Estonian Wedding Invitation: What To Write And Include

When it comes to wedding invitations, there are some basic elements that should always be included. These are: a request to come to the wedding, the names of the couple, and reception information. The wording can be formal, fun, casual, creative, modern, or simple, depending on the couple's preference and the tone they want to set for their celebration.

The invitation should also include the date and time, location, and dress code, if desired. While not compulsory, including the dress code can be helpful for guests. The invitation may also include an insert card with additional information, such as the wedding website and registry details.

Host Line

The host line is the opening line on a wedding invitation and names the hosts of the event. Here are some examples of how to word the host line for an Estonian wedding invitation:

One Set of Married Parents Hosting

If the bride's parents are hosting, their names are usually listed first, followed by the groom's parents. It is common to include the parents' full names, with middle names for very formal weddings. If they have different last names, use "and" to join the two names.

Examples:

• Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Timothy Williams (very formal; middle name included)
• Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Williams (formal)
• Mr. and Mrs. Christopher and Sarah Williams (formal; includes both first names)
• Christopher and Sarah Williams (less formal)

One Set of Divorced Parents Hosting

In this case, include the mother's name first, followed by the father's name on a separate line. Do not use "and" to connect the two names.

Example:

• Dr. Vance and Elizabeth Gregory
• Mr. James Abner and Lydia Abner

Both Sets of Parents Hosting

For different-sex couples, list the bride's parents' names first, followed by the groom's parents' names. For same-sex couples, the order of the names can be based on preference or what looks best with the invitation design.

Examples:

• Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Wong and Mr. and Mrs. Adam Hollis (formal)
• Aaron and Alisha Wong together with Adam and Beatrice Hollis (less formal)

Couple Hosting with Their Families

When both families are contributing to the wedding, you can use a phrase such as "Together with their families" as the host line.

Examples:

• Together with their families
• Together with our families
• Together with their parents

Couple Hosting Themselves

If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves, you can omit the host line or start with a warm and welcoming introduction:

Examples:

• Together with full hearts
• With hearts full of love and joy

Attendance Request

The request to attend is a crucial part of any wedding invitation, and there are many ways to ask for the pleasure of your guests' company. Here are some examples of wording for an Estonian wedding invitation:

"The pleasure of your company is requested..."

"We invite you to celebrate with us..."

"We would love for you to join us..."

"Together with our families, we invite you to share in our joy..."

"We request the honour of your presence..."

The tone of the attendance request can be formal or casual, depending on the style of the wedding. For a formal wedding, the request is typically more traditional and elegant, using phrases such as "the honour of your presence" or "the pleasure of your company". On the other hand, a casual wedding invitation might say something like "We'd love for you to celebrate with us" or "Join us as we tie the knot".

The wording can also be adjusted to reflect the hosts of the wedding. If the couple's parents are hosting, the request might be something like "Mr. and Mrs. [Parents' Names] request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their children". If the couple is hosting themselves, the request can be more direct, such as "Together with our families, [Couple's Names] invite you to share in our joy".

"We invite you to be a part of our special day as we exchange our vows."

"Your presence would be greatly appreciated as we celebrate this momentous occasion."

"Together with our families, we invite you to witness our union and join us in celebration."

"We would be honoured by your presence as we begin our journey as husband and wife."

"With joyful hearts, we invite you to share in the happiness of our wedding day."

Names of the Couple

The names of the couple are usually the largest text on the invitation and are often in a fancy typeface.

For different-sex couples, the bride's name typically goes first, followed by the groom's name. If the bride's parents' names are listed at the top, the bride's name can just be her first and middle name, without her last name. In that case, the groom's name is either listed in full or his first and middle names are listed, followed by the line "Son of Mr. & Mrs. [Father's First Name] [Father's Surname]."

For same-sex couples, the traditional rule of the woman's name first and the man's second is not applicable. Whether it's "Emily and Zara" or "Zara and Emily," it's going to be lovely either way. When writing their own names, same-sex couples can choose to go in alphabetical order or simply with what sounds better.

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.

• "Julia French, daughter of Mr. Adam French and the late Iris French, and Austin Mahoney, son of Mr. Camden and Elizabeth Mahoney, request the honour of your presence at their wedding..."
• "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..."
• "Grace and Russell Fitzpatrick are gettin' hitched! August 4th, 2016..."
• "Love is in the air. Chloe Marie Sinclair & Matthew James Denton have the honour of announcing their marriage..."
• "Jennifer and Andrew invite you to celebrate their wedding..."

Date and Time

When it comes to the date and time of your wedding, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, traditional wedding invitation wording requires the date and time to be spelled out in full, e.g. "Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-one, 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. There is no "and" when spelling out the year.

The time of day should be specified as "four o'clock" or "half after four o'clock". Evening begins at five o'clock, and the period from noon until four o'clock is considered the afternoon. For a less formal wedding, it is acceptable to use numerals for the time, e.g. "4:00 p.m." or "4:30 p.m.".

If you are having a formal wedding, it is customary to include the full street address of the venue, including the city and state. If your wedding is taking place abroad, be sure to include the country as well. For less formal weddings, the street address is not usually needed unless omitting it may cause confusion.

If your ceremony and reception are in the same location, you can simply state "reception to follow" or "dinner and dancing to follow". If the reception is at a different location, include the full address and other relevant information on a separate card.

Finally, if you are including a dress code on your invitation, this is typically mentioned in the lower right-hand corner.

Location

When it comes to wedding invitations, the location is a very important detail to include. Here are some tips and examples to help you with the location section of your Estonian wedding invitation:

• Write the name and full street address of your wedding venue, including the city, state, and zip code. If your wedding is taking place abroad, be sure to include the country as well.
• If your wedding will be held at a private residence, you may choose to include the street address. Otherwise, for formal weddings, it is customary to omit the street address and simply list the venue name and city/state.
• If the ceremony and reception will be held at the same location, you can simply state, "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow."
• If the reception will be held at a different location, you have a couple of options. You can include the full address and other relevant information on a separate details card tucked inside the main invitation. Alternatively, you can list the reception venue on a separate line or on a separate insert card, known as a reception card.

Examples:

• "The Ritz-Carlton, 1234 Main Street, Tallinn, Harju maakond, 12345, Estonia. Reception to follow at the same location."
• "Ceremony at: St. Mary's Church, Tartu maakond, Tartu, 67890, Estonia. Reception at: The Garden House, 5678 Elm Street, Tartu maakond, Tartu, 67891, Estonia."
• "The Reagan Library, Simi Valley, California. Dinner and dancing to follow at the Country Club nearby."
• "Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church, Newport, California. Reception immediately after at the Newport Beach Resort."
• "Santa Barbara Courthouse - Mural Room, Santa Barbara, California. Dinner and dancing to follow at Casa de la Guerra."

Remember to include as much information as possible to make it easy for your guests to find the locations. You may also want to consider including a map or directions, especially if the venues are not easily accessible or if your guests are travelling from out of town.

Frequently asked questions