It's only words, and words are all I have, to take your heart away

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After various invitation designs were considered, we are leaning towards a pure calligraphy designed invitation, with minimal to no illustrations, a la Bella Figura and Laura Hooper. So finalizing the design means the next step is to consider the invitation wording. The wording is an important subject since it states essential details (names, date, location), dictates formality, expresses style, notes the host, and contains etiquette. Along with save the dates, the invitation gives guests an idea of what to expect from the wedding.

Wedding blogs and invitation design sites have opened up my eyes to the variety of wording available to one's situation. Sites like theknot, Melissa's Smitten, and hello!Lucky use etiquette to help with the ever important order of names: bride's parents host, bride and groom's parents host, bride and groom host, etc.

After researching ideas and taking into account etiquette, we decided on something formal and personal. From the beginning we wanted a casual feel to the invitations, though the wording must also be formal since our ceremony will be held in church. We will be funding our wedding, but we wanted to include our families in the invitations. We also wanted to go for a simple look of just our first names instead of first, middle, and last. I combined two wording styles I saw on LH Calligraphy and Sugar Plum Invitations, and came up with the following two options.

The Delilah and Wood families*
Request the honor of your presence
At the marriage celebration of

Jeannine & Matthew

Saturday, the xx of September
Two-thousand nine
At one in the afternoon

Old Mission
Santa Barbara, California
Reception to follow
Oceanview Center

--OR--

Because you have shared in our lives
With your friendship and love

Jeannine

&

Matthew

Together with the Delilah and Wood families*
Request the honor of your presence
At our wedding

Saturday, the xx of September
Two thousand nine
At one o'clock in the afternoon

Old Mission
Santa Barbara, California
Reception to follow
Oceanview Center

Inspiration for wording:Source

Source

We are leaning towards the second wording option. It’s a little different but we like it. For some reason I like the look of just our first names. We will be ordering invites after our Engagement Encounter weekend and after we meet with our Pastor, so there's still some time to get opinions from our families and finalize everything.

How did you decide on the wording in your invitations? Are you just writing your first name, first and middle, or first middle and last?

*Names have been changed for privacy.

Blog title is from lyrics by the Bee Gees