Wedding Renewal Invitation: What Details To Include

Wedding renewal invitations are a great way to celebrate continued love and commitment. Whether you're celebrating a special anniversary or reaffirming your marriage vows, invitations are a special way to include your loved ones in the festivities. When creating your wedding renewal invitations, there are a few key elements to include, such as the request to attend, the names of the couple, and reception information. Here's a guide to help you craft the perfect invitation.

The date, time, and location

When it comes to the date, time, and location of your wedding renewal, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, it is essential to provide clear and concise information to your guests to avoid any confusion. Here are some tips to help you craft this section of your invitation:

Date and Time:

• For formal invitations, it is customary to write out the date and time in full. For example, if your ceremony is on the 15th of September 2024 at 4:30 pm, the wording could be "Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-four, at half after four in the afternoon." The day of the week and the month should be capitalised, and the year should be in lowercase letters.
• Alternatively, for a more casual approach, you can use numerals and abbreviate the time. For instance, "Sat, 15 Sept '24, 4:30 pm."
• If your guest list includes individuals who tend to arrive early, consider adding a buffer time. For instance, "Doors open at 4:00 pm. Ceremony starts promptly at 4:30 pm."

Location:

• Include the name of the venue and the specific location within the venue if there are multiple event spaces. For example, "Arctic Club Hotel, Ballroom, 700 Third Avenue, Seattle, Washington."
• If your venue is in a big city, it is helpful to include the full address. However, if it is in a small town, the city and state may suffice.
• Omit the zip code, as it is unnecessary for directional purposes.
• If the reception is at the same location, you can simply state, "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow."
• If the reception is at a different venue, include the location on a separate line or a separate insert card.

Remember, the key is to provide clear and concise information about the date, time, and location to ensure your guests can easily understand and plan their attendance.

The hosts

The host line is the first line of your wedding renewal invitation and it is dedicated to the host of the event, also known as the party covering the expenses. Traditionally, the bride's parents are the hosts of the wedding, but nowadays the groom's parents, the bride, the groom, or a combination of all three can be the hosts. It is becoming more common for couples to host their own weddings or to do so together with their parents.

If the wedding renewal is a collaborative affair hosted and paid for by the couple and both sets of parents, the invitation could begin: "Together with their parents, [couple's names] request the pleasure of your company..."

If you want to include the name of a parent who is deceased, you'll need to rearrange things a bit, as someone who has passed can't actually serve as a host. Here is an example:

> Julia French, daughter of Mr. Adam French and the late Iris French, and Austin Mahoney, son of Mr. Camden and Elizabeth Mahoney, request the honor of your presence at their wedding on the fifth of May, two thousand seventeen at one o'clock in the afternoon at The Reagan Library, Simi Valley, California. Dinner and dancing to follow. Black tie required.

If the couple's parents are divorced and you want to include both as hosts, you can include them all, just keep each parent on a separate line. If you're going to include the name of a stepparent, keep it on the same line as their partner. Here is an example of how a bride with divorced (and remarried) parents worded the wedding invitation:

> Dr. Vance and Elizabeth Gregory and Mr. James Abner and Lydia Abner and Mr. Harold and Jane Hyland invite you to the wedding of their children Amy Abner and Charles Hyland 01.06.18 | 4 p.m. Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church, Newport, California. Reception immediately after.

If the father of the bride is hosting the event, the invitation could begin:

> Mr. Father of the Bride requests the honor of your presence as [bride's name] and [husband's name] renew their wedding vows on [date] at [time].

The couple's names

When it comes to formal invitations, the bride's first and middle names are commonly used, while the groom's full name is included. On the other hand, casual invitations may opt for first names only.

• "Together with their families, [Couple's names] invite you to share in their joy as they tie the knot."
• "[Couple's names] request the honour of your presence at the reaffirmation of their wedding vows."
• "With joyful hearts, [Couple's names] request your presence at their wedding renewal."
• "Join us as we celebrate the marriage of [Couple's names]."
• "The pleasure of your company is requested at the renewal of vows for [Couple's names]."

Remember to include both first and last names if they are common, to avoid any confusion among the guests.

Dress code

When it comes to dress code, there are a few different approaches you can take. Here are some ideas for how to communicate the dress code for your wedding renewal ceremony:

Option 1: Formal Wording

If your wedding renewal is a formal affair, you may want to specify the dress code explicitly. Here are some examples of formal wording you can use:

• Black-tie (indicating tuxedos and floor-length gowns)
• Formal attire (suggesting suits and dresses)
• Cocktail attire (appropriate for suits or dress shirts with ties, and cocktail dresses)
• Beach-casual (appropriate for long- or short-sleeve shirts with pants or shorts, sundresses, and sandals)

Option 2: Match the Dress Code to the Invitation Style

If you don't want to include a specific dress code on the invitation, you can match the style of the invitation to the desired dress code. For example:

• A formal invitation will suggest a formal dress code to your guests.
• A simpler, more casual invitation will indicate a more relaxed dress code.

Option 3: Provide Clear Instructions

You can also provide clear and simple instructions about the dress code, such as:

• "Please join us in your Sunday best."
• "Black-tie attire is requested for this special occasion."
• "Come dressed to impress as we celebrate this memorable day."

Remember, it's essential to consider the formality of your event and choose a dress code that aligns with the tone you want to set. Whether you opt for formal wording, match the dress code to the invitation style, or provide clear instructions, your guests will appreciate having a sense of what to wear to celebrate this special occasion with you.

Post-ceremony plans

The post-ceremony plans section of your wedding renewal invitation should give your guests a clear idea of what to expect after the ceremony. This is a great way to set the tone for the reception. If you're having a reception, include the address if it's at a different location to the ceremony.

> "An evening of celebration to follow"

> "Reception to follow at [address]"

> "Reception immediately following at [address]"

> "Dinner to follow at [address]"

> "Dinner and dancing to follow"

> "Followed by dinner and dancing"

> "Drinks and dancing to follow"

> "Dinner, drinks and dancing to follow"

> "Cocktails, dinner and dancing to follow"

> "Adult reception to follow"

If you're having a more casual celebration, you could use wording such as:

> "Dinner and dancing to follow"

> "Followed by dinner and dancing"

If you're not having a reception, you could still include details of any post-ceremony plans, such as:

> "Join us for a drink at [venue] after the ceremony"

> "We'll be heading to [venue] after the ceremony – come and join us for a drink!"

Frequently asked questions