Invitation Wording: Other Formal Invitations

by Emily Post

Other Formal Invitations

All other formal invitations are engraved (never printed) on cards of thin white matte Bristol board, either plain or plate-marked like those for wedding reception cards. Note paper such as that used for wedding invitations is occasionally, but rarely, preferred.

Monograms, addresses, personal devices are not used on engraved invitations.

The size of the card of invitation varies with personal preference from four and a half to six inches in width, and from three to four and a half inches in height. The most graceful proportion is three units in height to four in width.

The lettering is a matter of personal choice, but the plainer the design, the better. Scrolls and ornate trimmings are bad taste always. Punctuation is used only after each letter of the R.s.v.p. and it is absolutely correct to use small letters for the s.v.p. Capitals R.S.V.P. are permissible; but fastidious people prefer "R.s.v.p."

There are times when a very formal invitation is called for. Formal invitations are printed on cream or white paper. Sometimes soft pastels can be used. The borders of the paper are raised and may be silver or gold but never black. Black is used only for the announcement of a death. The font type should be easy to read and the invitation is phrased in the third person.

Full names are used on both the invitation and the envelope, never just initials. Courtesy titles like Mister can be abbreviated to Mr. and doctor or senior may be abbreviated also. However, the titles of the clergy and elected or appointed officials are not abbreviated. Numbers are always written out on a formal invitation. Hours are written out like “nine o’clock” and half hours like “half passed five o’clock”. Using the year is optional but if it is used, place it below the date and write it out as in “two thousand and twelve”.

An example of the wording on a formal invitation is: Mr. and Mrs. John Edward Smith, request the pleasure of your company for dinner and dancing, on Saturday the sixth of April, at half past five o’clock Spring Lake Country Club. The invitation may have either RSVP, R.S.V.P., Rsvp, Please reply or Please reply by ( and then a date written out). It has become popular to include “Black tie” or White tie” on the invitation to be certain, the guests understand it is a formal event, although traditionally this was not necessary.
Special thanks to Emily Post on her wonderful tips on etiquette and invites.
General Formal Invitations