|
Invitation Etiquette
When wording invitations you should always recognize who is hosting the event. For weddings, if parents are involved in the planning and costs, always ask them and don't assume if they would like their names included on the invitation.
Children
If you don't want children at your wedding, you have 2 options:
1. When addressing your invitations, leave the children's names off it and also don't mention them in the invitation.
2.
Have friends and family pass the word around that you don't want children there.
If children are over 18 and are being invited to the wedding, they should recieve their own invitation addressed to the individual party.
Parents
If there is a deceased parent or family member, you have the option of including them on the invitation or do a special recognition on the event program.
Wedding party and parents may not require an invitation, it is considered polite to ensure they recieve one.
Gift Requests
Never indicate "cash only please" on wedding invitations. Wedding registry information should not be included either for wedding invitations. Family and friends should spread the word as to what your wishes are.
Addressing
It is still personal to hand address envelopes, and proper etiquette would indicated to do so, however today a more casual approach is equally accepted by having envelopes digitally printed with names and address.
The outer envelope should be addressed generally, for example: Mr. Micheal Patten and Ms. Karen Seale.
If you would like the person you are inviting to bring a guest, use: outer envelope: Mr. John James and Guest
If you are inviting a married couple, it is: Mr. and Mrs. Tobi Parks
If you are inviting a couple (not married), you should use (listing the name of the person you know best first, regardless of sex):
Ms. Tina Smith and Mr. Mike Bowla
For same sex couples (if they are married with the same last names, please use: Messrs. John and Billy Jean Mesdames Susan and Alicia Smith. If they are not married, the same rules above apply.
Always include postage on the RSVP envelope.
Titles
All abbreviations should be completely written out. For example, instead of "Dr.”, use “Drive”. Instead of “St.”, “Street”. The same goes for the province (it is not “ON”, bu rather “Ontario”) and “Apartment” or “#” should be used in lieu of “Apt.5")
Use your guests’ proper titles (Mr., Mrs., Dr., etc. – FYI, widows still use “Mrs.”). The rules of abbreviation can be bent altered a little here. It is up to you! Those with a title related to their job (such as “Dr.” or “Gen.”) should be listed first, regardless of sex. A trick to remember when you should use “Miss” or “Ms.”, are:
“Ms.” should be used when you do not know someone’s marital status or to refer to a married woman who has kept her maiden name.
“Miss”, although previously used to indicate any woman who has never been married, is usually reserved today for younger women (still not married).
|
HOME
