o’clock

Trinity Church

Westport, Connecticut

~

 Bride and Groom Hosting with their Families

Note: This is perfect wording for multiple hosts, multiple marriages and couples with children. It is very inclusive and welcoming.

 

Together with their families

Audrey Jane Mason

and

Richard James Franklin

request the honour of your presence

at their marriage

Saturday, the twenty-first of December

Two thousand and twelve

at half after five o’clock

Trinity Church

Westport, Connecticut

~

Invitation Wording for Same Sex Couples

Please refer to all of the wedding invitation wording ettiquette above.

We suggest listing names in alphabetical order and offer these suggestions as well:

 

Because you have shared in our lives with friendship and love

 

Daniel Thomas Green 

and

Peter William Henderson

 

invite you to join us

as we are united in the

Commitment of Marriage

 

~

 

You are cordially invited to the

Commitment Ceremony

of

 

Daniel Green 

and

Peter Henderson

 

~

 

Together with their parents

 

Pamela Elizabeth Hartley

and 

Robin Michelle Jones

 

joyfully invite you to

celebrate their marriage

 

= = =

 

General Notes:

 

The address for the venue is not required, especially with Google maps etc. unless the venue is difficult to find.

~

Be consistent: If you use Mr. and Mrs. on the invitation, use it throughout (Rsvp envelope, guest addressing, etc.).

That said, the use of Mr. before the Groom's name is optional, and, more formal.

 

Be consistent with the use of first names as well.

When using first names, remember it is ladies first! Joan and Bill, Sarah & Tim... not Bill and Joan.

~

If the event is after 6:00 and black tie is desired or optional, it is indicated on the reception card in the lower right hand corner:

 Black tie    or      Black tie optional

 Note: Black tie is spelled is with a capital B and a small t.

~

 

 

Be sure to see the FAQs section for lots more info!