invitation etiquette

Select your invitation wording using these general rules of etiquette which will be adapted to meet your needs. Your designer will answer any questions regarding your particular situation.
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etiquette 1:

If the bride and groom issue their own invitations, the conventional form is:
The honour of your presence is requested
at the marriage of
Miss Jessica Renae Valentine
and
Mr. William Scott Smith
—OR—
Miss Jessica Renae Valentine
and
Mr. William Joshua Smith
request the honour of your presence
at their marriage
etc.

etiquette 2:

If the bride’s father and mother are issuing the invitations, the conventional form is:
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Raymond Clark
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
etc.

etiquette 3:

If the bride’s parents are divorced, the parent with whom she lives usually issues the invitations. If her mother issues the invitations and she has not remarried, she uses a combination of her maiden name and her divorced husband’s last name.
Mrs. Jones Clark or
Ms. Mary Jones Clark
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of her daughter
Jessica Renae
to
William Scott Smith
etc.

etiquette 4:

If the father issues the invitations, he uses the conventional form.
Mr. Matthew Raymond Clark
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of his daughter
Jessica Renae
to
William Scott Smith
etc.

etiquette 5:

If the groom’s family issues the invitations:
Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Howard Brown
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of
Miss Jessica Renae
to their son
William Scott Smith
etc.

etiquette 6:

If the bride’s father or mother is deceased and the surviving parent issues the invitations:
Mrs. (Mr.) Joshua Howard Brown
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of her (his) daughter
etc.

etiquette 7:

If the invitations are recalled because the wedding has been cancelled,
the wording should fit the proper relationship changes.
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Raymond Clark
regret that due to illness in the family
the invitation to
their daughter’s wedding
on Saturday, the eighth of September
two thousand and ten
must be cancelled
—OR—
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Raymond Clark
are obliged to recall their invitations
to the marriage of their daughter
Miss Jessica Renae Valentine
to
Mr. William Joshua Smith
as the marriage will not take place

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