Wedding Invitation Etiquette for Guests
If you've been invited to attend a wedding ceremony or reception, exercising etiquette when responding to the invitation will help the bride and groom to keep the event as organized as possible. Confirming attendance, as well as following protocol when it comes to bringing guests, will help you and your family to make a favorable impression on the couple's special day.
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Respoonding to Invitations
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It is ideal for guests to respond to an invitation a few days after receiving it. Proper etiquette suggests that the attendance confirmation should be handwritten and should include the names of all individuals who were invited to the wedding. Responses should also be written in black or blue ink.
Declining an Invitation
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If a guest has to decline the invitation, this should also be done as soon as possible. The message should be handwritten in blue or black ink and should be sent to the address on the envelope. It is still acceptable for those who will not be able to attend the wedding to send a gift for the bride and groom. The gift can be sent to the home of the parents of the bride or groom, or mailed directly to the bride and groom's new home.
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Responding to the Host
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Guests should pay special attention to the invitation wording to determine who is hosting the wedding, as the host is responsible for receiving attendance confirmations. For instance, if the parents of the bride are hosting the wedding, the response should read 'Mr. and Mrs._____________ are pleased to accept the invitation of Mr. and Mrs. (name of bride's parents) to the wedding of their daughter, (bride's name).
Confirming Attendance with Children
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If a guest's children have also been invited to the ceremony, the handwritten response should include only the first names of the children. For example: Mr. and Mrs. Stewart, Haley, Jackson and Candice accept with pleasure the invitation of Mr. and Mrs. (name of bride's parents) to the marriage of their daughter (bride's name). If children are not invited to the wedding or reception, it is not proper etiquette to ask if children can attend. If a guest is unsure whether children are allowed, it is best to ask a parent of the bride or groom or a member of the wedding party for confirmation.
Response Cards
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If response cards are included in the wedding invitation, guests are expected to use these to inform the bride and groom of their attendance. The "M" on response cards signifies the start of titles mister, miss or misses. If a guest will be attending the wedding and reception, it is only necessary for the guest to write his name on the blank after the "M." If an invitee has to decline the invitation, the word 'not' should be written in the blank between the words "will" and "attend."
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References
- Photo Credit invitation mariage image by Christophe Thélisson from Fotolia.com
