The Church Wedding Invitation

by Emily Post

The Church WEDDING Invitation

The proper form for an invitation to a church ceremony is:

(Form No. 1.)

(Form No. 2.)

(The size of invitations is 5-1/8 wide by 7-3/8 deep.)

(When the parents issue the invitations for a wedding at a house other than their own.)

   

No variation is permissible in the form of a wedding invitation. Whether fifty guests are to be invited or five thousand, the paper, the engraving and the wording, and the double envelope are precisely the same.

Church Card of Admittance

In cities or wherever the general public is not to be admitted, a card of about the size of a small visiting card is enclosed with the church invitation:

 

Cards to Reserved Pews

To the family and very intimate friends who are to be seated in especially designated pews:

   

Engraved pew cards are ordered only for very big weddings where twenty or more pews are to be reserved. The more usual custom—at all small and many big weddings—is for the mother of the bride, and the mother of the bridegroom each to write on her personal visiting card:

A card for the reserved enclosure but no especial pew is often inscribed "Within the Ribbons."

A church wedding is something that is planned by the host and hostess of the event, usually the parents of the bride. It is set up well in advance of the date, and, therefore, invitations need to be sent out in a timely manner, as well.

If invitations are sent out too late, then the turnout could be mediocre. When guests are given enough notice, they can plan for the wedding, as far as their own attire, gifts to bring, or they will have time to review the items that the engaged couple may have indicated they desire through a registry at a department or other type of store.

A church wedding invitation is a bit more formal than a house wedding event, and guests are expected to wear the proper attire. There is no need for an RSVP, but it is in good taste for guests to contact the hosts, anyway, to let them know whether or not they will be attending.

The invitation for a church wedding is actually not mandatory. It can be expressed through word of mouth, especially when the wedding is going to be a very small gathering of close friends and family. However, if an invitation is necessary for a larger crowd, a church wedding invitation may start out with a more casual statement, such as “The pleasure of your company is requested.”

The date, time, and church address should all be included on the invitation. The attire for a church wedding should be understood as something along the line of business casual to Sunday best, depending on the group of people attending, their ages, and perhaps their community.
Special thanks to Emily Post on her wonderful tips on etiquette and invites.
Church Wedding Invitation

Immediate Invites