Etiquette Wording for Wedding Invitations

Invitations Issued by the Bride's Parents

   Standard form

     Mr. and Mrs. James Quincy Stillman
     request the honour of your presence
     at the marriage of their daughter
     Julia Ann
     to
     Mr. Samuel Alex Caldwell
     on Saturday, the fourth of June
     Two thousand and twelve
     at three o'clock in the afternoon
     First Presbyterian Church
     Atlanta, Georgia

   Nuptial Mass

     Mr. and Mrs. James Quincy Stillman
     request the honour of your presence
     at the marriage of their daughter
     Julia Ann
     to
     Mr. Samuel Alex Caldwell
     on Saturday, the fourth of June
     Two thousand and twelve
     at an eleven o'clock Nuptial Mass
     Saint John's Catholic Church
     Atlanta, Georgia

   Nuptial High Mass

     Mr. and Mrs. James Quincy Stillman
     request the honour of your presence
     at the Nuptial High Mass
     at which their daughter
     Julia Ann
     and
     Mr. Samuel Alex Caldwell
     will be united in the
     Sacrament of Holy Matrimony
     on Saturday, the fourth of June
     Two thousand and twelve
     at ten o'clock in the morning
     Saint John's Catholic Church
     Atlanta, Georgia

If the Bride's Mother or Father is Deceased

   If the living parent has not remarried

     Mrs. James Quincy Stillman
     requests the honour of your presence
     at the marriage of her daughter
     Julia Ann


   If the living parent has remarried

     Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Cobb
     request the honour of your presence
     at the marriage of her daughter
     Julia Ann Stillman

     OR

     Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Cobb
     request the honour of your presence
     at the marriage of Mrs. Cobb's daughter
     Julia Ann Stillman

     OR

     Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Cobb
     request the honour of your presence
     at the marriage of their daughter
     Julia Ann Stillman

If the Bride's Mother and Father are Deceased

   Invitations issued by unmarried older brother or sister

     Mr. Timothy Q. Stillman
     requests the honour of your presence
     at the marriage of his sister
     Julia Ann


   Invitations issued by married older brother or sister

     Mr. and Mrs. John T. Sampson
     request the honour of your presence
     at the marriage of her sister
     Julia Ann Stillman


   Invitations issued by grandparents or uncle and aunt

     Mr. and Mrs. Keith Johnson
     request the honour of your presence
     at the marriage of their granddaughter
     Julia Ann Stillman

If the Bride's Parents are Divorced

   The bride's divorced mother (if not remarried) uses
   a combination of her maiden and married names

     Mrs. Johnson Stillman
     requests the honour of your presence
     at the marriage of her daughter
     Julia Ann


   Bride's Divorced Father (if not remarried)

     Mr. James Quincy Stillman
     requests the honour of your presence
     at the marriage of her daughter
     Julia Ann


   Divorced Mother and Stepfather

     Mrs. Allen Cooper
     requests the honour of your presence
     at the marriage of her daughter
     Julia Ann Stillman

     OR

     Mr. and Mrs. Allen Cooper
     request the honour of your presence
     at the marriage of her daughter
     Julia Ann Stillman

     OR

     Mr. and Mrs. Allen Cooper
     request the honour of your presence
     at the marriage of Mrs. Cooper's daughter
     Julia Ann Stillman


   Divorced Father and Stepmother

     Mr. and Mrs. James Quincy Stillman
     request the honour of your presence
     at the marriage of his daughter
     Julia Ann Stillman

     OR

     Mr. and Mrs. James Quincy Stillman
     request the honour of your presence
     at the marriage of Mr. Stillman's daughter
     Julia Ann Stillman

Groom's Parents Issue Invitations

     Mr. and Mrs. Patrick J. Caldwell
     request the honour of your presence
     at the marriage of
     Miss Julia Ann Stillman
     to their son
     Mr. Samuel Alex Caldwell

Bride and Groom Issue Their Own Invitations

     The honour of your presence is requested
     at the marriage of
     Miss Julia Ann Stillman
     and
     Mr. Samuel Alex Caldwell

     OR

     Miss Julia Ann Stillman
     and
     Mr. Samuel Alex Caldwell
     request the honour of your presence
     at their marriage

Second Marriages

   Young divorcee uses combination of maiden and married names.

     Mr. and Mrs. John Quincy Stillman
     request the honour of your presence
     the marriage of their daughter
     Julia Stillman Caldwell


   Young widow uses married name.

     Mr. and Mrs. John Quincy Stillman
     request the honour of your presence
     the marriage of their daughter
     Julia Ann Caldwell

Double Weddings

   When brides are sisters the older sister is mentioned first.

     Mr. and Mrs. John Quincy Stillman
     request the honour of your presence
     at the marriage of their daughters
     Julia Ann
     to
     Mr. Samuel Alex Caldwell
     and
     Marie Elizabeth
     to
     Mr. Maxwell Sutherland


   When brides are not sisters the older bride and her family are mentioned first.

     Mr. and Mrs. John Quincy Stillman
     and
     Mr. and Mrs. Howard Keltman
     request the honour of your presence
     at the marriage of their daughters
     Julia Ann Stillman
     to
     Mr. Samuel Alex Caldwell
     and
     Sarah Keltman
     to
     Mr. Joseph Harper

When Using Titles

   Titles (Reverend, Doctor, Captain, etc.) are not abbreviated
   unless lack of space necessitates it.

     The Reverend and Mrs. John Q. Stillman
     request the honour of your presence
     at the marriage of their daughter
     Julia Ann
     to
     Doctor Samuel Alex Caldwell

Military Weddings

   Officers above the rank of Lieutenant have the title preceding their name.

     Major and Mrs. John Quincy Stillman
     request the honour of your presence
     at the marriage of their daughter
     Julia Ann
     to
     Captain Samuel Alex Caldwell
     United States Army


   Junior Officers have the title placed in the next line preceding the branch of service.

     Mr. and Mrs. John Quincy Stillman
     request the honour of your presence
     at the marriage of their daughter
     Julia Ann
     to
     Samuel Alex Caldwell
     First Lieutenant, United States Army


   Any rank below Sergeant is not indicated.  Branch of service is placed below the name.

     Mr. and Mrs. John Quincy Stillman
     request the honour of your presence
     at the marriage of their daughter
     Julia Ann
     to
     Samuel Alex Caldwell
     United States Army

Wedding Announcements

   Announcements must always have a year line and time of ceremony is never mentioned.

     Mr. and Mrs. John Quincy Stillman
     have the honour of announcing
     the marriage of their daughter
     Julia Ann
     to Mr. Samuel Alex Caldwell
     on Saturday, the fourth of June
     Two thousand and six
     First Presbyterian Church
     Atlanta, Georgia

Reception Invitations

   The phrase "request the pleasure of your company" is used here
   and on invitations to other social functions.

     Mr. and Mrs. John Quincy Stillman
     request the pleasure of your company
     at the wedding reception for their daughter
     Julia Ann
     and
     Mr. Samuel Alex Caldwell
     on Saturday, the fourth of June
     Two thousand and twelve
     at eight o'clock in the evening
     1254 Fifth Avenue
     Atlanta, Georgia