Is this wording OK?

Re: Is this wording OK?

• redoryx member

  

  May 2017

  
  

  Knottie1465576527 said:

  
  

  A little background, I am my parents only daughter they and not hosting our wedding or reception. My FI and I are hosting everything. I want to honor all of my parents so I do want to make the wording a little more traditional on my invite, I have read a lot of the blog posts here and have learned a lot and thought you all would be the best to get in put. Also, some detail about the plan because of the time. We are doing a first look so that all pictures can be completed before the ceremony so there isn't extended lag time for people to eat since this is a Friday evening and some people will likely have to come from work. We are having a shorter ceremony, my cousin is being our officiant (she asked to do this and is super excited) so I expect to be starting dinner between 7 and 7:15. Let me know what you think of my wording. Thanks
  
  

  Ms. Brides Mother

  
  
  

  With

  
  
  

  Mr. & Mrs. Brides father and stepmother

  
  
  

  Request the honor of your presence at the

  
  
  

  Marriage of their daughter

  
  
  

  Bride

  
  
  

  to

  
  
  

  Groom

  
  
  

   

  
  
  

  Friday, the thirteenth of October

  
  
  

  At Six forty-five in the evening

  
  
  

  At

  
  
  

  Venue

  
  
  

  Street

  
  
  

  City

  
  
  

  Reception immediately following Ceremony

  
  
    

  
  

  
  So, a couple of things.
  
  First, @CMGragain can help you with the exact wording but I wanted to point out that the point of the invitation isn't to honor your parents. It's to honor the guests by inviting them to witness your marriage. It's right there: "Request the honor of your presence."
  
  On that note, unless you are getting married in a church -- which is doesn't sound like you are -- it should be the pleasure of your company. The honor thing is only for church weddings. 
  
  Finally, the invitation is meant to let your guests know who is hosting so if you and your FI are hosting, then it's inappropriate to put your parents on there. I get that you want to "honor" them, but this isn't the place to do it. But, since you are the bride and groom and it's against etiquette to specify that you are directly inviting them it would be something like this: 
  
  The pleasure of your company is requested
  at the marriage of
  Bride's Full Name
  and
  Groom's Full Name
  
  (CMG please correct me if I'm wrong on any of this!)
  

  

  Report3 Reply
• CMGragain member

  

  May 2017 edited May 2017

  There are capitalization issues that need to be addressed.  Only proper nouns should be capitalized.  The invitation should read like one long sentence.
  
  Your wording is not correct for the situation that you have described.  The invitation is a formal note from  the HOSTS to the guests, telling them who, what, when and where.  It is not customary to list family members who are not hosting.  It is not an honor to be on an invitation!  Guests, seeing your wording, will thank your parents for inviting them, not you.  Very confusing.  When a couple hosts their own wedding, the passive voice is used, as in this wording below.  This tells your guests that you are hosting, not your parents.
  
  I would urge you to start your ceremony at "half after six o'clock".  6:45 is just awkward, and fifteen minutes shouldn't make a difference.
  
  Here is the correct formal wording for your invitation (non-church).
  
  

  The pleasure of your company is requested

  at the marriage of

  Bride's Full Name

  and

  Groom's Full Name

  Friday, the thirteenth of October

  at three quarters after six o'clock

  Venue Name

  123 Maple Street

  Anytown, Iowa

  
  Reception to follow

  
  
  
  

  

  Report2 Reply
• Knottie1465576527 member

  

  May 2017

  Thanks ladies I will update it accordingly. I have thought about doing it at 6:30 but wanted to give guests as much time as possible on a Friday evening to get there so my intention is right but it may be too confusing to do that. One other question does it need to be worded at half past vs. six thirty? I am worried that the wording will be confusing to some of my guest that are not accustomed to reading time in that format. I may be over thinking it though!

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• CMGragain member

  

  May 2017 edited May 2017

  
  
  
  

  Knottie1465576527 said:

  
  
  
  

  Thanks ladies I will update it accordingly. I have thought about doing it at 6:30 but wanted to give guests as much time as possible on a Friday evening to get there so my intention is right but it may be too confusing to do that. One other question does it need to be worded at half past vs. six thirty? I am worried that the wording will be confusing to some of my guest that are not accustomed to reading time in that format. I may be over thinking it though!

  
  
  
  

  
  
  
  If you want to use traditional wording, it is "half after six o'clock".  I doubt if this would confuse anyone.  This wording has been in use for 150 years.  The words "half past" are reserved for funerals.  The traditional time always includes the word "o'clock", so saying "six thirty o'clock" would really confuse people!  "6:30 PM" is an abbreviation, and you are not supposed to use any abbreviations in a formal invitation except for "Mr., Mrs. or Ms."
  
  

  

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