SELECTING THE PERFECT VERSE

 the    I N V I T A T I O N

Invitations are issued in the third person form.  Traditionally, it is sent in the name of the bride's parents, if they are paying for majority of the expenses.  If the groom's parents are sharing the cost, the invitation should be issued in their name also.  If the couple is hosting their own wedding, they may choose to honor their parents by including their names.

Etiquette Cheat Sheet

• "request the honour of your presence" is used on an invitation to a wedding that is located in a house of worship
• "request the pleasure of you company" is used on an invitation that is located outside a house of worship; it is also used on the reception invitation
• the bride and groom's middle names are included, however, their parents' middle names are not necessary
• half hours are written as "half after four o'clock"
• "evening" begins at six o'clock
•   at five o'clock in the afternoon
•   at six o'clock in the evening
• punctuation is only used for abbreviations such as "Mr. or Mrs." and for separating a phrase
• Mister (Mr.) and Misses (Mrs.) are abbreviated, however, Doctor, Reverend, and Captain should be written in full
• North and South is written in full if it precedes the street name (123 South Main Street); a comma is added after the street name and an abbreviation is used if it comes after the address (123 Main Street, N.W.)
• numbers are written out except for the street address; the house number is written out if the number is less than 10
• zip codes are not included on the invitation or reception card
• the year should not be capitalized, however, it is commonly shown that way
• an invitation to the ceremony alone does not require a response card

 

NEED VERSE IDEAS? FOR YOUR  INVITATION, RECEPTION CARD,  RESPONSE CARD

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TRADITIONAL VERSE OPTIONS ARE SHOWN BELOW

The traditional form of a formal wedding invitation

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Taylor

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of their daughter

Abby Marie

to

(Mr.) Steven Arthur Keller

Saturday, the eighteenth of November

two thousand and eight

at two o'clock in the afternoon

St. Hilary Catholic Church

2750 West Market Street

Fairlawn, Ohio

Variations of the traditional verse including the parents

The name of the groom's parents added:

John Andrew

son of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Keim

Issued from both sets of parents:

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Gardner

and

Mr. and Mrs. Mark Keller

request the honour or your presence

at the marriage of their children

Lauren Grace

and

Christopher Charles

(continue)

Add parent's without listing their name:

Together with their parents

Candice Marie Millican

and

Robert Joseph Gardner

request the honour of your presence

at their marriage

(continued)

or

Mary Jane Smiley

and

Aidan Thomas Keller

together with their parents

(continued)

When the bride's mother is divorced, has not remarried, and is issuing the invitation:

Mrs. Michelle Taylor

requests the honour of your presence

at the marriage of her daughter

(continued)

 

If she has remarried:

Mr. and Mrs. Bryce Taylor

requests the honour of your presence

at the marriage of her (their) daughter

(continued)

 

When divorced parents host the wedding together it is proper to list the mother before the father.  However, if the mother is not contributing to the expenses but the bride and groom still choose to have her name listed the father's name would be listed first:

Mr. and Mrs. Marcus McGrew

and

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Taylor

request the honour or your presence

at the marriage of (their daughter)

Abby Marie

to

Steven Arthur Keller

(continued)

When the bride has a deceased parent, the invitation is issued in only in the name of the living parent:

Mrs. Joseph Taylor

requests the honour of your presence

at the marriage of her daughter

(continued)

 

However, there are circumstances when the bride or groom wants to include the name of a deceased parent.  This is possible as long as the invitation is not worded to appear that it is issued by them:

Abby Marie Taylor

daughter of

Michele Taylor and the late Joseph Taylor

and

Steven Arthur Keller

son of

(continued)

 

Bride and groom issue their own invitation

Formal version

The honour of your presence

is requested

at the marriage of

Miss Abby Marie Taylor

to

Mr. Steven Arthur Keller

(continued)

 

Less formal version

Abby Marie Taylor

and

Steven Arthur Keller

invite you to share with them

the joy of their marriage

(continued)

 

A relative issues the invitation

Mr. and Mrs. David Austin Dzubara

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of their niece

(continued)

The use of titles

Professionals such as medical doctors, dentists, clergymen, judges generally called by their titles should have them included on their invitation.

 

Doctors with an academic PhD (non medical) use Mr. or Mrs. unless they are normally addressed as "Doctor"

 

Women only use their titles when she and the groom issue the invitation.  The bride's mother does not use the title "Doctor" on her daughter's invitation, unless she feels strongly about it.  If so, is should read:

 

Doctor Peggy Taylor and Mr. Joseph Taylor

 

If both parents are doctors:

The Doctors Palmieri

 

Military titles

When the groom is in the military or is on active duty in the reserve forces, he uses his military title.  Officers with rank of captain in the Army or Lieutenant, senior grade or higher in the Navy have the title on the same line as their names:

Colonel Steven Keller

United States Army

Lower ranks have their title below their name:

Joseph Palmieri

Ensign, United States Navy

 

If the reserve officer is on active duty, the second line reads:

United States Naval Reserve

or

Army of the United States.

 

First and second lieutenants in the Army do not use the numeral.  They simply write Lieutenant.

 

An enlisted man or noncommissioned officer my list his rank and branch below his name if he chooses:

Steven Arthur Keller

Corporal, Signal Corps, United States Army

or

Joseph Frank Keller

Seaman Apprentice, United States Naval Reserve

 

High-ranking officers use their titles followed by their branch of service, even after retirement, with "retired" added:

General Joseph Michael Crist

United States Army, retired

 

When the father of the bride is in the armed forces either on active duty or retired he uses his title:

Colonel and Mrs. James Elliott

 

When the bride is on active duty both her rank and the branch is added to the invitation.  Her rank is placed on a separate line:

Meaghan Anne Keller

Lieutenant,United States Navy

                  the   R E C E P T I O N   C A R D

The reception card is a simple verse including the time and location.

The traditional form of a reception card

The pleasure of you company

is requested at the Reception

at five o'clock in the evening

Four Points Sheraton

3150 West Market Street

Fairlawn, Ohio

Other reception verses

Cocktails at five o'clock

Dinner served at six o'clock

Please join us for the Reception

Reception, Dinner and Dancing

Adult Reception

(Etiquette tradition frowns on this option, however, it is used often.  The best way to restrict the number of attending is to spread the word through family, friends, and coworkers.  The bridal shower is the perfect place to start the conversation.)

                                          the   R E S P O N S E   C A R D

The response card is required for you to determine the number of guests able to attend your reception so you can plan accordingly.

The traditional form of a response card

The favour of a reply is requested

before November 1, 2009

M_____________________

accepts ___

regrets ___

Other response verses

We look forward to celebrating with you

Please reply by November 1, 2009

Name _________________________

Number attending ___

Unable to attend ___

Please reply by

November 1, 2009

Name ________________________

accepts ___     regrets___

Number of persons ___

Kindly respond by

November 1, 2009

M__________________________

Please indicate number of each:

___ Beef  ___ Chicken

                the   P E W   C A R D

Pew number ___

 Within the ribbon

                         the   I N F O R M A L   N O T E

The woman's name is always first.  One line of type usually in the same typestyle and ink color as your invitation:

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas McIntyre

Holly and Matthew

When a monogram printed on the front it is enlarged like personal stationery note.  Each supplier has it's own selection of formats, here are some examples:

 

A L S

(bride's first name initial, last name initial, groom's first name initial)

Allyson and Matthew

Taylor

Pamela L  David

             the   P L A C E   C A R D

A design or monogram can be added if desired.

Tessa and Aiden

March 15, 2009

______________________

Table number ___

 

 

Mary and Robert

April 26, 2009

______________________

You are seated at table ___

 

Click here to see verse options at VerseIt.com

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