Invitation Wording

philnick

I am a MOB and having a hard time finding a "rule"  or even consistent advice on how to word the invitation where I kept my name and my husband and I are doing the inviting. One site I found  says it's proper to use "Ms. Mary Smith and Mr. John Brown etc," but another 'expert' says never use Ms. and says Mrs. Mary Smith and Mr. John Brown" is appripriate (I don't like that becaue I've never used Mrs. Mary Smith) I've also seen different opinions on whether the father's name or the mother's comes first. Has anyone ever found a good answer to this? THe invitaitns are formal and will otherwise traditional wording. Thanks very much for any advice.

FutureMrsMDJahnke

I think you should put whatever you prefer to be called.

MelissaAnne88

Use whatever you'd like. There is no "rule" on what is and isn't okay. 

Oh except for one: if you use "Ms" don't use a period. There's no period because it isn't an abbreviation for anything. That's just a grammatical rule though, not an etiquette one. 

jessicabessica

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_invitation-wording-73?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:73f774c7-30e8-486f-856a-8b33387deb6bPost:e97ef10d-36e3-4d0f-a388-1ae8976ac58f">Re: Invitation Wording</a>:
[QUOTE]Use whatever you'd like. There is no "rule" on what is and isn't okay.  Oh except for one: if you use "Ms" don't use a period. There's no period because it isn't an abbreviation for anything. That's just a grammatical rule though, not an etiquette one. 
Posted by MelissaAnne88[/QUOTE]

<div>I've never seen "Ms." without a period.  From wikipedia, it looks like there's no period used in the UK.</div><div>
</div><div>As for the OP, I would say "Ms." if that's what your comfortable using, and ladies first: </div><div>Ms. Sara Smith and Mr. John Doe.</div>

MelissaAnne88

A period is used to show an abbreviation. For example, "Mr." stands for Mister or Master. 

Grammatically speaking, Ms does not need a period because it is not an abbreviation. However, culturally some have chosen to use a period in order to keep with the standard of Mr. and Mrs. 

Using a period with Ms is essentially the same as using a period with Miss - unnecessary. 

But the OP can do whatever she wants. I was merely pointing out a pet peeve. 

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

Ms. Jane Smith and Mr. John Doe
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter

Elizabeth Smith-Doe
to
Richard Thomas Jones


Your name goes first - ladies first.

For invitation wording and addressing etiquette, most people go by Cranes.

melb2013

There's nothing wrong with "Ms." as PPs have stated.  My mother didn't change her name.  We are planning on addressing my parents as "Ms. Mary Smith and Mr. John Doe".  That's always how they have been socially referred to.

ootmother2

Crane's includes a period after Ms. That's the guideline I would use

philnick

Thank you all very much!