Party Invitations, Party Planning & Event Ideas

Going Away Party Wording Ideas

Thanks Michelle for your Going Away Party Wording Ideas:

They’re packing their boxes and will soon be on their way. 
We are sad to see them go, but best wishes we have to say.

The Repines are moving and we are so sad to see them go.
They’ll be missed and best wishes we want them to know.

They're packing their boxes, the moving van will soon be here.
We'll miss them and wish them all the best with good cheer.

They’re packing their boxes & will soon be on their way. 
We will be sad to see them go on moving day.

Wedding Invitation Wording Question

Let's Help Bee Out! Any ideas?...

I have a question about invitation wording: My fiance and I are paying for the wedding, but we want our parents to be recognized on the invitations anyway. It's important to him to have his mother and her maiden name as well has her remarried last name recognized first in the order (because she's really the matriarch), but we wonder if it's too wordy.

We were going to word it like this:
Mrs. Jane Smith Doe
wishes for your presence at the union of her daughter
Janey Doe
to
John Jacob
son of Mrs. Elizabeth 'Maiden Name' 'Remarried Name' and Mr. James 'Remarried Name'
and Mr. Billy Jacob

Do you think that's too long? Do you have any other suggestions?

Wedding Invitaiton Wording Question...

Let's help Diana out with her invitaiton wording question:

"What would you write on a very formal wedding invitation where the groom's mother has passed away but wanted her mention on the invitaiton."

Any ideas?

Invitation Wording Question...

Amanda Asks...

"I am planning a small (20 or less)retirement
party for my mom at a restaraunt but guests
will be responsible for paying for their own
dinner - how do i indicate this on an invitation?"

Anyone have any suggestions? Comment to this post to help her out! :)

We're Staying Party

Reader Question from Liz:

"Several months ago we hosted a fun going away party for some dear friends.  The husband moved immediately while the rest of the family stayed here tying to sell the home.  Things with the new job were not as promised/expected, so the husband is back and has found a new and better job here!  The couple now wants to host a "We're Staying" party.  Any suggestions for the wording of the invitation??"

Can you help Liz? Any suggestions, please comment to this post!

Thanks, The Create My Event Team

Elopement Announcements & Reception Only Invitations Wording

Many people choose to skip the details and hassles of a big wedding.  Here are a few suggestions for announcements of elopement:

Just letting you know!

Eileen Short
And
Stan Manfred

Were married on
April 4, 2006
In a family ceremony
St. Luke’s Church
Larksbur, New Mexico

Or

We've Eloped!
For further details
You must attend a lobsterfeed
In our honor
on July 12, 2012
At 2 o’clock
12 Main Street
Norwich, VT

Daisy and Bart Simpson

Or

From the moment they met
It was a beautiful thing
They knew some day
They'd hear wedding bells ring!

Dave
&
Ben
were married
January 3, 2010
Burlington, VT

Or

With stars in their eyes
and love in their hearts.
Deanna Louise
And
Jason Jones
Were Married on
August 27, 2001
Maui, Hawaii

It is becoming more common for a couple who eloped or had a destination wedding to have a reception later. Here are a couple suggestions:

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Gold
Invite you to join us
In celebrating the recent marriage of our daughter
Alice Sonja Gold
To
Arjun Gangadharan
Which took place March 25, 2005 in Dubai, India

Come toast the happy couple
Saturday, August 20, 2010
Goldfield Country Club
Plano, Texas

Or

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Gold
Invite you to join them for a dinner honoring
Mr. and Mrs. Arjun and Alice Gold Gangadharan
Saturday, August 19, 2005
(etc)

Formal Wedding Invitation Wording

We all expect planning a wedding to be a sea of details, but did you expect the tidal wave of etiquette difficulties too?   Here are the basics, so you can spend your precious time planning the fun stuff.  The standard, formal wording meant for a wedding paid for by the bride’s parents is:

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Smith
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Ellen Anne
to Theodore Edward Jones
at the Seal Beach Club
Saturday, the Seventeenth of May
At four o’clock

If bride's parents are divorced, the mother's name traditionally goes on the first line and the father's name on the second line separated by the word "and".  The same layout fits if both sets of parents will be hosting.  If Bride's parents are hosting, but would like to include grooms parents on the invitation, the invitation is generally phrased like this:

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Jones
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Anne Catherine
to Theodore Joseph Johnson
son of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Johnson
etc.

A deceased parent may be mentioned using the following form, since they are unable to formally host the wedding.

Maria Louise Jones
daughter of Margaret Elizabeth Jones and the late Mark Allen Jones
and
John Matthew Smith
son of Mr. and Mrs. James Michael Smith
request the honour of your presence
at their marriage
etc

If you are getting married at a place other than a place of worship, then use the phrase “request the pleasure of your company” instead.  Formal wedding invitations never use “a.m” or “p.m.”, they use “o’clock”. Jewish weddings use the joining word "and" instead of "to" between the bride and groom's names. Also in Jewish weddings, both the bride and groom's parents always appear on the invitation.

Informal Wedding Invitation Wording

Many people are choosing a non-traditional wedding and tossing all the traditional formalities to the wayside.  Even though you are letting your creativity shine through, don’t forget to mention 1) who is sponsoring the event, 2) what the invitation is for, 3) what day the event will take place, 4) what time the event will take place, 5) where it will be held, and 6) if there is a reception following and at the same location or someplace else.   Here are a few suggestions for less formal invitations:

We're getting married!

You're invited to attend
our wedding event
On Saturday, September 2, 2011
Sunrise 7am
Wild Park
Yellowstone, CA

John & Lisa

Or

Our marriage will be a fairy tale…

Jeri Lynne
And
Ben Scott

Invite you to share in the joy
when they exchange marriage vows
and begin their new life together
on Sunday April 16, 2009
at 4:00 in the afternoon
etc.

Or

Please join us as
Lucy Jane
and
Larry Marcus
Follow their dreams together in marriage
October 11, 2009 at 1:30 pm
etc.

Or

The stars & heaven
brought us together.

Katie Ann and Jimmy

Invite you to join us
for a wedding under the stars
to celebrate the beginning
of our marriage
on December 1, 2009
etc

Or

Hear ye, Hear ye.
Let it be heard that
on the 29th of June, 2013
Sylvia Anne and Barry James
will be united in Holy Matrimony.

Your presence is requested
by the parents of the bride
Sam & Diane Tilton
to join in this celebration of love
at 2 pm in the afternoon
etc

Or

Please join us
For a celebration of love, friendship, laughter, and family
as
Margarite Salida Romerez
and
Robert Scott Titus
Join their hands in holy matrimony
Friday, June 28, 2017
etc

Some people want to acknowledge that this is there second wedding, with wording such as:

Please join us
As we celebrate new beginnings, new dreams, new love
at the marriage of
Brad Alex Beck
and
Lola Anne Zigler
Sunday, April 4, 2008
5 o'clock in the afternoon
Salinas Botanic Garden, CA
Dinner and dancing to follow

Second weddings with children, may want to honor their children by mentioning them in the invitation.  Here are a couple examples:

Please join
Janelle Anna Marie
and
Matthew Luke Perry 
as they exchange marriage vows
and together with their son, Quinn, celebrate their family
etc.

Or

Please join us
At a celebration
Of the marriage of
Linda Peters
and
Peter Zigler Friedman
And
The family of
Molly, Ned, Lindley, and Elise
Etc.

Retirement Party Invitation Wording

There is no better time to throw a party than when somebody is trading in their career for some well deserved rest and relaxation! Below are some wording suggestions for the invitation. As with other party invitations, don’t forget to include the date and time, the location, and RSVP information.

You’re invited to a retirement luncheon
Honoring Scott Wilson

Or

After 30 years of service
Jesse Ceccon is retiring from Beuller County Fire Department.

Or

Please join us in wishing
Janet Smith a fond farewell!

Or

The Squire Group
requests the pleasure of your company
at a retirement dinner
in honor of Mr. Ted Hayse

Or

The California Department of Fish and Game
Announces the retirement of Caroline Mcknight
After 27 years of wonderful service and dedication.

Or

After 47 years of service,
Thomas Payne is retiring from Alpaca Fleece Incorporated. 
The pleasure of your company
is requested at a reception in his honor

Or

David Smith has called it a day!
Come celebrate his retirement
with family and friends.

Or

Joe has punched his clock for the last time.
His daily grind is being left behind.
No more meetings or pages to fax.
Is time for him to kick back and relax!

Or

After years of hard work and dedication,
It is time for Tina to take a vacation!
Please join us as we offer her best wishes in her retirement.

Or

Ted Smith is retiring, he's put in his time,
he leaves us now with warm plans in mind
Just relaxing… he'll be taking life slow
at home in the garden or perhaps Mexico!

Or

Forget the black tie, it’s no formal affair.
Just come as you are for that casual flair.
We’ll drink and laugh as we all reminisce,
It’s a gathering for a friend that will surely be missed.

Or

Too quickly the time has passed us by,
Now it’s time for us to say good-bye.
Please join us to wish Ned the very best,
As he starts his long and well deserved rest.

Or

Office walls are now his past
He’s retiring to the sunny shores at last!

Baby Shower Invitation Wording

Putting together a baby shower for a friend or family member can be such fun.  It is truly appreciated by the parents-to-be as well.  Plan the party for AT LEAST one month before the baby is due, so the parents-to-be can have enough time to unpack it all, write thank you notes, wash and clean the items, and figure out if they need more of anything BEFORE the baby comes.  Be sure to send the invitations out a month in advance so guests have ample time to RSVP and prepare.  Whatever wording you choose to use, don’t forget the basic information:

1) Name of new mom and/or baby
2) Date of the baby shower
3) Time
4) Location
5) RSVP date and phone number
6) Gift Registry information*

*There are people that disagree that gift registry information should be included in the invitation.  As a guest, I don’t want to have to call to find out about the registry, I’d rather just have it included.  As a new mom, I needed so much basic stuff, that I really wanted people to shop directly from the registry to help me out as much as possible.  It really is a personal preference. I suggest asking the new mom what she would prefer.

Be creative and have fun with the wording on the invitation.  Here are a few suggestions to get your creative juices flowing:

A boy or a girl? We don't know just yet.
But why don't we help the couple get all set!

Or

A little get together
will be such a treat,
in honor of a little someone
we can’t wait to meet!

Or

Jane knows she is pregnant,
But she does not know this…
We're planning a shower
That you won't want to miss!

Or

It almost time for Stephanie
To turn in her maternity wear
For a cradle, a blanket, and a teddy bear!

Or

Do you think she’ll need pink?
Do you think she’ll need blue?
Check the calendar... She's almost due!

Or

A baby’s a joy, whether a girl or a boy.
This shower signifies the arrival is near,
I hope to see you there!

Or

We have a baby on the way and you are
invited to share in our joy. Please join us as
celebrate the upcoming birth of our precious baby.

Many parents are finding out what gender the baby is, so if you know and want to indicate it on the invitation, here are some gender specific ideas:

We all had a hunch, there would be
a baby girl added to the bunch!

Or

What could be sweeter in a house full of boys
A bundle of pink, oh what a joy!

Or

Sugar and spice and everything nice
That's what this little girl will be made of!
Join us as we shower Jodi with love

Or

Planes and trucks and all kinds of toys
Our mommy-to-be is expecting two boys!
Please join us as we shower Nancie with gifts.