When you are addressing wedding invitations to a family, it can be tricky to choose the right wording that will please everyone. Here are some tips for addressing wedding invitations to a family without offending any of them!
First, Determine the Relationship between the Invitee
Wedding etiquette dictates that the bride’s parents are the first to be invited to a wedding their daughter plans. After they accept, other relatives and friends are then invited. (However, some couples may choose to dispense with formal invitations altogether and simply announce their engagement.) For example, if your niece is getting married, you would send her mother an invitation. If your niece is married and has children, her husband’s siblings would be included in the invitation list. However, if your niece is unmarried and has no children, her parents would not be included in the invitation list.
Second, Address the Invitation
The most formal way to address an invitation is to use the person’s full name followed by “Dear Mrs./Mr. __________” or “Dear Friend of __________.” Another way to address an invitation is to just mention the invitee by name–for example, “Dear Debbie.” If you’re inviting multiple people from the same family, you can add their last names together–for example, “Dear John and Jane.” If you’re inviting only one person from a family and you don’t know their last name, omit their last name altogether and just say “Friend of Jennifer.” If the person receiving the invitation is not present, leave the address blank.
Send Courtesy Card
When you send wedding invitations, there are a few things to keep in mind:
1. Address the envelope to “The Bride and Groom”
2. Include your daytime phone number
3. Include the date of the wedding
4. Include the address of where the reception will be (if different from the address on the invitation)
5. Include RSVP information
6. Include a note or card expressing your congratulations
Write a Personal Note
If you’re planning on mailing out wedding invitations to a large family, it’s important to take care in addressing them. Here are some tips for ensuring your invitations arrive in the right hands.
-Start with the name of each person invited. This will make it easier to organizationally mail them out.
-Include the bride and groom’s names and the date of the wedding.
-List the address of both the bride and groom’s houses. If one of them is hosting the reception, list their address as well.
– mention whether there will be a buffet or not. If so, list the time and place where it will be held.
– Specify whether children are allowed at the reception (or if they need to be accompanied by an adult). Include their ages and which bedrooms they’ll sleep in if they’re staying overnight.
– Give specific instructions on how to RSVP – including whether you want mailed invitations or if guests can show up at the reception unannounced.
Choose the Right Formal Address
If you’re mailing invitations to a large family gathering, it’s important to choose the right form of address. Here are some examples:
Mrs. John Smith
Mrs. John Smith and Family
The Smiths
The Smiths and Friends
Include Information About RSVPs
When communicating with family members about your wedding, avoid using formal titles and always use familiar nicknames. For example, call your aunt “Nana” and your uncle “Pappy.” If you have children, use their first names and call your parents “Mom” and “Dad.” This will help keep the conversation informal and make it feel more like a gathering of friends.
When sending out invitations, be sure to list the date, time, and location of the wedding in block capital letters. In addition, include the bride’s full name (first and last), groom’s full name (first and last), wedding party size (number of adults and children), RSVP deadline (four weeks before the wedding), and a phone number for guests to contact the bride if they have any questions or problems RSVPing.
Wedding etiquette dictates that guests should RSVP by either emailing the bride or mailing a postcard directly to her. If you are hosting a reception after the wedding, consider providing drinks and hors d’oeuvres in lieu of RSVP cards.
When receiving RSVPs, be sure to thank everyone who has confirmed their attendance. Make a note of any changes that need to be made to the guest list, and keep track of who has not responded. If you still have not received any RSVPs by the RSVP deadline, it is likely that your guests did not receive your invitations or did not understand them.
If there are any problems with the wedding, such as a last-minute cancellation, be sure to reach out to guests individually and inform them of the situation. Do not publicly announce the cancellation on social media or in other public forums unless absolutely necessary.
End with a Witty Quote or Anecdote
When addressing wedding invitations to a family, be sure to include a witticism or anecdote. For instance, you might say, “We’ll save the dancing for the reception!” Or, “Please bring your best cha-cha!”
Conclusion
When addressing wedding invitations to a family, it is important to remember that you are not writing to strangers. You are writing to members of your own family, and you should take this into account when composing your invitation. For example, if one of the members of your family is not happy with a certain tradition or custom associated with weddings, be sure to mention this in the invitation so that they know what to expect. Additionally, make sure that all names and addresses are included on the card for easy reference. Thank you for reading!
