Etiquette For Formal Wedding Invitations

There are traditional marriages and there are also casual weddings. Nevertheless in all these occasions, there are certain rules of conduct that should be followed mainly in formal weddings. Modern and casual weddings on the other hand are okay and probably expected to be creative.

A formal wedding, like any formal events, has a standard set of decorum to be observed. In composing a wedding invitation, there are a few things that must be done properly:

• Names have to be written in full, not excluding middle names. However it is better to omit the middle name rather than write only the middle initial. For name extensions, Roman numerals like 'II' are more appropriate than '2nd' or 'the second'.


• British spelling of certain words like 'honour' are more proper and formal, except when you really prefer its American spelling.


• The date, year, time or hour should be spelled out in words correctly, as with words in the addresses like 'Avenue', 'Road' and 'Street'. There are exceptions, however, like St. for Saint or Mt. for Mount.


• Use phrases appropriate for the venue of the wedding ceremonies. If the venue would take place in a church place, the correct phrase should be "request the honour of your presence". For non-religious venue, the phrase "request the pleasure of your company" is fine to use.

Type Style refers to how the words are printed on the invitation, the color and type of the font. Black ink is traditionally used in printing wedding invitations using engraved or script style. Examples of Formal invitation fonts include CommScript, Champignon and Shelley Script.

Each individual belong to a distinct family. There are so many different family types. And depending on what family type the bride and groom are from, the invitation should include the proper wording. But what's essential is that the invitation contains the type of the party, the party's purpose, the date, hour and place where the event will take place and the information for RSVP. The choice of wording and its composition should be based on who is issuing the invitation. It may be from the parents of the bride or the groom, both set of parents and the groom and the bride themselves. There are also standard wedding invitation wordings that are appropriate to the status of the parent/s like widowed or divorced parents.

Proper salutations must also be used in formal wedding invitations. Make sure that the profession of title of the names to be written on the invitation is know. For instance one of the sponsors is a judge, what must be written on the outer envelope is 'The Honorable' and 'Judge' on the outer envelope.

The assembly or order of assembling of the invitation should also be ensured. Place the edge-folded invitation and its tissue inside the envelope with its front facing you as with the response card and other insertions. The invitation must be mailed from four to six weeks before the marriage so that guests will have enough preparation time.