Writing a Wedding Invitation


Note:
1. It is considered appropriate to acknowledge those who have 'hosted the reception'.
This usually includes those who have also contributed to the cost of the ceremony.
2. It may also be considered appropriate to acknowledge both sets of parents, whether
or not they have contributed to the wedding ceremony or the reception.
3. The surnames of both the bride and the groom should be mentioned (i) if both sets of
parents are hosting the reception; (ii) if both their surnames differ from that/those of
the person/s issuing the invitation; and (iii) in the case of a double wedding
when the brides are not sisters.
4. If the wedding ceremony is (or includes) a religious one, use 'request the honour of your presence'.
If it is a civil one, use 'request the pleasure of your company'.
5. RSVP cards and self-addressed envelopes may be included with the invitations
when they are mailed out. It is becoming increasingly acceptable to permit
invited guests to respond via email or telephone, in which case include a return email
address and/or telephone number below the RSVP address. Whether receiving RSVP's by
mail, email or telephone, remember to request the number of guests who will be attending.

The following (A through U below) are examples of frequently-used wording on wedding invitations/announcements.
The list is not exhaustive.
The last two, T and U, deal with postponement/cancellation.
Names and places mentioned in the examples are fictional.


A. When the parents of the bride are hosting the reception
B. When the parents of the bride and of the groom are hosting the reception
C. When the grandparents of the bride are hosting the reception
D. When the bride and groom are hosting the reception
E. When the divorced parents of the bride are hosting the reception and the bride's mother has not re-married
F. When the divorced parents of the bride are hosting the reception and the bride's mother has re-married
G. When the divorced mother of the bride is hosting the reception and the bride's mother has not re-married
H. When the divorced mother of the bride is hosting the reception and the bride's mother has re-married
I. When the widowed father of the bride is hosting the reception
J. When the sister of the bride is hosting the reception
K. When the brother of the bride is hosting the reception
L. When the sister of the groom is hosting the reception
M. When the brother of the groom is hosting the reception
N. When any person/s other than those mentioned above is/are hosting the reception
O. When there is a wedding ceremony but no reception
P. When the wedding ceremony is at the home of friends
Q. For a double wedding when the brides are sisters
R. For a double wedding for a brother and sister
S. For a double wedding when the brides are not sisters
T. If the wedding is postponed
U. If the wedding is cancelled


A. When the parents of the bride are hosting the reception
Mr and Mrs John Stevens
request the honour of your presence at
the wedding
of their daughter
Daniella
to
Michael Inglis
on Saturday 31 September 2000
at 14h00
in St. Albans Methodist Church
Easthill Park
Reception : Summer Fields, Easthill Glen
RSVP
P O Box 10001
Easthill Park
12345

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B. When the parents of the bride and of the groom are hosting the reception
Mr and Mrs John Stevens
and
Mr and Mrs Brent Inglis
request the honour of your presence at
the wedding
of
Daniella Stevens
to
Michael Inglis
on Saturday 31 September 2000
at 14h00
in St. Albans Methodist Church
Easthill Park
Reception : Summer Fields, Easthill Glen
RSVP
P O Box 10001
Easthill Park
12345

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C. When the grandparents of the bride are hosting the reception
Mr and Mrs Edwin Stevens
request the honour of your presence at
the wedding
of their granddaughter
Daniella
to
Michael Inglis
on Saturday 31 September 2000
at 14h00
in St. Albans Methodist Church
Easthill Park
Reception : Summer Fields, Easthill Glen
RSVP
P O Box 10001
Easthill Park
12345

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D. When the bride and groom are hosting the reception
Daniella Stevens and Michael Inglis
request the honour of your presence at
their wedding
on Saturday 31 September 2000
at 14h00
in St. Albans Methodist Church
Easthill Park
Reception : Summer Fields, Easthill Glen
RSVP
P O Box 10001
Easthill Park
12345

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E. When the divorced parents of the bride are hosting the reception and the bride's mother has not re-married
Mr John Stevens and Mrs Corinne Stevens
request the honour of your presence at
the wedding
of their daughter
Daniella
to
Michael Inglis
on Saturday 31 September 2000
at 14h00
in St. Albans Methodist Church
Easthill Park
Reception : Summer Fields, Easthill Glen
RSVP
P O Box 10001
Easthill Park
12345

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F. When the divorced parents of the bride are hosting the reception and the bride's mother has re-married
Mr John Stevens and Mrs Corinne Langley
request the honour of your presence at
the wedding
of their daughter
Daniella
to
Michael Inglis
on Saturday 31 September 2000
at 14h00
in St. Albans Methodist Church
Easthill Park
Reception : Summer Fields, Easthill Glen
RSVP
P O Box 10001
Easthill Park
12345

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G. When the divorced mother of the bride is hosting the reception and the bride's mother has not re-married
Mrs Corinne Stevens
requests the honour of your presence at
the wedding
of her daughter
Daniella
to
Michael Inglis
on Saturday 31 September 2000
at 14h00
in St. Albans Methodist Church
Easthill Park
Reception : Summer Fields, Easthill Glen
RSVP
P O Box 10001
Easthill Park
12345

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H. When the divorced mother of the bride is hosting the reception and the bride's mother has re-married
Mr Frederick Green and Mrs Corinne Stevens
request the honour of your presence at
the wedding
of her daughter
Daniella
to
Michael Inglis
on Saturday 31 September 2000
at 14h00
in St. Albans Methodist Church
Easthill Park
Reception : Summer Fields, Easthill Glen
RSVP
P O Box 10001
Easthill Park
12345

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I. When the widowed father of the bride is hosting the reception
Mr John Stevens
requests the honour of your presence at
the wedding
of his daughter
Daniella
to
Michael Inglis
on Saturday 31 September 2000
at 14h00
in St. Albans Methodist Church
Easthill Park
Reception : Summer Fields, Easthill Glen
RSVP
P O Box 10001
Easthill Park
12345

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J. When the sister of the bride is hosting the reception
Mrs/Miss/Ms Denise Stevens
requests the honour of your presence at
the wedding
of her sister
Daniella
to
Michael Inglis
on Saturday 31 September 2000
at 14h00
in St. Albans Methodist Church
Easthill Park
Reception : Summer Fields, Easthill Glen
RSVP
P O Box 10001
Easthill Park
12345

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K. When the brother of the bride is hosting the reception
Mr Kenneth Stevens
requests the honour of your presence at
the wedding
of his sister
Daniella
to
Michael Inglis
on Saturday 31 September 2000
at 14h00
in St. Albans Methodist Church
Easthill Park
Reception : Summer Fields, Easthill Glen
RSVP
P O Box 10001
Easthill Park
12345

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L. When the sister of the groom is hosting the reception
Mrs/Miss/Ms Jacqui Inglis
requests the honour of your presence at
the wedding
of
Daniella Stevens
to her brother
Michael
on Saturday 31 September 2000
at 14h00
in St. Albans Methodist Church
Easthill Park
Reception : Summer Fields, Easthill Glen
RSVP
P O Box 10001
Easthill Park
12345

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M. When the brother of the groom is hosting the reception
Mr Albert Inglis
requests the honour of your presence at
the wedding
of
Daniella Stevens
to his brother
Michael
on Saturday 31 September 2000
at 14h00
in St. Albans Methodist Church
Easthill Park
Reception : Summer Fields, Easthill Glen
RSVP
P O Box 10001
Easthill Park
12345

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N. When any person/s other than those mentioned above is/are hosting the reception
Mr and Mrs Carl Oberman
request the honour of your presence at
the wedding
of
Daniella Stevens
to
Michael Inglis
on Saturday 31 September 2000
at 14h00
in St. Albans Methodist Church
Easthill Park
Reception : Summer Fields, Easthill Glen
RSVP
P O Box 10001
Easthill Park
12345

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O. When there is a wedding ceremony but no reception
Mr and Mrs John Stevens
request the honour of your presence at
the wedding
of their daughter
Daniella
to
Michael Inglis
on Saturday 31 September 2000
at 14h00
in St. Albans Methodist Church
Easthill Park
RSVP
P O Box 10001
Easthill Park
12345

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P. When the wedding ceremony is at the home of friends
Mr and Mrs John Stevens
request the honour of your presence at
the wedding
of their daughter
Daniella
to
Michael Inglis
on Saturday 31 September 2000
at 14h00
at the home of
Mr and Mrs Robert Black
20 Bumblebee Avenue, Forest Glade
Reception : Summer Fields, Easthill Glen
RSVP
P O Box 10001
Easthill Park
12345

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Q. For a double wedding when the brides are sisters (The elder sister is mentioned first)
Mr and Mrs John Stevens
request the honour of your presence at
the weddings
of their daughters
Daniella
to
Michael Inglis
and
Christelle
to
Anthony Humbolt
on Saturday 31 September 2000
at 14h00
in St. Albans Methodist Church
Easthill Park
Reception : Summer Fields, Easthill Glen
RSVP
P O Box 10001
Easthill Park
12345

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R. For a double wedding for a brother and sister (The sister is mentioned first)
Mr and Mrs John Stevens
request the honour of your presence at
the weddings
of their children
Daniella
to
Michael Inglis
and
Mark
to
Tracy Elliot
on Saturday 31 September 2000
at 14h00
in St. Albans Methodist Church
Easthill Park
Reception : Summer Fields, Easthill Glen
RSVP
P O Box 10001
Easthill Park
12345

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S. For a double wedding when the brides are not sisters (The elder bride is mentioned first)
Mr and Mrs John Stevens
and
Mr and Mrs Vincent Blakeley
request the honour of your presence at
the weddings
of their daughters
Daniella Stevens
to
Michael Inglis
and
Antoinette Blakeley
to
Peter Stanton
on Saturday 31 September 2000
at 14h00
in St. Albans Methodist Church
Easthill Park
Reception : Summer Fields, Easthill Glen
RSVP
P O Box 10001
Easthill Park
12345

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T. If the wedding is postponed
Mr and Mrs John Stevens
regret to announce that
the wedding
of their daughter
Daniella
to
Michael Inglis
is postponed to Saturday 31 November 2000
at 14h00
in St. Albans Methodist Church
Easthill Park
Reception : Summer Fields, Easthill Glen
RSVP
P O Box 10001
Easthill Park
12345

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U. If the wedding is cancelled
Mr and Mrs John Stevens
regret to announce that
the wedding
of their daughter
Daniella
to
Michael Inglis
will no longer take place

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