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WEDDING WORDING GUIDE
See wording samples for:
wedding invitations >
response sets >
reception invitations >
reception cards & enclosure cards >
wedding announcements >
save the dates >
wedding programs / order of service >
envelope addressing >
Or see our basic wording tips and rules below…
Honour vs. Pleasure
The phrase “request the honour of your presence” is traditionally used for a ceremony taking place in a place of worship (church, synagogue, etc), while the phrase “Request the pleasure of your company” is usually used for a ceremony taking place in a non-religious location.
Favor vs. Favour
This applies to US customers:
Either spelling can be used, just be sure to be consistent with your usage. If you use the word "honour" on the invitation ("...request the honour of your presence"), use "favour" on the RSVP ("The favour of a reply is requested..."). If you use "honor" on the invitation, use "favor" on the RSVP.
Traditionally the formal, British spelling with the “u” is preferred in proper wedding etiquette but whichever form you choose, use it in both words.
Catholic Ceremonies
For a Roman Catholic wedding, the phrase “at the marriage of” may be expanded
to “at the marriage in Christ of.” If the wedding ceremony will include a Mass, the
phrase “your presence at the Nuptial (High) Mass” may be added.
Numbers
Numbers in the date are spelled out, but numerals may be used for street addresses.
Punctuation
Punctuation is not used at the ends of lines (commas, periods, colons, etc.);
However, commas are used within lines to separate the day from the date, the city
from the state and a man’s surname from “Jr./junior/II/III”, etc.
Writing The Time
• Since the abbreviations “a.m.” and “p.m.” should not be used, the phrases “in the
morning” or “in the evening” should be used (if it’s likely there would be confusion).
• The proper reference to a half hour is “half after,” not “half past.” So 7:30 would be written as “ half after seven o’clock”.
• Quarter hours are not typically used on a wedding invitation.
• Traditionally, times between 12 noon and 5:30 pm are considered the afternoon. 6:00 pm or later is considered the evening.
Writing The Date
When writing the date, all days and numbers should be spelled out. The day is written first, then the date and month. The year is written on the following line. Example:
Saturday the fourth of September
two thousand and ten
When writing the year, the tradition is to use the British wording (example: two thousand and ten) but it is also acceptable to use the American wording (two thousand ten).
Including Addresses on the Invitation
When listing the ceremony address, spell out all words, (Street, Drive, etc.) as well as the state (or provence). Only the street address, city and state should be listed. The zip code (or postal code) should not be listed on the invitation.
Abbreviations
• No abbreviations should be used on the invitation. Either spell out a name or leave it out: Mark Taylor Richards or Mark Richards...never Mark T. Richards.
• Road, Street, Avenue, Reverend, Doctor, and all military titles should be spelled out. Exceptions are: “Mr.” and “Mrs.”
• Many etiquette specialists prefer that “junior” be spelled out. When it is spelled out,
the “j” is not capitalized.
Capitalization
Only those words that would normally be capitalized (proper nouns) should be
capitalized on the invitation (for example, couple’s names, church name, etc).
exception to the rule:
The beginning of a new sentence or thought: e.g. “T” in “The favour of
a reply is requested” or “Reception to follow”
No Children
It is considered socially incorrect to write, “no children please” on the invitation or
any part of the wedding ensemble.
A more appropriate (although some think still questionable) way to address this is to include a separate reception card in your invitation suite which includes the reception details (location, address, time). The last line can state “Adult Only Reception”.
Ideally, if you would prefer no children at the reception it is best to share that information word of mouth before the wedding via family members or members of the bridal party.
Black Tie
“Black tie” does not traditionally appear on the invitation. If the event takes place
after six o’clock, your guests should assume that it is a formal event. However, if you are concerned, you can write “Black tie” as a footnote on your reception card.
Please note: the “B” in “Black tie” is capitalized, but not the “t.”
Mentioning Gifts
It is considered extremely socially incorrect to make any mention of gifts on
invitations or in any part of your invitation suite, based on the theory that we should expect nothing from our friends except their presence. Never list where you are registered, the name of a charity for donations or your desire for money rather than presents.
It is best to share this information word of mouth via family members or members of the bridal party.
Including Reception Information
If you are not using reception cards, you may include the information on the last line
of the invitation. Example: “Reception immediately following”, “Reception to follow” or “and afterwards at the reception.”
These phrases indicate that the reception will be held at the same place as the
wedding. If the reception will be held at another location, you should consider
ordering a separate reception card as invitation wording is limited to a certain number of lines.
Request For Response
R.s.v.p. is an abbreviation for the French phrase “Répondez s’il vous plaît” which means “please respond”. Technically, only the “R” in “R.s.v.p.” is capitalized.
Since the sentence means “please respond”, there’s no need to say “Please R.s.v.p.” as
it would be redundant.
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