Wording help

Meags105

Here's what I have so far:

Together with their families, 

Meags105 & Mr. Meags105

Invite you to celebrate their marriage

Saturday, the seventeenth of January 
two thousand fifteen
at four o'clock

Name of United Church

XXXX ____ St, ___, Nova Scotia

Reception to follow at 

Name of Hotel

XXXX _____ St, __, Nova Scotia

**Now here is the part I'm not sure how to fit in... the reception at the hotel includes a "cocktail hour" (There will probably be a cash bar/we will provide coffee and finger foods etc but those details aren't confirmed) at 5:30 and the dinner/dance/festivities start at 7.

How do I include that? Should I do a reception card?

Also, and tips/critique on my invite wording is appreciated! We are paying for most, but our parents are helping so I just went with "together with our families".

And I know it's early, but we are getting them printed for free with the only catch being we have to do them sooner rather than later. 

CMGragain

Together with their families, 

Meags105 and Mr. Meags105

request the honour of your presence
as they are united in marriage

Saturday, the seventeenth of January 
two thousand fifteen
at four o'clock

Name of United Church

XXXX ____ Street
 ___, Nova Scotia

(Separate card needed)

Reception
Half after five o'clock

Name of Hotel
Address
City, Nova Scotia

Rsvp.

Is this supposed to be a wedding invitation?  Your wording makes it sound like a celebration of a wedding that has already taken place.  I would be very confused if I received an invitation with your wording.  I changed it to the traditional wording that everyone will understand.

Please don't have a cash bar.  Alcohol isn't really necessary, but cash bars are very rude.  How about just offering wine and beer? That can save you a lot of money, and you would be properly hosting your guests. 
The "Social Hour" is a part of your reception, so you just put the starting time.
I am assuming that this is not a Catholic wedding?  The wording would be slightly different if it is.

Meags105

Thanks for the tip with wording, and nope not Catholic.  

And as much as I wish we could afford to provide alcohol, to be honest around here cash bars are pretty much the norm. While an open bar would be appreciated, I know that no one would be expecting it. 

HisGirlFriday13

Meags105 said:

Thanks for the tip with wording, and nope not Catholic.  

And as much as I wish we could afford to provide alcohol, to be honest around here cash bars are pretty much the norm. While an open bar would be appreciated, I know that no one would be expecting it. 

Just because the 'norm' is rude doesn't mean you have to conform to the lowest common standard.

Host what you can afford -- beer and wine; no alcohol; etc.

jt1129

Possible options for wording:

**Mr. & Mrs. invite you to celebrate their marriage

**"" invite you to celebrate their wedding (my FMIL is adamant about this one being the "right way" )

**"" request the honor/honour of your presence (depending on your location--I'm not sure how Nova Scotians spell it!  Honour can also signal a more formal affair, if your area's typical spelling is 'honor'.)

I love the "together with their families" phrasing very best of all the openings, though.  I know that it (theoretically) signal that both families are contributing financially to the wedding, but it just feels inclusive and warm to me.

Good luck with your wording!

CMGragain

Sorry, but your FMIL is wrong.  The bride and groom never directly invite guests to their wedding.  If the parents are not hosting it, the invitation is phrased indirectly.

"The honour of your presence is requested
at the marriage of
Bride's Full Name
and
Groom's Full Name
(etc.)

The "Together with their families" wording is not traditional, but many modern couples are using it.

Jen4948

jt1129 said:

Possible options for wording:

**Mr. & Mrs. invite you to celebrate their marriage

**"" invite you to celebrate their wedding (my FMIL is adamant about this one being the "right way" )

**"" request the honor/honour of your presence (depending on your location--I'm not sure how Nova Scotians spell it!  Honour can also signal a more formal affair, if your area's typical spelling is 'honor'.)

I love the "together with their families" phrasing very best of all the openings, though.  I know that it (theoretically) signal that both families are contributing financially to the wedding, but it just feels inclusive and warm to me.

Good luck with your wording!

Who's paying isn't relevant to how the invitation should be worded, because paying doesn't equal hosting and who contributes what is none of the guests' business.