From youth to adulthood, we’ve been taught proper etiquette from day one. Little by little and only when necessary – whether it be opening or holding the door for the other person, taking your hat off at the dinner table, or RSVPing to a special event, such as a wedding. Some of the manners are unspoken, but are still important enough for every traditional bride to know and apply throughout their wedding invitation suite. So, how do you know what to use?

Well, we’re here to guide you in the direction of success. Below are a few tips and tricks that bridge the gap between traditional wedding etiquette and the modern day we live in today.

Our Guide to Traditional Wedding Etiquette

Each invitation design exemplifies traditional wedding etiquette, to act as a guide for all of our lovely brides. From the hosting line, to the venue location, we’re here to support you through your wedding invitation planning process. Let us start, like all of our beloved stories – at the beginning.

Composing Your Wedding Invitation

Looking to keep your wedding invitations traditional, but not sure what etiquette is proper or needed? We’re here to help. Below are the correct lines to include on your wedding invitation.

THE HOST LINE

This is the first line listed on the invitation. It is traditionally meant to announce the parents or family of the bride, as they are typically the ones that issue the wedding celebration. However, due to modern times, this line can vary based on the couple’s situation. Other host lines may include the groom’s parents, both sets of parents on the bride and groom’s side, neither sets of parents, or other loved ones hosting the event. A few common examples are listed below for your reference:

There are many other situations, as we know all family dynamics are different and unique from one another. From divorced parents with remarriages to special parental titles, such as, military, medical, or religious, we’re here to lend a hand and help you with the appropriate wording for your invitation suite. You’re in the best of hands with our Shine experts. You can find more details and specific wording examples here, at our Shine Wording Guide.

THE REQUEST LINE

This line directly follows the host line with wording that invites your guest to your special day. In addition to the request line used above, below are other examples of this line.

THE BRIDE

Traditionally, the bride’s name is always presented first. This is because the father is giving his daughter away to be looked after and cared for by another. Please note that it is proper wedding etiquette to include the first, middle, and last name of the bride, unless her parents (of the same last name) are also listed on the invitation. If this is the case, then the bride does not need to include her last name.

However, in the rare case that the grooms’ parents are hosting the wedding, perhaps if the bride’s parents are deceased or if they live in a foreign country, their relation to the groom is mentioned on the joining line, between the bride and groom’s name.¹

THE GROOM

Ever the gentleman, the groom is typically listed beneath the bride’s name. Similar to the bride’s name, the groom does not need to include his last name if his parents (of the same last name) are also mentioned on the invitation.

DATE AND TIME

The day and time are key aspects to the wedding invitation. The phrasing of the day and time is based on the desired style of the wedding invitation. According to traditional wedding etiquette, spelling out the month, day, year and time fully is required.

CEREMONY LOCATION

To confirm where guests will be traveling to, the invitation should also include the venue name and location for where the wedding ceremony will take place.

RECEPTION

This line should be listed last on your invitation. Traditionally, it should be no more than a single line with a few words, letting your guests know there is a reception following the ceremony. If the reception is located at the same venue and immediately follows the ceremony, please refer Option 1. However, if your reception takes place at a different time and either at the same venue or at another location, please refer to Option 2.

If you need to give more details about your reception, whether it be the time or the place, a separate small enclosure or stationery piece should be included in the suite. This card will provide all the necessary information needed for your guests. Although, not traditionally proper, if you would like to opt out of the small enclosure, you may list the time and address directly beneath the reception line on the invitation. As each invitation will consist of different wording, the additional reception information will need to remain brief.

When to Include an Enclosure

There are a lot of details that go into planning a wedding. Whether it be a tricky location for the venue or accommodation block, your guests need to be informed of them all for the right plans to be made. Enclosures are a wonderful way to allow your invitation to remain simple and clean. Depending on the type of information and how much of it you have, different sized enclosures are available to you.

THE LARGE ENCLOSURE

There are two enclosures we typically recommend for brides to include in their wedding invitation suites. For the larger of the two, there are a few different ways it can be utilized. Typically, this enclosure is used for accommodations. However, it can be used for travel details, directions, transportation information, special activities, rehearsal dinner invitations, and so much more – the options are truly limitless. Our large enclosure can hold about 18-20 lines of text. For example:

Another example of this enclosure can be found on this beautifully white matte paper from our floral wedding invitation collection.

THE SMALL ENCLOSURE

In addition to the reception details, if it’s hosted at a different location than the ceremony, this enclosure size is perfect for your wedding website, registry information, a new address, or a small morning-after brunch announcement.

Ready to Sign, Seal & Deliver Your Elegant Wedding Invitations?

Now that your invitation wording fits to the guidelines of traditional wedding etiquette, you’re ready to assemble and mail them out to your closest friends and family! There are many things that go into crafting wedding invitations that both exude the desired tone of your dream wedding and provide all the information your guests need.

1. “The Wedding Blue Book,” Crane & Co.