The Etiquette and Tradition of Invitations

The increasing cost of weddings and the fact that people are marrying older means that the traditional model of the bride's parents being the hosts of the wedding is quickly disappearing. In its place has arisen a number of different possibilities and the invitations should make clear who the wedding hosts are:

The form of words on the invitations depends on who is hosting the wedding.

Bride's parents:
Mr & Mrs John Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Joan Smith to Mr Iain Michael Wright at Linlithgow Parish Church on Saturday, 1st April 2001 at 3.00 pm and afterwards at Champany Inn, Linlithgow.

Bride's parents (divorced)
Mr John Smith and Mrs Jean Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Joan Smith to Mr Iain Michael Wright at Linlithgow Parish Church on Saturday, 1st April 2001 at 3.00 pm and afterwards at Champany Inn, Linlithgow.

Bride's parents (mother remarried)
Mr John Smith and Mrs Jean Jones Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Joan Smith to Mr Iain Michael Wright at Linlithgow Parish Church on Saturday, 1st April 2001 at 3.00 pm and afterwards at Champany Inn, Linlithgow.


Bride's mother (widowed)
Mrs Jean Smith Barr requests the pleasure of your company at the marriage of her daughter Joan Smith to Mr Iain Michael Wright at Linlithgow Parish Church on Saturday, 1st April 2001 at 3.00 pm and afterwards at Champany Inn, Linlithgow.


Bride and groom
Miss Joan Smith and Mr Iain Michael Wright request the pleasure of your company at their marriage at Linlithgow Parish Church on Saturday, 1st April 2001 at 3.00 pm and afterwards at Champany Inn, Linlithgow.


Groom's parents
Mr and Mrs George Wright request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their son Iain Michael Wright to Miss Joan Smith at Linlithgow Parish Church on Saturday, 1st April 2001 at 3.00 pm and afterwards at Champany Inn, Linlithgow.

The invitation should contain the following information:

- whether the invitation is for the wedding ceremony and reception or only for the evening party.

- the names of those to be invited, if children or others are to be invited, put their names on the invitation. Leave nothing to guesswork.

- RSVP return address & telephone number.

- name of the person to whom replies are to be addressed.

- any information on dress, e.g. if highland dress or morning dress is required, it should be made clear on the invitation. If no dress code is to be observed, make no mention of it.