Wedding Invitation Formality and Styles

Depending on the formality, time, and hosting of your wedding, you will see there are a variety of ways to word your invitation. The styles are very similar, however, depending on your wedding, certain aspects will be different. Below you will find a compiled list of various ways to word your invitations in both formal and informal styles.

The formal wedding invitation includes: the invitation, an outside envelope, a reception card, an RSVP card, an RSVP envelope, directions to the church and the reception, information on accommodations for out-of-town guests, and thank you cards. Formal invitations include a line for the guest name, are very plain, and are engraved or have raised print (called thermograph). Most formal styles also have a raised border and black ink type. Addressing each card to a guest can be a pain, especially if you are inviting more than 50 people, however it adds a personal touch. The paper is very plain with little to no detail and it is printed on white or ivory paper. Even though engraved print is nice, you can use thermograph print if you are on a budget. Using thermograph instead of engraved print is less expensive, and has the look and feel of engraved print. Other options may be available, check with experienced wedding stationery companies under Invitations in your state.

Informal invitations differ in what is included with the card. The shape, style, print, ink color, and paper, can all vary. Informal invitations do not have a line to write in the guest name and are usually not engraved or have raised print. Informal invitations are used to reflect a couple's personality, style, or theme of the wedding. There are many styles to choose from, and you can find out about them by checking with experienced wedding stationery companies under Invitations in your state. You can also use your own unique ideas and others to design a style yourself.

NOTES:

In both Formal invitations and Informal invitations always use the first, middle and last name, in that exact order. Unless you pick an informal style, never use nicknames or initials. Only "Mr.", "Mrs." and "Dr." can be abbreviated on a formal card. On either type of invitation include days, dates, times, addresses, and always write out the word "and" between names (i.e. Mr. and Mrs., Mary and Mike). Note that in the samples below the traditional British spelling of honour and favour is often used, which is very popular. You can view different ways of wording various types of cards by looking at "Bride's parents hosting" "Options".

Better understanding the layouts listed:

Below are the most commonly used invitation styles along with a short description. Hosting situations include just the bride's parents, just the groom's parents, both bride's and groom's parents, divorced parent(s), deceased parent. Guests are invited to the reception only, even when the bride and groom are hosting. To every layout there is a formal and informal version for you to use. Some have even more options under each formal and informal version. Pick the one that best suits your situation, your formality, and use it to have the invitations made; you can also make your own.

Bride's parents hosting:

It is traditional for the parents of the bride to pay for the ceremony and the reception (see article "Who pays for what?" by Onewed.com for more information about who pays for what in planning a wedding.) For this particular case, the most used invitation layout is this one:

Formal

Mr. and Mrs. John Doe
request the pleasure of the company of

...........................................................................

to celebrate the marriage of their daughter
Mary Jane
with
Mr. Joseph Don Hill
at The Holy Church, Anyplace
on Saturday. 1st October 2005
at 4 p.m.
The reception afterwards will be held at
Hilton Hotel

R.S.V.P.
123 Rock Road
Anyplace, USA

Informal

Jane and John Doe
would like you to join them
to celebrate the marriage of their daughter
Mary Jane with
Joseph Hill
at The Holy Church, Anyplace on Saturday. 1st October 2005
at 4 p.m.
The reception afterwards will be held at
Hilton Hotel

Please reply to
123 Rock Road
Anyplace, USA

Include groom's parents:

The parents of the bride can choose to include the parents of the groom in the invitation to make them feel as if they are part of the family as well. To add them, put their names after the groom's name like this:

After: "Mr. and Mrs. John Doe
request the pleasure of the company of

...........................................................................

to celebrate the marriage of their daughter
Mary Jane with
Mr. Joseph Hill"

Add:

son of
Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Hill

After: "Kathy Anne and Mike Adam Harris
would like you to join them
to celebrate the marriage of their daughter
Amy Kelly
with
Mr. Joe Tim Gaine"

Add:

son of
Mary Lynn and Tim Scott Gaine

If father is deceased, and mother has not remarried:

If the father of the bride has pasted on and her mother is not remarried, the mother of the bride would use this:

Formal

R.S.V.P.
123 Rock Road
Anyplace, USA

Informal

If father is deceased, and mother has remarried:

If the father of the bride has pasted on and her mother has remarried, the mother and her husband would use this:

Formal

Mr. And Mrs. Keith James Smith
request the pleasure of the company of

...........................................................................

to celebrate the marriage of her daughter
Amy Kelly Harris
with
Mr. Joe Tim Gaine
at The Holy Church, Fredericksburg
on Saturday. 1st October 2005
at 4 p.m.
The reception afterwards will be held at
Hilton Hotel, Willis Street, Orange

R.S.V.P.
123 Toby Lane
Fredericksburg, Virginia

Informal

Kathy Anne and Keith James Smith
would like you to join them

to celebrate the marriage of her daughter
Amy Kelly Harris
with
Joe Tim Gaine
at The Holy Church, Fredericksburg
on Saturday. 1st October 2005
at 4 p.m.
The reception afterwards will be held at
Hilton Hotel, Willis Street, Orange

Please reply to
123 Toby Lane
Fredericksburg, Virginia

If the mother is deceased, and the father has not remarried:

If the mother of the bride has pasted on and her father has not remarried, the father of the bride would use this:

Formal

Mr. Mike Adam Harris
requests the pleasure of the company of

...........................................................................

to celebrate the marriage of his daughter
Amy Kelly
with
Mr. Joe Tim Gaine
at The Holy Church, Fredericksburg
on Saturday. 1st October 2005
at 4 p.m.
The reception afterwards will be held at
Hilton Hotel, Willis Street, Orange

R.S.V.P.
123 Toby Lane
Fredericksburg, Virginia

Informal

Mike Adam Harris
would like you to join him
to celebrate the marriage of his daughter
Amy Kelly
with
Joe Tim Gaine
at The Holy Church, Fredericksburg
on Saturday. 1st October 2005
at 4 p.m.
The reception afterwards will be held at
Hilton Hotel, Willis Street, Orange

Please reply to
123 Toby Lane
Fredericksburg, Virginia

If the mother is deceased, and the father has remarried:

If the mother of the bride has pasted on and her father has remarried, the father and his wife would use this:

Formal

Mr. And Mrs. Mike Adam Harris
request the pleasure of the company of

...........................................................................

to celebrate the marriage of his daughter
Amy Kelly
with
Mr. Joe Tim Gaine
at The Holy Church, Fredericksburg
on Saturday. 1st October 2005
at 4 p.m.
The reception afterwards will be held at
Hilton Hotel, Willis Street, Orange

R.S.V.P.
123 Toby Lane
Fredericksburg, Virginia

Informal

Joanne May and Mike Adam Harris
would like you to join them

to celebrate the marriage of his daughter
Amy Kelly
with
Joe Tim Gaine
at The Holy Church, Fredericksburg
on Saturday. 1st October 2005
at 4 p.m.
The reception afterwards will be held at
Hilton Hotel, Willis Street, Orange

Please reply to
123 Toby Lane
Fredericksburg, Virginia

The parents are divorced:

The bride's parents are divorced and want to host together, either remarried or not. Use the individual identities of the separated parents, rather than their previously married names.

Formal

Mrs. Sylvia Bryant and Mr. Paul Williams
request the pleasure of the company of

...........................................................................

to celebrate the marriage of their daughter
Amy Kelly
with
Mr. Joe Tim Gaine
at The Holy Church, Fredericksburg
on Saturday. 1st October 2005
at 4 p.m.
The reception afterwards will be held at
Hilton Hotel, Willis Street, Orange

R.S.V.P.
123 Toby Lane
Fredericksburg, Virginia

Informal

Sylvia Bryant and Paul Williams
would like you to them
to celebrate the marriage of their daughter
Amy Kelly
with
Joe Tim Gaine
at The Holy Church, Fredericksburg
on Saturday. 1st October 2005
at 4 p.m.
The reception afterwards will be held at
Hilton Hotel, Willis Street, Orange

Please reply to
123 Toby Lane
Fredericksburg, Virginia

The groom's parents are hosting:

The groom's parents are paying for or planning the ceremony and the reception.

Formal

Mr. and Mrs. Tim Scott Gaine
request the pleasure of the company of

...........................................................................

to celebrate the marriage of
Amy Kelly Harris
to their son
Joe Tim
at The Holy Church, Fredericksburg
on Saturday. 1st October 2005
at 4 p.m.
The reception afterwards will be held at
Hilton Hotel, Willis Street, Orange

R.S.V.P.
123 Toby Lane
Fredericksburg, Virginia

Informal

Mary Lynn and Tim Scott Gaine
would like you to join them
to celebrate the marriage of
Amy Kelly Harris
to their son
Joe Tim
at The Holy Church, Fredericksburg
on Saturday. 1st October 2005
at 4 p.m.
The reception afterwards will be held at
Hilton Hotel, Willis Street, Orange

Please reply to
123 Toby Lane
Fredericksburg, Virginia

The bride and groom are the hosts:

Either the bride's or the groom's parents are paying or planning the event. This may be used for a second wedding where only friends are invited to attend.

Formal

Miss. Amy Kelly Harris
and
Mr. Joe Tim Gaine
request the pleasure of the company of

............................................................................

at their marriage
at The Holy Church, Fredericksburg
on Saturday. 1st October 2005
at 4 p.m.
The reception afterwards will be held at
Hilton Hotel, Willis Street, Orange

R.S.V.P.
123 Toby Lane
Fredericksburg, Virginia

Informal

Amy Kelly Harris
and
Joe Tim Gaine
would like you to join them
to celebrate their marriage

at The Holy Church, Fredericksburg
on Saturday. 1st October 2005
at 4 p.m.
The reception afterwards will be held at
Hilton Hotel, Willis Street, Orange

Please reply to
123 Toby Lane
Fredericksburg, Virginia

Options:

(can be used by all styles

that the bride and groom are the host)

Instead of: "Miss. Amy Kelly Harris
and
Mr. Joe Tim Gaine
request the pleasure of the company of

............................................................................"

Use: The honour of

...........................................................................
Is requested
At the marriage of
Katherine Nicole Jones
To
Michael Adam Nelson

Options:

(can be used by all styles

when the bride and groom are the hosts)

Instead of: "Amy Kelly Harris
and
Joe Tim Gaine
would like you to join them"

Use: The honour of your presence
Is requested
At the marriage of
Katherine Nicole Jones
To
Michael Adam Nelson

For reception only, where the parents are hosting:

This is used when only friends are invited to the reception and the parents of the bride are hosting.

Formal

Mr. and Mrs. Mike Adam Harris
request the pleasure of the company of

...........................................................................

at an evening reception to be held at
Hilton Hotel, Willis Street, Orange
on Saturday. 1st October 2005
at 6.30 p.m.
to celebrate the marriage of their daughter
Amy Kelly
with
Mr. Joe Tim Gaine

R.S.V.P.
123 Toby Lane
Fredericksburg, Virginia

Informal

Kathy Anne and Mike Adam Harris
would like you to join them
at Hilton Hotel, Willis Street, Orange
on Saturday. 1st October 2005
at 6.30 p.m.
to celebrate the marriage of their daughter
Amy Kelly
with
Joe Tim Gaine

Please reply to
123 Toby Lane
Fredericksburg, Virginia

For reception only, bride and groom hosting:

This is used when only friends are invited to the reception that is hosted by the bride and the groom.

Formal

Miss. Amy Kelly Harris
and
Mr. Joe Tim Gaine
request the pleasure of the company of

...........................................................................

at an evening reception to be held at
Hilton Hotel, Willis Street, Orange
on Saturday. 1st October 2005
at 6.30 p.m.
to celebrate their marriage

R.S.V.P.
123 Toby Lane
Fredericksburg, Virginia

Informal

Amy Kelly Harris
and
Joe Tim Gaine
would like you to join them
at Hilton Hotel, Willis Street, Orange
on Saturday. 1st October 2005
at 6.30 p.m.
to celebrate their marriage

Please reply to
123 Toby Lane
Fredericksburg, Virginia

Both the bride's parents and the groom's parents are hosting:

This is a wedding hosted by both sets of parents (even though traditionally the parents of the bride pay for it). It may even be paid for by both parents:

Formal

Mr. and Mrs. Mike Adam Harris
and
Mr. and Mrs. Tim Scott Gaine
request the pleasure of the company of

...........................................................................
at the marriage of
Amy Kelly Harris
and
Joe Tim Gaine
at The Holy Church
Caroline Ave, Fredericksburg
on Saturday. 1st October 2005
at 4 p.m.
The reception afterwards will be held at
Hilton Hotel, Willis Street, Orange

R.S.V.P.
123 Toby Lane
Fredericksburg, Virginia

Informal

Kathy Anne and Mike Adam Harris
and
Mary Lynn and Tim Scott Gaine
at the marriage of
Amy Kelly Harris
and
Joe Tim Gaine
at The Holy Church
Caroline Ave, Fredericksburg
on Saturday. 1st October 2005
at 4 p.m.
The reception afterwards will be held at
Hilton Hotel, Willis Street, Orange

Please reply to
123 Toby Lane
Fredericksburg, Virginia