Simple Steps to Choosing Invitation

Since the wedding invitation sets the tone for the entire ceremony and is a reflection upon the tastes of the bride and groom, the wording you choose for your wedding invitations is of equal importance as the look and style of the invitation. If the idea of choosing your letterpress wedding invitation wording seems overwhelming to you, follow these simple steps to choose the perfect wording to match your ceremony.

What Kind of Wedding?

Some people prefer to have a casual wedding, while others love the idea of a formal wedding with elegant letterpress invitations. The kind of wedding ceremony you are having should be reflected in your wording choices, with formal weddings following traditional formal wedding etiquette. Causal ceremonies have a little more room for creativity with word choice. For help finding formal wedding invitation wording to use on your letterpress invitations, consult an etiquette style manual.

What Should Always Be Included in the Invitation Wording

Regardless of what type of wedding ceremony you are having, there are several things that must always be included in your wedding invitation wording. These things include:

• The names of both the bride and groom. Middle names should be included for a formal invitation.

• The day and date of the wedding, with the full year written out on the next line.

• The time the wedding ceremony will take place.

• The location of the wedding. Formal wedding invitations will include the name of the building only. Casual wedding invitations may also choose to include the street address.

• The city and state, without the zip code.

Who is Doing the Inviting?

The wording will vary depending on who is doing the inviting. For instance, if the Bride and Groom are doing the inviting to the wedding, the wording may go something like this: "We invite you to attend the wedding of John A. Doe and Jane B. Donner....." If the bride's parents are doing the inviting however, the wording could go something like this: "Mr. and Mrs. James Donner request your presence at the wedding of their Daughter Jane B. Donner to Mr. John A. Doe...." The person or people doing the inviting is not always required on the invitation, but is commonly seen.

Optional Things to Include

For those who want to include more on the wedding invitations, here are some other things to consider:

• If the Bride or Groom is getting married for a second, third, or even forth time.

• If the Bride or Groom's parents are deceased.

• If the Bride or Groom's parents are divorced.

• If the wedding is being held at a Church, Home, or some other non-Church location.

If you decide to use a less formal wording, you are free to include whatever you want. If you want to include a scripture, a poem, or even a short note on how the two of you met, that is completely acceptable. The beauty of the simple wedding invitation is that it is unique to your wedding, and to you as a couple. Make it what you want, because that's all that matters.