Invitation Etiquette 101
The invitation is an important component of your party planning. A casual event requires making an invitation no less than a formal affair. Invitation etiquette provides the proper norms to follow when writing an invitation card. The only difference in the invitation etiquette between a formal and casual invitation is the tone, presentation and information you can expect to find.
Remember to always RSVP as soon as you can, and if the invite has only your name on it, it is an invite for one, with no guest. It is not etiquette to ask the host if you can bring a guest. Often time the invitation will include “with guest” but when it does not you should not mention it.
For a formal invitation, you should follow these invitation etiquette guidelines:
Invitations, acceptance and regrets are written in the third person
Write guests names in full with no abbreviations
[image source_type=”attachment_id” source_value=”534″ align=”right” size=”medium”]Using Mr. Mrs. Miss. Ms. Jr. Sr. Dr. Esq. is acceptable
A married couple names are written on the envelope in one line when they have the same last names
For a different last name you write each name on a separate line in alphabetical order
Names are written in alphabetical order, unless one of the guests has a professional title
If the guest has a title such as Dr. (or other professional tiles) you list them first and the spouse or guest on the second line
A divorced woman who still has her husband’s name is sent an invitation with her husband’s name. Ms. Eliza Carrington
A widow is addressed with her late husband’s name, Mrs. Marc Spaulding
A couple that lives together is addressed with both names mentioned in alphabetical order and on different lines
A couple that does not live together is sent two invitations each one their own invitation with only their name, or one invitation with both names in alphabetical order on different lines
The address is written out in full
The city, street number, province or state and country are written out
The date is written in full [image source_type=”attachment_id” source_value=”533″ align=”right” size=”small”]
The time is written in full
No need to capitalize the first word of each line except for a proper noun
Do not put a period at the end of a line, it is not a sentence
You can add the dress code for formal or black tie functions
If the wedding /event are being held at a church/temple/synagogue you can use the word “honor” in the wording
If a wedding venue is somewhere else than a religious institution such as hotel, country club, home, you can use the words “have the pleasure to invite you” or “request the pleasure of your company” in the invitation
A formal event whether reception, dinner party, garden party, tea party to be held at a private home requires that the word “Home” in the invitation is in upper case and the “a” and “at” in lower case
A casual invitation includes the same information; names, date, location, time, you can add a personal poem, a quote, an introduction, theme, etc… This type of event allows for the invitation to be made by phone, email or letter
An invitation allows guests to know what to expect, to what they are invited to, the function, the location, the date, the time, the dress code, start time and sometimes end time
Some invitations can require confirmation a few days before the function
[image source_type=”attachment_id” source_value=”678″ align=”center” size=”medium”]
“Never give up on something that you can’t go a day without thinking about.” – Winston Churchill