Wedding Invitation Wording - Part 2 of 2

Traditionally, the bride's surname is not listed unless it is different from that of her parents.  Be consistent with the use of titles (Mr., Miss, Ms., Dr.) - particularly for parents.

Military titles are spelled out, with service designations on a separate line.  Those with rank captain and higher in the army, air force, and marines, and commander and higher in the navy, use their titles before their names, with their service designation listed on the next line.

The wedding date is written, Saturday, the sixth of July, with the year spelled out on the following line.  If the wedding will take place in the same calendar year that the invitations are being sent out, you may omit the year.  However, your invitation will be a more meaningful keepsake if the year is included.)

Indicate the correct time of the ceremony.  List it as four o'clock.  If the ceremony will start on the half hour, use the phrase half after (four o'clock).  The phrase in the afternoon or in the evening is optional.

Check the correct name of the ceremony site.  If there are churches with similar names in the same city, and most guests will be unfamiliar with the location, indicate the street address beneath the site.  Spell out Saint in church names, as well as numbers.  List the city or town; the state is optional depending on how familiar guests are with the area.

You may request a reply to the invitations with R.s.v.p., Please respond, Kindly respond or The favour of a reply is requested.  The most proper version of this ritual requires a handwritten response.  However, the more contemporary (and practical) approach is to request that the enclosed reply card be returned by a specific date, usually no less than three weeks prior to the wedding.