Wedding Help - invite proofs

[buttercup80]

Hmmmmm. . . I just got my invite proof in my e-mail and I''m not really happy - I''m not sure about the wording and the spacing. Sorry about all the blurred parts - not sure who lurks on PS!

Two specific questions:

1 - Does the wording sound right? Right now it seems a bit odd - "Mr. and Mrs. Dad and Mom Mylastname request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Myname middle last to FI middle last son of Mr. and Mrs. FFIL and FMIL Hislastname" ???

2 - I''m not sure why the spacing is justified - I assumed it would just be centered. Does the venue name look really strange (the spacing, I know you can''t see the name) or is that just me?

Suggestions?

 

[buttercup80]

Oooooh, check me out, I''m a cut rock now!

 

[sunnygirl]

Hi Butterup!

I agree - it looks weird justified. Centered would be better. Also, is there a "to" between your names or just that line?
One other thing - i thought that when the parents names are listed that your last name doesn''t need to be repeated -just first and middle - but I am no expert.

Good luck!

 

[havernell]

1. I think that's fairly traditional wording for a wedding invitation. So, I don't think there's anything technically "wrong" with it. However, there are other ways to word it that make can make it sound less formal/less structured (i.e. "Together with their families Jill and Jack invite you to join in their celebration of marriage" or something like that. A google search should give you more ideas). Also, if the last names of both your parents are listed, you really don't need to have your last name or your FIs last name printed since that's kind of redundant (unless your last name is different from your parents' due to divorce/remarriage/etc...)

2. Yes, that spacing is definitely not attractive! You are right that the invitation designer needs to drop the justified alignment or something. I have no idea if there is a way to keep the smooth outline to the text the justification creates while getting rid of those spaces or not... Maybe you could just ask that the venue name and address be centered but leave rest justified (since I don't see major spacing issues anywhere else on the invitation). Hopefully someone with a graphic design background will chime in soon.

Bottom line- if you're not happy with the invited definitely have your designer rework them and don't feel bad about bothering them. It's their job to deliver to you the product that you want. Good luck!!

 

[buttercup80]

Someone told me that "Mr. and Mrs. Husband and Wife Lastname" was wrong - it should either be "Mr. and Mrs. Husband Lastname" OR "Wife and Husband Lastname"

Thoughts?

Sunnygirl - I noticed that too - it should DEFINITELY say "to" instead of having that line. . .I''m not sure why that''s there. . .

Havernell, do you think it would look okay without the smooth outline - just center everything? I wasn''t expecting the justification (justifying?) anyway. . .

Also, if I say "Myfirst Mymiddle to Hisfirst Hismiddle" can I just leave our last names totally off of that line? It seems to me that I''ve always seen the groom''s last name listed, but I don''t know why since his parents will be on there too. . .

MY parents don''t want "Together with their families," but they are happy to have "Son of..."

This is just way too detail-oriented for me to think about!

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 5/13/2008 7:07:19 PM
Author: buttercup80
Someone told me that 'Mr. and Mrs. Husband and Wife Lastname' was wrong - it should either be 'Mr. and Mrs. Husband Lastname' OR 'Wife and Husband Lastname'

Thoughts?

Sunnygirl - I noticed that too - it should DEFINITELY say 'to' instead of having that line. . .I'm not sure why that's there. . .

Havernell, do you think it would look okay without the smooth outline - just center everything? I wasn't expecting the justification (justifying?) anyway. . .

Also, if I say 'Myfirst Mymiddle to Hisfirst Hismiddle' can I just leave our last names totally off of that line? It seems to me that I've always seen the groom's last name listed, but I don't know why since his parents will be on there too. . .

MY parents don't want 'Together with their families,' but they are happy to have 'Son of...'

This is just way too detail-oriented for me to think about!

It should be Mr and Mrs Husband Lastname

If your surname is the same as your parents then leave it off.

Formal invitations should read:

Mr and Mrs John Smith

request the honour of your presence (US version)
pleasure of your company (UK version)

at the marriage of their daughter

Jane

to

Mr Fred Jones

(son of

Mr and Mrs Frank Jones) (optional - never seen it in the UK)

at etc etc

If you have his parents listed then you can leave his surname off as well.

I would centre everything - justified looks very weird, and I would get rid of the line.

 

[Haven]

Wording--Here are tips based on what is proper for a formal invitation. I see you''re using a non-traditional line at the bottom of the invite, so if you aren''t looking for formal wording, IGNORE these tips!

- Are you getting married at a religious venue? If not, it is improper to use "request the honour of your presence" on the invitation. I know a lot of people do it, but it is wrong. Instead, use "request the pleasure of your company".
- Parents'' names: Use "Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence James Buttercup" and NOT "Mr. and Mrs. Eleanor and Lawrence Buttercup"
- I would put your name on its own line, followed by a line with "to" and then your FI''s name on another line:
Sarah Jessica Parker
to
Mr. Matthew Alan Broderick
(Middle names are traditionally used for fathers, brides, and grooms)
- I can''t help you with the question about including your FI''s last name because I''ve never seen a formal wedding invite that had that "son of Mr. and Mrs." line on it. I would still include his last name, though.

Visuals

- I agree that it would look better center justifiied.

 

[buttercup80]

Thanks Haven!

Date: 5/13/2008 7:27:22 PM
Author: Haven
- I would put your name on its own line, followed by a line with ''to'' and then your FI''s name on another line:

Sarah Jessica Parker

to

Mr. Matthew Alan Broderick

(Middle names are traditionally used for fathers, brides, and grooms)

Does this mean I can put my last name on also? I''m a big fan of symmetry and it seems odd to have FI''s last name and not mine - especially since both of our parents'' names will be on there

 

[buttercup80]

Okay, last try for now - how about this, all centered?

Mom and Dad Mylast
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their daughter
Myfirst Mymiddle Mylast
and
Hisfirst Hismiddle Hislast
son of FMIL and FFIL Hislast
Sunday, the twelfth of October
Two thousand and eight
at twelve o''clock in the afternoon
Venue Name
Venue Address
City, State

Dinner and merriment to follow

 

[Haven]

Date: 5/13/2008 7:44:12 PM
Author: buttercup80
Thanks Haven!

Date: 5/13/2008 7:27:22 PM
Author: Haven
- I would put your name on its own line, followed by a line with 'to' and then your FI's name on another line:

Sarah Jessica Parker

to

Mr. Matthew Alan Broderick

(Middle names are traditionally used for fathers, brides, and grooms)

Does this mean I can put my last name on also? I'm a big fan of symmetry and it seems odd to have FI's last name and not mine - especially since both of our parents' names will be on there

I'm sorry--that was a mistake. No, traditionally you do NOT include the bride's last name on the invite. My example should have been:

Mr. and Mrs. Leopold Henry Parker
Request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their daughter
Sarah Jessica
to
Mr. Matthew Alan Broderick

Sorry for the misinformation. I typed out that response in between engagements so I was a bit hurried.

 

[buttercup80]

Darn! I thought you might have put that there by accident, but I was hoping! It doesn''t seem unbalanced to anyone else to have his last name and not mine? Would it really be awful to sneak mine on there too? or drop his?

 

[havernell]

Date: 5/14/2008 6:56:25 AM
Author: buttercup80
Darn! I thought you might have put that there by accident, but I was hoping! It doesn''t seem unbalanced to anyone else to have his last name and not mine? Would it really be awful to sneak mine on there too? or drop his?

I hear you on the symmetry/unbalanced thing with your and your FIs names! I personally think it makes the most sense to just drop your FIs last name since you are indicating what his last name is on the "son of" line. But, that''s really just based on what makes sense in my head, not any sort of established etiquette, so maybe wait for Haven to chime back in.

I like the inclusion of the "son of" line even if it''s not "traditional." It lets it be known that the bride''s parents are still the ones hosting the wedding, but at the same time at least acknowledges that the groom''s parents exist and that they are important people in the couple''s life.

As for the smooth outline of the text with the justification- in theory it''s a neat visual effect, but since it''s just not working out in practice I''d say you don''t need it. Centering the whole thing would be just fine in my opinion.

It''s getting there! Good luck sorting it all out!

 

[buttercup80]

Thanks havernell! I can''t believe I''m spending so much time on the wording of the invitation. Seriously - why is this so difficult?

I''m steps away from scrapping them entirely and sending out evites. ..

 

[lliang_chi]

Buttercup,

The proper way to address a husband & wife is Mrs & Mr. Joe Smith. The husband's name goes next to his Mr. title.

But how about:

Mrs. & Mr. Dad Buttercup
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their daughter

YourName MiddleOptional to HisName MiddleOptional

son of Mrs. & Mr. FFIL Buttercup

Day, Date
Time
Venue
Location

Dinner and merriment to follow​