Invitation Wording Help!

[jerseygrl]

I am having a bit of trouble with invitation wording. The wedding will be very traditional and formal, my parents are hosting but I tend to like the non-traditional wording with the cutsey hallmark phrases (don''t barf). Which invitation wording works best? What is the best way to say "reception to follow, black tie optional"? Should I include titles for parents names "Mr. and Mrs. John Smith" or is using first names acceptable?

Option #1: my favorite
Love was meant to be shared
with parents, family and friends

JerseygrlFist Last and
FIfirst FiLast

Together with our parents
Jane and John Doe
Rachel and Robby Smith
Invite you to share our celebration
of lifelong love and commitment
in the ceremony uniting us in marriage
Sunday, the twenty fifth of October
two thousand and nine
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Church Name
Church Address
Church City, State

Reception to follow
Black tie optional



Option #2:
Because you have shared in their lives
by your friendship and love
you are invited to share with our daughter
Bride First Bride Middle
and
Groom First Groom Middle
Son of Rachel and Robby Smith
when they exchange marriage vows
and begin their new life together
on Sunday, the twenty fifth of October 2009
at three o''clock in the afternoon
Church Name
Address
City, State

Reception to Follow

Brides'' Parents Names (Jane and John Doe)




Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!!

 

[Lanie]

I think the most obvious question is, who is paying for the wedding? The first sample is if you guys are contributing, plus your parents, plus his parents. The second sample sounds like it''s just your parents.

 

[jerseygrl]

Thanks Lanie for the reply...

Let me clarify, My parents are paying/hosting

I am trying to get away from:

Mr. and Mrs. John Doe
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Jerseygrl
to
FI
son of
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Smith

even though we are having a formal traditional wedding...

 

[Lanie]

Got it. Then definitely don''t do the first one. I like your second one...don''t know about adding the parents names at the bottom of the invite though. Not that it''s bad or weird, I''ve just never seen it that way. I would google invitation companies and look through a bunch or google invitation wording. There are so many ways to do it, so you definitely aren''t stuck with the traditional way.

Or what if you did:

Because you have shared in their lives
by your friendship and love
Mama Jersey and Dad Jersey
Invite you to share our celebration
in the ceremony uniting

Bride First Bride Middle
and
Groom First Groom Middle
Son of...blah blah blah

 

[jstarfireb]

Hey Jerseygrl!

I actually prefer #2, because it seems to flow better to me (for some reason I prefer the third person wording). I also tend to prefer simpler phrasing with fewer words. I actually threw etiquette to the wind and omitted the parents' names, even though they're hosting. For your more formal wedding, I guess that's probably not a great option, but it's there if you want it!

If you prefer number 1, I would try to simplify it a little. If you're using a folding card format, perhaps you could put the first 2 lines on the front? My parents actually did something similar (the front of their card read "To everything there is a season, a time and a place"). Also, I'd omit the "in the ceremony uniting us in marriage" - people know it's a wedding invitation anyway, and I think it's redundant.

So this is what I'd do if you want to stick with #1:

Love was meant to be shared
with family and friends (*note that I omitted parents because it's redundant*)

Together with their parents
Jane and John Doe
Rachel and Robby Smith

JerseygrlFist Last and
FIfirst FiLast

Invite you to share their celebration
of lifelong love and commitment

Sunday, the twenty fifth of October
two thousand and nine
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Church Name
Church Address
Church City, State

Reception to follow
Black tie optional

 

[jstarfireb]

Forgot to mention earlier that if you go with #1, I'd also use "love IS meant to be shared" rather than "love WAS meant to be shared." Because I'm hoping your love isn't past tense.

 

[jerseygrl]

Thanks ladies! both of those suggestions are very good solutions. Hopefully FI will like the non traditional wording!

 

[havernell]

Date: 4/11/2009 5:24:27 PM
Author: Lanie

Or what if you did:


Because you have shared in their lives

by your friendship and love

Mama Jersey and Dad Jersey

Invite you to share our celebration

in the ceremony uniting


Bride First Bride Middle

and

Groom First Groom Middle

Son of...blah blah blah

I like this version that Lanie posted a lot! I think it accomplishes your want of non-traditional wording, but still makes it clear that your parents are hosting. I thought having their names at the bottom was a bit awkward, so this is an improvement.

IF you want to go with something like your #1 wording instead, I would just run it by your parents first to make sure they are okay with an invitation that seems to indicate that everyone is paying together. They may not care, but they may be hurt if they aren''t given credit for hosting.

Good luck working out the wording!!