Difficult Invitation Wording Situations Part 2

This is a follow up to our last posting about difficult wedding invitation wording situations:

There can be more situations that create difficult-to-word situations. Because weddings are so diverse and so personal to any couple, you are bound to encounter invitation situations that are hard to address in writing. As couples want to say the right thing without offending anyone, we wanted to bring you solutions to your most-asked questions.

As tradition states that the party who is hosting the wedding should do the inviting on a wedding invitation. Traditionally, this would be the bride’s parents. However, what happens if the groom’s parents are hosting or if the bride does not have parents. There are two ways to remedy this wording problem. If the groom’s parents are hosting the wedding, then you can use wording similar to this:

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth McDonald
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of
Miss Elise Brennan
to their son
Jason Harold McDonald

Another way is to word the invitation so that the couple is hosting their own wedding. See the example below.

The honour of your presence
is requested
at the marriage of
Ms. Valerie Atwood
and
Mr. John Thomas

Some couples also struggle with invitation wording when they want to let their guests know that children are not allowed. Many times, couples will have printed, “Adults Only,” or “Adults Only Reception.” According to etiquette, this is not correct. If you do not want children, simply do not invite them. Another option is to have a family member or close friend spread the word.

What if you want to provide registry information to your guests? It is not traditionally acceptable to provide gift registry information on your wedding invitation. However, more and more couples are turning to the internet and establishing their own wedding webpage. Your wedding website can include information about how you met your fiancé, the proposal, the wedding party and even your gift registry. Travel and accommodation information can also be included on your wedding webpage, along with local attractions. More and more couples are using their wedding webpage so that their guests can obtain registry information and much more.

Situations may seem difficult when trying to explain them formally, on a wedding invitation. The best advice to remember is to say on your wedding invitations what you are comfortable with, and use etiquette to guide you along. If you say what is best for you and your fiancé on your wedding invitations, you can’t go wrong!