Wedding Invitation Rules

There is no reason to be intimidated by wedding invitation rules. Even though there seems to be lots of "dos" and "don'ts", you can figure out what is proper and what is inappropriate by reading the following interview with Sabrina and Eunice Moyle of Hello!Lucky Wedding Invitations.

Eunice and Sabrina Moyle

There are many variations that depend on who's hosting, whether the ceremony is religious or secular, and whether it is formal or casual. The key pieces of information that are typically included are:

• Who's hosting
• Bride and groom's names
• Date, month and year
• Time
• Location
• Reception line (optional)

Traditional, formal wedding invitations for a ceremony held in a religious venue would be worded as follows:

Mr. and Mrs. James Smith
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Celeste Belle
to Mr. John Horner
Friday, the twenty-fifth of September
two thousand and ten
at five o’clock in the evening

Saint Mary Star of the Sea
1010 Windsor Lane
Key West, Florida

Reception to follow

Note that abbreviations, with the exception of salutations such as Mr., Ms., or Dr., are always spelled out. In addition, the zip code of the ceremony location is omitted.

• Never include information about the wedding registry in the invitation. At most, include the wedding website on a separate enclosure card (or, if needed, on the invitation), and include registry details there.
• Also do not include the names of deceased parents of the bride and groom on the invitation. This can lead to confusion among guests as to whether they are living or decreased. It is best to remember deceased loved ones in the ceremony program.
• Never write "no gifts," "no children," or "adults only" on the invitation. Instead, if children are not invited, spread the word via word of mouth. If you feel you must note something with the invitation, include a polite line on the wedding details card something to the effect of: "Please note that the reception is an adult-only affair."
• Do not include information about dress code unless you have a very specific dress in mind (e.g. black tie). Guests will naturally dress appropriately for a wedding without being prompted (or confused) by dress code restrictions.

• A reply card and stamped, self-addressed envelope. Some couples are beginning to collect RSVPs via their wedding websites. If this is the case for you, note the RSVP details on the invitation, details card, or on a separate, small business card-sized enclosure.
• A directions/wedding details card. This should include group transportation information (e.g. if transportation has been arranged from key hotels), a map or directions to the ceremony, and information about attire, weather, whether children are invited, parking, and other vital details.
• A weekend events card. This can be combined with the directions/wedding details card, and is useful if you are hosting multiple events throughout the weekend, e.g. welcome cocktails, or a post-wedding brunch.
• Rehearsal dinner invitations can be included with the wedding invitation, or in a separate mailing to designated guests.

If you find minor mistakes in the wedding invitation after you have printed them – a typo that doesn't impact the critical details of the wedding, or an error on one of the enclosures (e.g. the directions card), it is acceptable to do nothing and/or e-mail guests to let them know that the directions were incorrect, for example (and enclose a corrected set).

If the mistake is critical (e.g. wedding date, time, etc.), reprint the invitation. If the incorrect version has not yet been mailed, all the better. If they have been mailed, you may word the new invitation as an amendment, e.g.:

Mr. and Mrs. James Smith
announce that the wedding of their daughter
Celeste Belle
to
Mr. John Horner
on Friday, the twenty-fifth of September
two thousand and ten
will now take place at
six o’clock in the evening

Saint Mary Star of the Sea
1010 Windsor Lane
Key West, Florida

Reception to follow

To customize your invitations for less, consider adding your own DIY touches to a professionally printed invitation. Great options include: envelope liners, a pretty patterned paper band, a DIY map enclosure, or a ribbon, button, or feather.

LoveToKnow would like to thank Sabrina and Eunice Moyle for taking the time for this interview on wedding invitation rules. When you are ready to order your invitations, be sure to check out Hello!Lucky and see what they have to offer.

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