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Wedding Invitations & Paper
Anyone have wedding invitation wording in German?
I know it's a longshot, but we are planning to have our invites printed in both English and German (FI is Swiss) and I am hoping to have a look at some samples since there doesn't seem to be a 'traditional' wedding invitation wording in German and FI is clueless.
I am planning to ask FI's mom and other friends, but thought I would check here in case any of you could offer a suggestion.
Thanks!
I am planning to ask FI's mom and other friends, but thought I would check here in case any of you could offer a suggestion.
Thanks!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Anyone have wedding invitation wording in German?
@poison: No, we aren't having a bilingual ceremony since we are getting married in New Orleans (my hometown) and trying to find a rabbi (FI is Jewish) who was willing to marry us (I am not Jewish) was a headache in itself - nevermind trying to find one that speaks German! ha! So, everything will be in English, but perhaps with some Hebrew thrown in
TK is awesome! You ladies rock!
Hi!
I am so glad to see this post! I am getting married in Germany also, in June, in the Rheingau region (my FI and his family are Germany, though he's lived here in the US a long time) and I am in the process of ordering my invitations and trying to get the wording correct for the German version (we are also doing everything dual language- Save the Dates, Invitations, Programs, Ceremony, Menus, Place cards, etc. It's very tricky, but I think it's the most considerate and thoughtful thing we can do for all of our guests, since the guest list is split about 50/50 German speakers/ English speakers).
I have two main questions:
1- In American/ English etiquette, all the numbers on a formal invitation, such as date, year, and time are spelled out. Is this the same with German invitation etiquette? My FMIL didn't seem to know this.
2- We are doing the wedding with a vintage kind of style, a nod to the Gatsby/ Old Hollywood era, so on the American invite for dress code, we wrote "Gatsby Formal." How do I handle this on the German invite?
3- If you speak German/ know the etiquette, would you kindly look at our invitation text below and tell me if you think the German version is an accurate and proper translation of the English text? I would be so grateful!
ENGLISH VERSION:
Since you have touched their lives with your friendship and love,
(bride's name)
and
(groom's name)
Together with their families,
Would be honoured by your presence
As they formally unite in marriage
At the (name of venue),
In (name of town), Germany
At four o'clock on Saturday, the sixteenth of June, two thousand twelve.
Dinner and dancing reception to follow
At (name of reception venue).
Please respond by the first of May, two thousand twelve. Gatsby Formal
______________________________________
GERMAN TRANSLATION ATTEMPT:
Ihr habt unser Leben mit Freundschaft und Liebe beruehrt
(bride's name) und (groom's name)
zusammen mit ihren Familien
moechten mit Euch ihre Hochzeit feiern.
Das Versprechen, einander in Liebe festzuhalten,
geben wir uns um 16 Uhr am Samstag den 16. Juni 2012
in der (name of venue) in (name of town)
Anschließend feiern wir
unser Glück im (name of venue),
Wir freuen uns darauf, diesen für uns wichtigen Tag mit Euch gemeinsam zu verbringen.
Um das Planen zu erleichtern, bitten wir um Eure Angwort bis 1. Mai 2012
Abendgarderobe
___________________________________
Please let me know if this looks to be a correct/ accurate and proper/ formal translation of the English version. Also if anyone could let me know about whether the dates/ year/ time should be written out or left as is, according to formal etiquette in Germany, I would really appreciate it!
Thanks in advance!
Also, does anyone know how to properly address a formal invitation to: a married couple, an unmarried adult woman, an unmarried young girl, and an unmarried young boy? In the US it would be Mr. and Mrs. John Smith, Ms. Smith or Miss Smith, Mistress Abigail Smith, and Master John Smith. I don't know how this translates into addressing German wedding invites. Please help! i'm in a bit over my head and my FI has no idea about these things.
[QUOTE]I have two main questions: 1- In American/ English etiquette, all the numbers on a formal invitation, such as date, year, and time are spelled out. Is this the same with German invitation etiquette? My FMIL didn't seem to know this. 2- We are doing the wedding with a vintage kind of style, a nod to the Gatsby/ Old Hollywood era, so on the American invite for dress code, we wrote "Gatsby Formal." How do I handle this on the German invite? 3- If you speak German/ know the etiquette, would you kindly look at our invitation text below and tell me if you think the German version is an accurate and proper translation of the English text? I would be so grateful! ENGLISH VERSION: Since you have touched their lives with your friendship and love, (bride's name) and (groom's name) Together with their families, Would be honoured by your presence As they formally unite in marriage At the (name of venue), In (name of town), Germany At four o'clock on Saturday, the sixteenth of June, two thousand twelve. Dinner and dancing reception to follow At (name of reception venue). Please respond by the first of May, two thousand twelve. Gatsby Formal ______________________________________ GERMAN TRANSLATION ATTEMPT: Ihr habt unser Leben mit Freundschaft und Liebe beruehrt (bride's name) und (groom's name) zusammen mit ihren Familien moechten mit Euch ihre Hochzeit feiern. Das Versprechen, einander in Liebe festzuhalten, geben wir uns um 16 Uhr am Samstag den 16. Juni 2012 in der (name of venue) in (name of town) Anschließend feiern wir unser Glück im (name of venue), Wir freuen uns darauf, diesen für uns wichtigen Tag mit Euch gemeinsam zu verbringen. Um das Planen zu erleichtern, bitten wir um Eure Angwort bis 1. Mai 2012 Abendgarderobe ___________________________________ Please let me know if this looks to be a correct/ accurate and proper/ formal translation of the English version. Also if anyone could let me know about whether the dates/ year/ time should be written out or left as is, according to formal etiquette in Germany, I would really appreciate it! Thanks in advance! Also, does anyone know how to properly address a formal invitation to: a married couple, an unmarried adult woman, an unmarried young girl, and an unmarried young boy? In the US it would be Mr. and Mrs. John Smith, Ms. Smith or Miss Smith, Mistress Abigail Smith, and Master John Smith. I don't know how this translates into addressing German wedding invites. Please help! i'm in a bit over my head and my FI has no idea about these things.
Posted by KimberlyLoren[/QUOTE]
Hi,
I know, it's late but maybe it can still help you or someone else.
I'm German, so I think I can help.
1. No, dates, years and numbers are never spelled out on German wedding invitations. It's correct the way you have it.
2. Your version is more formal than a normal German wedding invitation would be. It's usually more of a "We invite you to our wedding". But since wedding are a lot less important over here, there is hardly any etiquette you have to follow. So just a few suggestions:
I'd leave out "zusammen mit ihren Familien" because it just doesn't fit in there and it isn't used in German invitations.
I've also changed some other minor things that just don't sound right to me, like the "für uns".
Ihr habt unser Leben mit Freundschaft und Liebe berührt (bride's name) und (groom's name) möchten mit Euch ihre Hochzeit feiern.
Das Versprechen einander in Liebe festzuhalten, geben wir uns um 16 Uhr am Samstag den 16. Juni 2012 in der (name of venue) in (name of town) Anschließend feiern wir unser Glück im (name of venue).
Wir freuen uns darauf, diesen wichtigen Tag mit Euch gemeinsam zu verbringen. Um das Planen zu erleichtern, bitten wir um Eure Antwort bis zum 1. Mai 2012 Abendgarderobe, wenn möglich im Gatsby-Style, erbeten.
Can I ask where you are getting married? I live about 20min from the Rheingau.
Addressing invite: If it's a married couple "Herr und Frau <last name". Don't write his first name in the adress.
If it's an unmarried or even married women regardless of age just "Frau LastName". The word Fräulein (which would translate to Misses) is not used in Germany anymore. It's considered politically incorrect to consider the marital status when addressing someone.
A boy/men is just "Herr LastName".