The Wedding Etiquette Nobody Actually Understands, but Everybody Wants To Know!

WEDDING  INVITATION   ETIQUETTE

You Can Never Give Too Much Notice!
Save-The-Dates typically go out three to four months prior to the wedding, but if guests are spread far and wide—or you're throwing a destination wedding—more time is better. No one will complain about having extra leeway to plan. Send invitations six to eight weeks beforehand, with an R.S.V.P. request of two to three weeks prior to the event so you can get a final head count.


K.I.S.S (Keep It Super-Simple)
Wedding invitations should include the full names of the couple marrying and those of the hosts (if they’re different), the place and time, and that’s it. "No children" isn’t included on the invite; it's implied by the names on the envelope. Nor should you list registry information on the invitation—family and attendants can spread the word when asked about it, or you can provide it on your website.


Titles Do Matter
This applies to all event, but particularly for formal functions! If the wife is a doctor, her full name comes first, as in "Doctor Aaron and Mr. Gary Lawrence." When the husband is a doctor, the titles appear as "Doctor and Mrs." and if both husband and wife are doctors, the envelope should say "Drs. Sharon and Gary Lawrence." A single woman (unless she's a doctor) should be addressed as "Ms." If she's under 21, use "Miss."


Anatomy of an Invitation
A typical invitation includes certain customary elements: the host line, request line, bride and groom line, date and time lines, location line, and reception and R.S.V.P. lines. Although every invitation should have all these lines, they can be worded and arranged in countless ways to reflect the style of the occasion and the changing times.


Tricky Wording? Sorted!!
Two phrases are the most traditional; one indicates the ceremony will be in a house of worship, the other that it will not. But informal wording is becoming very common. Just be sure that whatever phrasing you choose indicates that guests are being invited to a wedding ceremony or the reception only.

• At a Place of Worship: Request the honor of your presence...
• Informal Ceremony: Would be delighted by your presence at the marriage of their children...
• Informal Reception Only: Invite you to join them at the wedding reception of...

R.S.V.P
Brides today generally include paper, envelope, and stamp to encourage guests to respond to their invitation in a timely manner, even though traditional etiquette doesn't actually call for them. It's not rude to omit these, but it might be risky.

• R.S.V.P. Line on the Invitation: It goes in the lower left corner; you can also include mailing address, phone number, email address, or website.
• On a Separate Card: A traditional fill-in-the-blank version provides the first letter of Mr. or Mrs.; or try a single line, such as "Please let us know whether you will join us," with space for writing.

Extra! Extra!
Where To Put The Other Info?
If your event won't include a full meal, it's courteous to inform your guests. Use phrasing such as "and afterward for cocktails" instead of the classic "at the reception."
If you want to stress the importance of the style of dress -- black tie, for instance, or casual attire -- place that information in the lower right corner, or on the reception card. The only thing that should not be included anywhere on your invitation -- not even as an insert -- is your registry information.

Many thanks & full credit to http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/343536/7-wedding-invitation-etiquette-tips/@center/272440/wedding-etiquette-adviser

If there's anything else we can do to help with YOUR wedding,
please contact the friendly team at Verge Studio!
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