WaW Wedding Tip Sheet: Invitations

[cs_content][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]We’ve been receiving inquiries regarding the preparation of invitations; thus, we thought of writing a blog post regarding the essentials.

Top 10 things you need to remember when writing and addressing your wedding invitations:

1. Choose your invitation supplier based on the kind of invitation you like. Do not book anyone blindly then force them to come up with what you like — they may not have the equipment and you will end up forfeiting your down payment. Have a vision first regarding what you like, then book the supplier based on the said vision.
2. Start conversing with your invitation supplier regarding the design (assuming you’re not choosing from a template), 6 to 8 months before you intend to release it, i.e. 1 to 2 months prior to your big day. Some opt for the 2-month mark so they don’t need to spend too much on sending invitations abroad via courier. Why am I giving such a wide margin? Because the design process can take long. Revisions can also take time. If you will choose a template from the library of the invitation supplier, you may lessen the time frame to around 3 months prior to your preferred distribution date. This makes room for printing queues and the like.
3. While you are designing or even before you start conversing with your invitation supplier, especially if you’re choosing a template, get all full names and titles of your principal sponsors and your entourage. Make sure everything is correct and complete so you don’t need to ask your invitation supplier to revise because you wrote Mr. instead of Dr. or you chose to remove all titles but you eventually realized someone might get angry with the removal of the title. So much has been spent by so many couples on their invitations because of the need to reprint.

Tricky point: What if you’re inviting a mayor to be your godparent and your wedding date happens to be after elections? What if he loses? What if he wins but for a different position?

Response: Just write Hon. (short for Honorable) beside his name. That way, you won’t have to worry about whether or not he would win or change his position.

4. After you get your first printout/draft printout, make sure you scrutinize everything — every letter of every name. Also, show it to your parents so if they have reactions, it won’t cost much to revise. It will cost a lot if you will show them the already-printed batch of invites and they have concerns which will cause you to reprint.

Possible concerns:

a. wrong spelling/wrong title

b. they also invited other possible godparents or entourage members without telling you in advance

c. you forgot to include your parents’ names or their appropriate titles

Note: Some invite makers will ask you to sign a form that you read all the items of the invite and you agree that it should be the version that gets printed. Make sure you really read all words included in the invite. That way, no problem will arise later on when you get the whole batch of printouts.

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5. How do you write your parents’ names?

The most common way of presenting the names would be this way:

With the blessings of

Names of Groom’s Parents (Jose and Maria Cruz)

and

Names of Bride’s Parents (Andres and Susan Santos)

You may also use the following in case one of the parents has passed on. Please do not forget to put a small cross beside the name of the deceased parent.

Juan

son of Jose ⁽⁺⁾ and Sita Cruz

and

Maria

daughter of Rene and Lilia Santos

6. Should the groom’s name come first? Or should the bride’s name come first?

It should be the groom’s name that should come first, as per tradition here in Asia.

To continue from the example earlier:

With the blessings of our parents

(state their names)

We

John and Mary

request the honour* of your presence

as we consecrate our union

through the Sacrament of Matrimony

on

the first of June two thousand and seventeen*

at half past three in the afternoon*

in the Church of the Child Jesus,

111 Aguirre Avenue, Paranaque City

Reception follows at (venue)

Street, City

If one parent is deceased:

Juan

son of Jose ⁽⁺⁾ and Sita Cruz

and

Maria

daughter of Rene and Lilia Santos

request the honour of your presence

as they consecrate their union

through the Sacrament of Matrimony…

Note:

a. The items with asterisk (*): spelling out dates and time slots are necessary for formal invitations. It is also necessary to use “honour” instead of the usual American spelling, “honor”.

b. It is acceptable to write a thirty-minute leeway for the time of ceremony. It gives everyone time to sit down, to line up, to get hold of the items needed (bouquets, paraphernalia). It is not very good to write a one-hour leeway, because it would mean a long wait for guests who come in punctually. We do not want to punish them for being one time.

c. You may write a reception time if you’re observing what is termed as broken time, i.e. a ceremony at 1PM then a reception at 6PM

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7. How should we write the godparents’ names? Is it necessary to include titles?

Yes, you should include each person’s specific title. This is applicable to parents and godparents. They worked hard to have these titles; thus, we should give their hard work due recognition.

For political titles, you may use “Hon.” short for “Honorable” if you’re not sure of the title (given the period of elections during your printing of invitations). You may also use the same title for those who with long titles stating their positions in government.

Please note:

You should visit your prospective godparent before you write his/her name on the invitation. Each one should have the prerogative to say yes or no to your invitation for him or her to be godparent. Also, you must get the full name and title he/she wishes to use. Do not assume to know the full name and title. Once you make a mistake, you will risk offending someone who is supposed to be your second parent.

8. How about the entourage?

The entourage usually consist of people who are close to the couple. However, since the invitation is a formal document, I would still suggest having their titles there. You may have an agreement with them not to say their titles anymore during the reception introduction because you’d like it to be informal or you’d like to have a dancing type of entrance.

*Note: If there are people with no specific titles, you may write “Mr.” or “Ms.” (the latter can be used even for married individuals).

Example:

Mr. Juan dela Cruz

Atty. Leandro Vergara

Engr. Mario Hernandez

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9. How about the RSVP card?

You can include the following items:

a. RSVP Part

To reserve _____ seat/s, please send your name/s to our coordinator on or before (2 weeks prior to the big day). Should you wish to express your regrets, we would appreciate a message as well.

Name of Coordinator, Contact Details (number and e-mail address)

b. Attire Part

Strictly Formal

*This notation is usually enough to convey that males need to wear suits/barongs and females need to wear long gowns.

However, it’s a good idea to spell out attire options or add a card with illustrations especially if the venue calls for certain clothing or footwear.

c. Map Part

This one needs an illustration and if the venue is a bit hard to find, you may add written instructions with landmarks.

d. How about the children?

You may use this poem if you wish to ask people to leave the kids at home. I wrote this for one of my brides.

We want you to enjoy the night;

Give kids time to sleep tight.

We thought it’s but right,

To make this a “for adults” invite.

e. How about monetary gifts?

It’s better to avoid asking for an enveloped gift directly, i.e. you may just state “The couple will reside abroad.” or “The couple will continue to reside abroad.” to give the hint that you would find it difficult to carry boxes of gifts.

10) How does one address invites?

You may follow this format: Mr. and Mrs. Jose and Maria Cruz

Their titles should be used in case they have those.

Examples:

Mayor and Mrs. Albert and Julia Cruz

Attorneys John and Micaela dela Cruz

Doctors Bryan and Bianca Santos

Mr. and Engr. Leo and Tess Vargas**

Mr. and Dr. Rene and Lilia Santos**

Even if the main invitee is the godmother, you will still need to use the format earlier, i.e. Mr. and Mrs. Marco and Lea Atanacio.

Note: In the part with two asterisks (**), the wives have specific titles.

 

Read more of Darlene Tan – Salazar’s WaW Wedding Tip Sheet articles at www.weddingsatwork.com/category/wawparazzi/.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_block_grid type=”two-up”][cs_block_grid_item title=”Block Grid Item 1″]About Darlene Tan-Salazar, W@W Supplier of Year (2015):

Darlene started out as a Planner/Coordinator of Perfect 10 Weddings. Since she needed more time for family matters, she opted to focus on emceeing, and has since started “The Wedding Tip Sheet“, a Facebook page that tackles the practical points in planning a wedding.[/cs_block_grid_item][cs_block_grid_item title=”Block Grid Item 2″][/cs_block_grid_item][/cs_block_grid][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][/cs_content]