We are planning to get married in Jamaica next April. It’s the 2nd marriage for us both and we both have children from the previous marriage. I want our kids to “announce” the wedding reception that we are having within 2 months after we actually get married. Will this wording be ok for an informal invite?
Son1, Son2 and Son3 last name
With
Miss Daughter lastname
invite you to share their joy
in uniting these two families
With the marriage of their parents,
My full name
And
Fiance full name
Saturday, the fifth of April
at five o’clock
Serendipity Manor
Davis, California
Obviously son, daughter etc will be replaced by our full names. We plan to keep the wedding itself a secret from our families until afterwards. We have the blessing of the kids, but I had the big wedding to my first husband and I had a hard time saying my vows because I was nervous being up in front of everyone focusing on us. I want to be able to say my vows to my fiance and be able to do that for him and us, since that is what the marriage is about. Then we can celebrate the event with everyone after. Also when I told my family that I was getting married, everyone just wanted to make another big production out of it and I dont want that.
Donna, Wedding Queen, President; Top Wedding Sites, Inc
Announcing a wedding and inviting guests to a wedding reception would be two different things. The wording you have chosen would appear to have your children as hosts (is this correct?) and inviting guests to witness the marriage (includes ceremony since you have, “sharing the joy in uniting these two families”.
I am assuming you want wording for a wedding reception. Typically the host(s) (those paying), are issuing the invitation, so unless your children are hosting, your names should be on the invitation.
Following is an example of a reception invitation wording:
The pleasure of your company
is requested at the
wedding reception of
Shannon Lynn Walker
to
Chris Earle Jones
Saturday, the fifth of April
at five o’clock
Lovely Country Club
1133 Happy Court
Davis
RSVP[/center] [center]
This would make it clear to your guests that they are being invited to a wedding reception rather than a wedding ceremony, notifying the guest that you will already be married. Please note that wedding gifts are given for the wedding, not the reception, so no gifts should be expected and obviously no mention of gifts should ever be on a wedding invitation. Some guests may send or bring gifts but they are not obligated to do so.
Have a safe trip and a wonderful marriage.
daisymay
We have four children, ages ranging from 7 to 14. We wanted to list them on the invitation because we want them to feel like this is not just a marriage but the bonding of two families. We want them to feel included in the celebration. His daughter wanted to be the flower girl and my youngest son wanted to be the ring bearer, but since we are not having a wedding with our family this is not possible. I like the idea of the kids ‘announcing’ us on the invitation, but I want everyone to know that we will already be married at that point and just want them to celebrate with us at the reception. I want it to be a celebration of our marriage AND our uniting families. Does that make sense?
Donna, Wedding Queen, President; Top Wedding Sites, Inc
I understand what you’re saying but what you’re suggesting sounds more like a wedding announcement than an invitation.
Invitations are usually sent from the host and are not really announcing anything. Perhaps Rebecca, our etiquette expert, has something to suggest. Let’s wait and she what she has to say in the matter.
Rebecca Black, Etiquette By Rebecca
Great advice, Wedding Queen. Announcements are sent after the wedding, just to announce. These are only sent to those not attending the wedding or reception. So, let’s just move on from that. You may have your children listed as hosts for this because this is a second wedding reception. The Wedding Queen is correct that the host (the one with the cash) is listed at the top, but we can side step this with the second wedding reception.
The example you have provided is a wedding invitation. This may be better:
Please join
Bride’s oldest son
Bride’s youngest son
Groom’s daughter (oldest)
Groom’s son
to celebrate
the wedding of
You
and
Him
Saturday, the fifth of April
at five o’clock
Lovely Country Club
1133 Happy Court
Davis
RSVP
You would list the children by age. So, if the daughter is yours and the oldest, she would be listed first. You could even list the children under your names.
Bride
with her daughter XXX
and her son XXX
And
Groom
with his sons XXX and YYY
invite you to share their joy
at their wedding reception
Saturday, the fifth of April
at five o’clock
Serendipity Manor
Davis
Best wishes,