Wording Your Wedding Invitation

Most couples overlook the fact that there are many different ways to write their wedding invitations. Depending on the type of wedding they are planning, the venue or location of the actual ceremony, the wording and etiquette surrounding this subject is very important.

The first thing to know about wording your wedding invitation is remember whatever style or source of information you use to write your invitation, be sure to follow that same pattern throughout your entire set. Gathering ideas from different websites or invitation designs can be useful, but remember when you are writing, stick to the same format.

If you are getting married at a church then there is a certain level of formality that needs to be maintained. Each specific religious institution may have certain codes they follow, so be sure to respect their structure. Parent sponsored weddings typically have invitations that begin with “Mr and Mrs. John Baker request the honour of your presence…” while more independent couples whose parents may not be as intimately involved in the wedding process can simply begin with “ You are invited to attend the wedding of…”

For those getting married in a home or outdoors, the formal expressions and language can be lowered slightly. It is perfectly acceptable to use the phrase “request the pleasure of your company” instead of the rigid style reserved for very formal occasions.

If your wedding ceremony and celebration are going to have a specific theme, or stray from the ordinary format, your invitation can be used to communicate this.

Something to keep in mind that can easily be overlooked, is avoiding mistakes in pronoun usage throughout the invitation set. A common problem is to start a sentence with “We invite you to our wedding…” and later continue with “Their celebration will be held at…”

While it is very important to maintain a similar flow throughout the invitation, wedding invitations have many different styles, conventions, and levels of formality. It is your wedding, so as long as the information makes sense, and follows at least a similar pattern, then go with it.

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