A wedding invitaion is often the firwst impression that many people get of you and your fiance so it's important to choose invitations that are as unique as you are. Wedding invitations come in as many flavours as there are couples so check out our Top 5 invitation styles to get your creative juices flowing.

	1. Simple Wedding Invitation: Try creating a wedding invitation that uses simple design elements like your photo and a single color back ground.
	2. Die cut Wedding Invitation: You can add a unique feel to your wedding invitations by using stationary that has been cut to expose different layer if the invitation. This one allows you to easily remove the interior wedding invitation as well as adds a unique look to the invitaion.
	3. Elegant Wedding Invitation: It's impossible to go wrong with this traditional wedding invitation. Embossed paper as well as a calligrapphy font and possibly gold leafing.
	4. Odd Sized Wedding Invitation: Think about using a non-standard size for your wedding invitations to make them standout. Square, extralarge, pertite, round or extra long are all options. Be sure to keep in mind that larger sized wedding invitations might increase the cost of production as well as mailing.
	5. Modern Style Wedding Invitation: Push the wedding envelope a little with something less traditional--a wedding invitation as unique as you and your fiance.

Composing Your Invitation, Respose and Reception Cards | Choosing a Type Style | Save the Date Announcement Wording | Wedding Invitation Wording | Wedding Invitation Envelope Wording | Assembling Your Invitations | Wedding Announcements Wording and Etiquette

For truly formal events, there are certain rules of etiquette that are observed when writing an invitation. For less formal situations you can be more creative. Here are some things to remember when you're composing a formal invitation: Write out names in full, including middle names. Omit a middle name if necessary, rather than using an initial. It's appropriate to use the British spelling for "honour" and "favour", unless you prefer to use the American spelling of these words. Spell out all words, including the hour, the date and the year. Spell out all words in the address, including Street, Road and Avenue.  The two exceptions to this rule in an address are Saint (St.) and Mount (Mt.) Use Roman numerals in names, rather than "the third" or "3rd." For ceremonies taking place in a house of worship, use "request the honour of your presence." Ceremonies taking place in a non-religious setting should say, "request the pleasure of your company."

Choosing A TYPE STYLE	TOP

Wedding invitations are traditionally printed with black ink in an "engraved" or script type style. These more traditional type styles are also appropriate for use on invitations to other formal events. Here are some examples of type style (fonts) looks you might try:

Save the Date ANNOUCEMENT WORDING

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Miss Jane Smith and Mr. Stephen Richardson are very happy to announce our wedding date of September 23, 2004. We are sending this Save the Date Announcement to give you enough notice to reserve this day so you can spend it with us. Your formal invitation will arrive closer to the wedding date. We very much look forward to seeing you there!

Wedding INVITATION WORDING	TOP

With so many different types of families out there, wedding invitation wording can be complicated. Below are several formal wedding invitation wording examples for different family situations. If you're composing a formal party invitation, include the names of those giving the party, the invitation phrase "request the pleasure of your company" in lieu of "request the honor of your presence", the type of party, the purpose of the party, the date, hour, place and RSVP information.
Wedding invitation wording examples for when the parents of the bride are issuing the invitation:
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Evans Smith request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Jane Elizabeth and Mr. Stephen James Richardson on Saturday, the ninth of June two thousand and four at two o'clock First Church of Christ 219 North Granby Road Granby, Connecticut	Mr. and Mrs. Robert Evans Smith request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Jane Elizabeth and Mr. Stephen James Richardson son of Mr. and Mrs. John Tyler Richardson on Saturday, the ninth of June two thousand and four at two o'clock First Church of Christ 219 North Granby Road Granby, Connecticut

Wedding invitation wording examples for when the couple is issuing the invitation:
Jane Elizabeth Smith and Stephen James Richardson request the honour of your presence at their marriage on Saturday, the ninth of June two thousand and four at two o'clock First Church of Christ 219 North Granby Road Granby, Connecticut	Together with their families Jane Elizabeth Smith and Stephen James Richardson request the honour of your presence at their marriage on Saturday, the ninth of June two thousand and four at two o'clock First Church of Christ 219 North Granby Road Granby, Connecticut

Wedding invitation wording examples for when the groom's parents host (left) and for when both sets of parents host (right).
Mr. and Mrs. John Tyler Richardson request the honour of your presence at the marriage of Ms. Jane Elizabeth Smith to their son Stephen James Richardson on Saturday, the ninth of June two thousand and four at two o'clock First Church of Christ 219 North Granby Road Granby, Connecticut	Mr. and Mrs. Robert Evans Smith and Mr. and Mrs. John Tyler Richardson request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their children Jane Elizabeth Smith and Stephen James Richardson on Saturday, the ninth of June two thousand and four at two o'clock First Church of Christ 219 North Granby Road Granby, Connecticut

Wedding invitation wording examples for when the bride's divorced and remarried parents co-host (left) and for when the bride's remarried mother and husband host (right).
Mr. and Mrs. William Jones and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Evans Smith request the honour of your presence at the marriage of Jane Elizabeth Smith to Mr. Stephen James Richardson on Saturday, the ninth of June two thousand and four at two o'clock First Church of Christ 219 North Granby Road Granby, Connecticut	Mr. and Mrs. William Jones request the honour of your presence at the marriage of Mrs. Jones' daughter Jane Elizabeth Smith and Mr. Stephen James Richardson on Saturday, the ninth of June two thousand and four at two o'clock First Church of Christ 219 North Granby Road Granby, Connecticut

Wedding invitation wording examples for when the bride's divorced mother (not remarried) hosts (left) and for when the bride's widowed mother/father hosts (right).
Ms. Julia Franklin Smith (maiden and married surnames) or Ms. Julia Franklin (maiden name) requests the honour of your presence at the marriage of her daughter Jane Elizabeth Smith to Mr. Stephen James Richardson on Saturday, the ninth of June two thousand and four at two o'clock First Church of Christ 219 North Granby Road Granby, Connecticut	Mr. (or Mrs.) Robert Evans Smith request the honour of your presence at the marriage of his (or her) daughter Jane Elizabeth to Mr. Stephen James Richardson on Saturday, the ninth of June two thousand and four at two o'clock First Church of Christ 219 North Granby Road Granby, Connecticut

Here are two examples of Reception Cards. The example on the left is for a reception taking place immediately following the ceremony. The example on the right is for a reception taking place later in the day.

Your Response Card could read as follows:

M______________________________________ Accept__________________Regret___________ for the ninth of June

You can also include menu choices on the response card, if it's necessary to order the guests' meals in advance. You may also wish to include a separate sheet with a map or directios, if the ceremony or reception sites are difficult to find.

Wedding INVITATION ENVELOPE WORDING	TOP

Unsure of how to address wedding invitations? Below are various examples of the wording for formal wedding invitation outer and inner envelopes.

	Outer Envelope	Inner Envelope
Single Guests
Unmarried Woman over 18 or a Divorced Woman who retains her maiden name	Miss (or Ms.) Amy Smithers	Miss (or Ms.) Smithers and Guest
Divorced Woman who uses her married name	Mrs. Amy Carter	Mrs. Carter and Guest
Unmarried or Divorced Man	Mr. Howard Croft	Mr. Croft and Guest
Couples
Married Couples	Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Caldwell	Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell
Married Couple - when the woman kept maiden name	Mrs. Carol Thompson Mr. John Sigenthaler	Mrs. Thompson Mr. Sigenthaler
Unmarried couples who do not share the same residence.  You should send the invitation to the closest friend	Miss (or Ms.) Amy Carter	Miss (or Ms.) Carter Mr. Stevenson
Unmarried couples who live together address alphabetically by last name	Miss (or Ms.) Amy Carter Mr. John Stevenson	Miss (or Ms.) Carter Mr. Stevenson
Same gender couples - alphabetically by last name	Miss (or Ms.) Melissa Franklyn Miss (or Ms.) Stella Ziegler	Miss (or Ms.) Franklyn Miss (or Ms.) Ziegler
Children over 18 years old should be considered adults and receive their own invitation, even if still at the home of their parents who will also be invited to your wedding	Miss Amy Carter or Mr. Brian Atwater	Miss Carter and Guest or Mr. Atwater and Guest
Other
Judge	The Honorable Thurgood Thompson (If Single) The Honorable and Mrs. Thurgood Thompson (If married)	Judge Thurgood Judge Thurgood and Mrs. Thompson
Doctor (Medical)	Doctor Michael Stokes (If Single) Doctor and Mrs. Michael Stokes (If married)	Doctor Stokes and Guest Doctor and Mrs. Stokes
Doctor (Ph.D.)	Dr. Harry Keller	Dr. Keller and Guest
Married Woman Doctor	Doctor Patricia Neddles Mr. Charles Lyons	Doctor Neddles Mr. Lyons
Married Couple, Both Doctors	Doctors Sam and Mary Hepler	The Doctors Hepler
Clergy	The Reverend Jeremiah Whetheral	The Reverend Whetheral
Officer - Male  who is active duty or retired from the service	General and Mrs. Barry Lynch	General and Mrs. Lynch
Officer - Female who is active duty or retired from the service	Captain Sandra Kellerman, U.S. Army Mr. Anthony Giminiani	Lieutenant Kellerman Mr. Giminiani

Assembling YOUR INVITATIONS	TOP

Traditionally, there is a specific order for assembling invitations for mailing.

• With the back of the large envelope and the front of the invitation facing you, put the invitation and it's protective tissue sheet in, folded edge first.
• On top of that, put in the reception invitation also facing up.
• Last, put in the response card, also printed side up. It should be lying within the flap of the small response envelope (which faces down).
• Any other insertions, such as a map or directions, should go in last.
• Address the outer envelope and the response envelope by hand. Use calligraphy if possible.
• Choose an attractive postage stamp that will complement the overall look of your invitations.
• Mail your invitations at least six to eight weeks in advance of your event so that your guests have ample time to make plans to attend.
• If you bring your invitations to the post office, you can request that they be hand cancelled that will minimize any unsightly marks or damage caused by machine cancelling.

Announcement cards are sent on the day of or shortly after a wedding if there were no invitations sent. They are often sent instead of invitations to friends who live at too far a distance to easily attend the ceremony. Announcements require no acknowledgment although it is customary for the recipient to send either a brief note expressing their best wishes; a gift is always appropriate but not required. The announcement can either be made on a formal invitation card or on fine cotton-fiber wedding stationery. This is the preferred form for the announcement card:

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Jones
announce the marriage of their daughter
Amy Rachael
with
Mr. Michael Allan Richardson
on Thursday, May the first
two thousand and four

Wedding Search Ideas  TOP

Here are some of the most popular terms used to find wedding information online--any things for your wedding you might have missed?