Wording Your Catholic Wedding Invitation: Etiquette And Examples

When it comes to Catholic wedding invitations, there are a few key elements to consider. Firstly, the wording should reflect the religious nature of the ceremony, with phrases such as request the honour of your presence and Nuptial Mass being commonly used. The invitation should also include the names of the couple, the date, time, and location of the wedding, as well as the address of the church or venue. It is important to note that abbreviations and punctuation should be avoided, with numbers and dates being spelled out in full. Finally, additional information such as reception details, dress code, and response cards can be included in the invitation suite to provide guests with all the necessary information for the big day.

Honour vs. Honor

When it comes to the wording of Catholic wedding invitations, there are a few key elements to consider, and honour vs. honor is one of the most important distinctions. Here are some detailed instructions and examples to help you navigate this aspect of your wedding invitation etiquette:

Honour vs. Honor:

The use of "honour" or "honor" in wedding invitations is a notable difference between British and American English. "Honour" is the traditional British spelling, while "honor" is the American variant. For formal weddings, particularly those held in a church or place of worship, it is customary to use the British spelling, "honour". This spelling conveys a sense of formality and elegance. However, it is not mandatory, and you may choose to use "honor" if it aligns better with your wedding's tone or your personal preferences. Remember to maintain consistency throughout your wedding suite, including response cards and other stationery.

Religious vs. Non-Religious Ceremonies:

The choice between "honour" and "honor" can also signify whether the ceremony is religious or non-religious. "Honour" is typically used when the wedding is held in a church or place of worship, as it denotes respect and deference to God. In contrast, "honor" is more commonly used for non-religious ceremonies or those held in non-traditional venues. If your Catholic wedding is taking place in a church and includes a full Mass, opting for "honour" is a subtle way to convey this information to your guests.

Examples of "Honour" Usage:

• "Mr. and Mrs. Linus Rivera and Mr. and Mrs. Alexei Kramarenko request the honour of your presence at the Nuptial Mass wedding of Jessica Rivera and Vlad Kramarenko on Sunday, the first of October two thousand twenty-two, at half after five o'clock, at Saint Jude Catholic Church, 9110 Gold Street, San Bernardino, California."
• "Together with their parents, Naya Hudson and Floyd Maxwell request the honour of your presence at their marriage and the celebration of the Nuptial Mass on Friday, the sixteenth of September two thousand and twenty-two, at eight o'clock in the evening, at Our Lady of the Abandoned Catholic Church, 491 Lake Ridge West Road, Monticello, Illinois. Reception to follow at Monticello Hotel."
• "Mr. and Mrs. Brent Parsons request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter, Laura Parsons, to Hunter Millard, son of Mr. Carter Millard and the late Mrs. Mildred Millard, on Sunday, the twelfth of November two thousand twenty-two, at six o'clock, at The Church of the Holy Trinity, Aspen, Colorado. Dinner and dancing to follow."

Examples of "Honor" Usage:

Although less common for Catholic weddings, you may opt to use "honor" in your invitations, especially if your ceremony is more relaxed or non-traditional. Here are some examples:

• "Mr. and Mrs. Rick Millard request the pleasure of your company at the Nuptial Mass uniting in marriage their daughter, Melissa Millard, to Jerome Fuente, Junior, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Fuente, Senior, on Saturday, the tenth of December two thousand twenty-two, at half past eight o'clock in the evening, at Heaven's Gate Country Club, Aspen, Colorado. Cocktails, dinner, and dancing to follow. Black Tie Optional."
• "Together with their families, Megan Feynman and Thomas Ridley invite you to partake in the celebration of their union on Thursday, the seventeenth of November two thousand twenty-two, at four o'clock, at Middleton Church, Lumberton, Mississippi. Reception to follow."

Remember, the choice between "honour" and "honor" ultimately depends on your personal preferences, the formality of your wedding, and whether you want to emphasise the religious aspect of your Catholic ceremony.

Numbers

When it comes to the numbers in your Catholic wedding invitation, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, the date and time of your wedding should be written out in words rather than using numerals. For example, you would write "Saturday, the fourth of September Two thousand and twenty-five" instead of "Saturday, 4th September 2025". The year should be written as "two thousand and twenty-five" if using the British spelling for honour, and "two thousand twenty-five" if using American spelling.

The time of your wedding should also be written out in words, such as "half after seven o'clock" instead of "7:30". Avoid using abbreviations like "a.m." and "p.m." and instead opt for phrases like "in the morning" or "in the evening". If your ceremony starts at 8, 9, or 10 o'clock, you can indicate the time of day by writing "in the evening". For example, "eight o'clock in the evening".

While you should write out the street address of your wedding location in words, it is acceptable to use numerals for the numbers in the address. For example, "9110 Gold Street". However, omit the zip code or postal code.

Punctuation

• Omission of punctuation at the end of lines: Traditionally, punctuation marks such as commas, periods, and colons are not placed at the end of lines in wedding invitations. For example, "Saturday, the fourth of September" or "Saint James Catholic Church" would be written without a comma or period at the end.
• Use of commas within lines: Commas are used within lines to separate different pieces of information. This includes dates ("Saturday, the twenty-fifth of September"), addresses ("Saint James Catholic Church, 123 Main Street"), and names ("Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W. Hughes").
• Hyphens in compound numbers, surnames, and location names: Hyphens are used in compound numbers ("two-thousand and twenty-two"), surnames ("Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W. Hughes Jr."), and location names ("Saint James-by-the-Sea Church").
• Capitalization: Proper nouns, such as names and church names, are capitalized. Additionally, the first word of a new sentence or thought is capitalized. For example, "The favour of your reply is requested" or "Reception to follow at the Hotel Monticello."
• Spelling out numbers and dates: Numbers and dates are typically spelled out in full. For example, "two thousand and twenty-two" instead of "2022," and "Saturday, the fourth of September" instead of "Saturday, September 4th." However, numerals can be used for street addresses ("123 Main Street").
• Time expression: The traditional way to express time is using "o'clock" and "half after" instead of "a.m." and "p.m." or "past." For example, "half after six o'clock" instead of "6:30 p.m." or "half past six."
• Evening and afternoon indication: It is not necessary to include "in the evening" or "in the afternoon" unless the ceremony starts at 8:00, 9:00, or 10:00 p.m. These phrases are not capitalized.

By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your Catholic wedding invitations are properly punctuated and adhere to traditional standards.

Time

When it comes to the time of your wedding, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, if your wedding is taking place at 8, 9, or 10 a.m. or p.m., it is worth including whether it is in the morning or the evening to avoid any confusion. For all other times, this is not necessary, but you may include it if you wish. For example, you could write "at two o'clock in the afternoon."

The time of your wedding should be written in full, with no numerals. So, if your wedding is at 3:30 p.m., you would write "half after three o'clock." If your wedding is on the hour, you would simply write "three o'clock." It is also worth noting that formal wedding invitations traditionally say "half after" rather than "half past." The time should be written in lowercase letters.

If you are having a more casual wedding, you can write the time as "4 p.m." or "5:30 p.m." Just remember to match the formality of the time with the formality of the date. For example, if you write out the date in full, write out the time in full as well.

If your reception is taking place several hours after the ceremony or in a different location, include a separate reception card with your invitation. This card can include the time and location of the reception, as well as any other relevant details. For example:

"Please join us for a reception at six o'clock in the evening.

JW Marriott Houston Downtown

806 Main Street

Houston, Texas"

If your reception is immediately following the ceremony and in the same location, you can simply write "reception to follow" or "dinner and dancing to follow" at the bottom of the invitation.

The Date

When it comes to the date, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, the day of the week, date, month and year should be written out in full. For example, "Saturday, the fourth of September Two thousand and twenty-five". The year should be written with "and" if you're using the British spelling for honour, and without if you're using American spelling.

The time should also be written out in full, for example, "half after seven o'clock" or "half past three o'clock in the afternoon". Avoid using abbreviations like "a.m." and "p.m." and instead opt for phrases like "in the morning" or "in the evening". If your ceremony starts at 6 pm or later, you can simply write "in the evening".

It's also important to note that the British spelling "honour" is typically used when the ceremony is religious and takes place in a church or place of worship. This adds a touch of elegance to the invitation.

Frequently asked questions