Wedding invitations are traditionally printed with black ink in an “etched” or script style. Before the actual wedding invitation is printed, there is a formal letter better known as the Save the Date Announcement that needs to be sent to your loved ones and close ones, to have them block that date for a particular wedding.
With so many families, there are so many varieties of wedding invitations that can be made. All wedding invitations must contain all information such as the date, place, time, venue, purpose of the party, the names of the bride and groom, and their parents, and other RSVP information.
For formal events, there are certain labels that must be observed. Enter full names, including middle names. Omit the middle name if necessary, instead of using an initial.
It is appropriate to use the American spelling, unless you prefer to use the British spelling for “honor” and “favor.”
Spell out all the words, including the time, date, and time of the event. Spell out all the address words, including the road, street, and avenue. There are only two exceptions to this rule; you can use St. instead of Saint and Mt. instead of Mount.
For ceremonies that take place in the house of worship, use “request the honor of presence” and for ceremonies in non-religious locations use “request the presence of your company.”
The wording of the wedding invitation changes when the bride’s parents issue the card. Similarly, when the couple issues the card, the wording will be slightly different. Again, if the bride or groom is divorced and remarried, the wording will be slightly different.
Typically the wedding invitation card will also print the reception card. If the reception is immediately after the wedding or later in the day, it should be clearly specified. The place, time, date must be clearly indicated.
The reply card can be attached to the wedding invitation. You can also include the menu option for your guests in advance. If the wedding and reception are in two different locations, a map can be attached, so it’s easy for the guest to plan their move in advance.
The address on the outer envelope and reply card should be handwritten for a personal touch. The wedding invitation, reception card, reply card or any other attachment such as a map must be placed inside the envelope in the correct order. Send your invitations at least six to eight weeks in advance.
