The Who, What, and Where
As expected with all special occasion invites, customary elements of wedding invitations include a line for the host, personal request, name of bride and groom, date and time, ceremony and reception location, as well as the RSVP. Traditional wedding invitations will actually follow that order, but today we see brides arranging this information in countless ways to reflect their personal tastes and the style of the occasion.
The Host Line
Tradition tells us that the parents of the bride pay for the wedding, but with the changing times wedding expenses are being shared more often and in more ways than ever. With that, the host line of the invitation has evolved from only including the parents of the bride to a flexibility of whatever fits your situation. We see brides and grooms choosing to have several sets of parents, one set of parents or even the bride and groom themselves listed as the hosts of the occasion. Sometimes financial constraints, divorce and remarriages, courtesy titles or varying last names, and other delicate situations need to be considered, as well. Every family is unique, so aim for a format you are most comfortable with regardless of what 'tradition' says.
The Request Line
How the "request" is worded can imply much more than most expect. The religious aspect of the wedding, the formality of the occasion, and even what the guest is invited to are all implications of the verbiage you choose. For example, "Request the honor of your presence" implies that the ceremony will be in a place of worship, whereas "Request the pleasure of your company" is a common choice for non-religious ceremonies.
Many couples prefer the ceremony to be a more intimate, family-only affair, but still want to celebrate with all of their loved ones at the reception. In this case, choosing a request line that specifies the event the guest is invited to should prevent any misunderstandings. Choose something like, "Invites you to join them at the wedding reception of," and be sure to only include the reception time of arrival.
The Bride and Groom Lines
Because the bride and groom are the stars of the show, their names should be set off from the rest of the invitation. Choosing a larger or fancier font and placing the bride and groom names on separate lines will distinguish them as the guests of honor. Traditional American formatting uses the preposition "to" when linking the bride and groom's names, whereas other religious traditions call for the preposition "and" between the bride and groom lines.
The Date and Time
Traditionally, the date and time of your special day is written out in a lengthier version than everyday practice. For example, nine o'clock "in the morning" or "in the evening" would be in place of "a.m." or "p.m." You should always capitalize proper nouns, but whether you choose to spell out numbers or use numerals is at your discretion and gives guests an indication of the formality of the event.
The Location Line
If you take the traditional approach, wedding invitation etiquette says that the street addresses of well-known establishments do not need to be included. Instead, the location line would simply list the name of the ceremony and reception location, along with the city and state written out with proper capitalization. However, (you guessed it!) it is becoming more and more common for wedding invitations to include the street address just under the location name.
If the ceremony and location are at a separate location, it's important that this is made clear in the invitation. Separate card inserts have become a popular option for directions to each location and special details about parking.
Please RSVP
As you start the planning process, you will quickly learn just how important an accurate guest count is. Most, if not all of your vendors will request a final count prior to the wedding day, so encourage guests to respond by making it as simple as possible. If you choose a postcard RSVP or a separate card with an envelope, having the return address and mailing stamp already in place will help ensure a prompt reply. While this is not required according to tradition, it has become something guests expect—and trust us, the small investment in stamps is worth having an accurate guest count that can end up saving you money in the end.
Don't Forget the Details
While the wedding invitation you create can suggest a lot about what to expect on the wedding day, some things need to be specified. Most guests will assume "church" attire for a daytime wedding and a dressed up version of that for evening weddings, so be sure to specify the style of dress if you have something else in mind. "Black Tie" or "Casual Attire" can be placed in the lower right corner of the invitation.
While you do not have to specify what the menu will include, it is important that you inform your guests if a full meal will not be provided. With phrases like "join us afterward for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres," this budget-friendly option is becoming more and more common. However you choose to phrase it, the idea is to be courteous and make sure your guests are prepared.
So, whether your special day will be a black-tie formal event with extravagant wedding decorations or a casual picnic in the park with vintage-inspired wedding accessories, consider these simple wedding invitation etiquette suggestions for a seamless event. Leave the guesswork out and let only the bliss of your wedding day in.
----------------------------------------------------
Weddingstar Inc. is the wedding industry's leading online supplier of quality, unique wedding favors and decorations, including exclusively designed wedding cake toppers. With over 28 years of creating innovative and fashionable products and services, Weddingstar Inc. has the skill and experience to make dreams come true. Read more: http://www.weddingstar.com/ideas/weddingideas/070611invitiationssaymore.html
EasyPublish this article: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=194954
0 commentaires:
Enregistrer un commentaire