Invitation wording - military

Re: Invitation wording - military

• OliveOilsMom member

  

  September 2012

  I think for retired military, you would not put their rank.  You should go over to the Military Brides  board and see what those ladies say. 

  

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• Meegles4 member

  

  September 2012

  Check with military brides for sure, but I think it'd be
  
  Master Sargeant (Ret.) and Mrs. John Smith
  
  I think you have the groom's rank just fine. Also, it depends on the person if they want their rank listed as a retired person. My father is a retired military officer and doesn't use his rank. He has friends that do, though. Just ask your FIL what he'd prefer.

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  www.detroitwedding.weebly.com
  

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• divinemsbee member

  

  September 2012 edited September 2012

  I think you posted this on MB and didn't get responses. I didn't respond because I don't know the deal for NCOs. Your FI's rank is fine (that's how I did my FI's). From what I found when I was looking around, it's above/below a certain rank that changes it from in front of someone's name or if it isn't listed. 

  
  

  From what I can find, the only thing that you could change about your in-laws names would be that it should be listed as:

  
  

  Master Sergeant James -------- and Mrs. ----------

  
  

  ETA: You don't need to put your FIL's branch or the fact that he's retired on there. And I agree with PP that you should go ahead and ask him if he prefers to use his rank socially. 

  

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• theelusive1

  

  September 2012

  There is no reason to put any rank unless it is a military function.  a Dr would be the only thing you would address as such.
  27 years later I have never addressed anything by rank. We have had 5 children married and lots of parties in that time.
  
  It would be Mr and Mrs. John Doe.
  
  If you insist on a rank it would be
  Private and Mrs John Doe
  
  

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• manjermj member

  

  September 2012

  Thanks for the respones. No one on the MB commented that's why I posted it here. I think we're just going to exclude his dad's military rank.
  
  While I know this isn't a "true" ettiquette book, it is the only one that addresses parents being enlisted personnel. http://blog.crane.com/2012/02/09/invitation-etiquette-religious-cultural-customs/#military-weddings
  It says:

  FATHER IS A NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER OR ENLISTED MAN

  Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Jay Forrester
  
  So I'm going to go with that.

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• theelusive1

  

  September 2012

   I know this is not the end all be all for any subject but the people here have helped so much it is amazing.

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• kmmssg mod

  

  September 2012

  In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_invitation-wording-military?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:ff18fe0c-7d80-4760-b489-417484480ea6Post:12b3081a-a292-4796-a3ae-0a4c896fbbda">Re: Invitation wording - military</a>:
  [QUOTE]Thanks for the respones. No one on the MB commented that's why I posted it here. I think we're just going to exclude his dad's military rank. While I know this isn't a "true" ettiquette book, it is the only one that addresses parents being enlisted personnel. <a href="http://blog.crane.com/2012/02/09/invitation-etiquette-religious-cultural-customs/#military-weddings" rel="nofollow">http://blog.crane.com/2012/02/09/invitation-etiquette-religious-cultural-customs/#military-weddings</a> It says: FATHER IS A NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER OR ENLISTED MAN Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Jay Forrester So I'm going to go with that.
  Posted by manjermj[/QUOTE]
  
  <div>As a retired NCO, this is what I have found when I have researched this.  I have only seen commissioned officers having their ranks listed.  Can't say I agree with that personally, but I don't write etiquette books.</div>

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• TheVirginians member

  

  September 2012 edited September 2012

  Just got my new Emily Post Wedding Etiquette book today and she says:
  
  1. High ranking officers should continue to use their title, even after retired. To me that means your dad would not use his title.
  2. Lieutenant title is used for the groom with his branch under his name, no mention of first.
  
  Example:
  
  Mr. and Mrs. John Henry Doe
  request....
  Nicole Marie
  ...
  Lieutenant Robert Herbert Smith
  United States Army
  
  Good luck and congrats! Just found out today that my FSIL might have to go to Lybia from his station in Europe. Boo!

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• manjermj member

  

  September 2012

  In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_invitation-wording-military?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:ff18fe0c-7d80-4760-b489-417484480ea6Post:3c30f5a2-c5da-4721-995f-48228a4dc4bf">Re: Invitation wording - military</a>:
  [QUOTE]Just got my new Emily Post Wedding Etiquette book today and she says: 1. High ranking officers should continue to use their title, even after retired. To me that means your dad would not use his title. 2. Lieutenant title is used for the groom with his branch under his name, no mention of first. Example: Mr. and Mrs. John Henry Doe request.... Nicole Marie ... Lieutenant Robert Herbert Smith United States Army Good luck and congrats! Just found out today that my FSIL might have to go to Lybia from his station in Europe. Boo!
  Posted by va4ryans[/QUOTE]
  
  Thank you! Yep, decided to just use Mr. and Mrs. for the parents.
  But for FI, I've read that the rank of Lieutenant should be like:
  Timothy James -----
  Lieutenant, United States Marine Corps
  and that only Captain and above should be like you posted. That must be a change from previous etiquette??

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