Wedding Invitations

Private Wedding Reception Invitation Wording

The wedding invitations come in a large variety of samples, sometimes cheap but also unique, in all shapes and sizes possible, designs and patterns and color combinations.

By the beginning of the twentieth century the activity of using invitations to announce a wedding day was adopted by members from all social ranks, especially by those with a proper education.

The design of the wedding invitation was as simple as it can be: a white card with a hand written invitation text. The simple white wedding invitation card is still popular today but writing by hand the invitations become quite an expensive method so the cheapest alternative is thermography, a printing method with a raised letter effect. For both methods you can choose the calligraphy style or the letter fonts and it is best for the color of the ink to create an interesting contrasting effect with the predominant color of the invitation card.



They can be purchased directly from online manufacturers, having an option to create your personalized, one-of-a-kind invitations but if you are confident enough in your artistic skills and have the necessary time, you can make them yourself, but the first method is less stressful and faster.

The wording etiquette demands the use of a traditional or formal language and in the wedding invitation should be mentioned only the strict and basic information about the wedding such as the names of the bride and groom, the name of the wedding hosts, the location of the wedding reception and ceremony, the address of that location, the time and the date and some other details, relevant for your guests. You can always add a printed map or directional signs if the location of the wedding is not known, make a simple suggestion about how your guests should dress up if you are having a certain wedding theme or an RSVP if you are expecting some attendance responses.

There are two options: if you are expecting only for the non-attendance responses you can add the expression “Regrets only” on the invitation cards and a phone number for contact but in general the RSVP is more popular and it is an abbreviation which comes from the French expression of “répondez s’il vous plait”, translated as “please respond”. The RSVP can be written on the wedding invitation card or on a separate one with a return address.

The alternative to the formal wording is the use of an informal language or to issue the wedding invitations in your own words, sometimes being a humorous and funny wording or simply adding a favorite poem, verse or quote at the beginning of the invitation. The fact is that you can be creative with words and choose the manner or style in which to issue the invitations, just make sure there aren’t any wrong uses of honorifics and other minor spelling mistakes which can cause some embarrassments.

The wedding invitations are to be sent or mailed out with minimum six weeks in advance before the actual wedding day.

As I’ve mentioned before, the wording style can depend on the theme of the wedding or if you are having a private ceremony and reception don’t forget to mention this fact to your guests.

“Elizabeth Orson and Simon Thomson are happy to announce their marriage that took place in a private ceremony, on Saturday, the sixth of December, two thousand eleven, at St. Mary’s Chapel, New Orleans, Louisiana. Please join them for a reception celebrating their union, December 8^th, 2011, at six o’clock in the evening, at the newlywed’s home.”

“Mr. and Mrs. Frank Orson have the honour of announcing the marriage of their daughter, Elizabeth Orson to Simon Thomson, on Saturday, the sixth of December, two thousand eleven. The couple was joined in marriage in a private ceremony at St. Mary’s Chapel, New Orleans, Louisiana. Please join them for a reception celebrating their union on the tenth of December, at 6:00 p.m., at the newlywed’s home.”

”Time moves so quickly, and so too does life/ Our days were filled, our schedules too,
so we ran off and said our I do’s!
Elizabeth Orson and Simon Thomson eloped on December 6, 2011. Your presence is requested as we celebrate our beachside vow renewal and reception, Saturday, December 8, 2011, at six o’clock in the evening, Rainbow Inn, New Orleans, Louisiana.”