How to Word Formal Vow Renewal Invitations

  While vow renewals don’t carry a lot of formal rules themselves, when hosting a formal event there are some etiquette basics that are appropriate to follow. In accordance with […]

A quick overview of the topics covered in this article.

Share Post

Hi there!
It’s nice to meet you.

Sign up to receive awesome content in your inbox, every month.

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

 

While vow renewals don’t carry a lot of formal rules themselves, when hosting a formal event there are some etiquette basics that are appropriate to follow. In accordance with long-standing traditions for formal events (black tie), the following etiquette guidelines would apply to the wording of formal vow renewal invitations.

Names and Spelling

  • An invitation is issued by the host(s). The hosts’ name(s) are spelled out and include middle names and titles.
  • Titles such as Mr. and Mrs. are not spelled out. Doctor should be spelled out, unless the name would be too long to fit on one line.
  • The phrase “the honour of your presence” is used when the ceremony will take place in a house of worship. Honour is spelled with a “u” in the British fashion. For other venues “the pleasure of your company” is the traditional wording.
  • The couple’s name is spelled out, and is preceded by a title. For example: Mr. and Mrs. Michael Alvin Barrett.  If your name is hyphenated, you’d write Mr. Michael Alvin Barrett and Mrs. Karie Lynn Boehrns-Barrett.

Time and Date

  • The date is also spelled out, as is the year. Note that there is no “and”: two thousand twenty-three.
  • The day of the week and the month are capitalized; the year is not.
  • Use the phrase “half after” when indicating time, rather than “half past” or “four-thirty.”
  • The phrases “in the afternoon” and “in the evening” are not necessary.
  • Provide the city and state of the vow renewal location. The state is spelled in full, but may be omitted if all guests are local.

RSVP

  • “RSVP,” which is an abbreviation of the French repondez s’il vous plait, means “please respond.” Each of the following usages is correct: RSVP, R.S.V.P., r.s.v.p., R.s.v.p. and “The favour of a reply is requested.”
  • RSVP is only used on reception invitations or combination ceremony/reception invitations; it’s not used on ceremony-only invitations. When used, it goes on the lower left.
  • RSVP on its own indicates that replies should be sent to the return address on the outer envelope of the invitation. If you want replies sent to a different postal address, or to include an email address or phone number as alternative methods for sending replies, add this information below the RSVP:

RSVP
1001 Smith Avenue
Nashville, Tennessee 00001
or

888-765-1234

  • RSVP isn’t necessary if you’re including stamped addressed reply cards unless you’d like to give your guests another way to respond, such as an email address or a phone number.

Notes

  • Do not mention gifts or attire on the invitation. If necessary, “Black tie” may be written in the lower right on a reception invitation.

Vow Renewal Invitation Wording Examples

Traditional


The honor of your presence is requested
at the renewal of wedding vows of
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Alvin Barrett
Friday, the second of March
at seven o’clock in the evening
Grace Church
1001 Smith Avenue
Nashville, Tennessee 00001


Less formal, if you are hosting…


The pleasure of your company
is requested at the reaffirmation of the
wedding vows of
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Barrett
on Friday the second of March
at seven o’clock
at the Skywood Botanical Gardens
Los Angeles, California
Reception immediately following ceremony
R.S.V.P.


If you want to include your parents on the invitation…


Mr. Michael Alvin Barrett and Mrs. Karie Lynn Boehrns-Barrett,
together with their parents
Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Barrett and Ms. Cynthia Ann Boehrns
cordially invite you to attend a
renewal of vows
at seven o’clock in the evening
Grace Church
1001 Smith Avenue
Nashville, Tennessee 00001


If your children are hosting…


Matthew Jarred Fushia, Morgan Lindsey Fushia, and Hayden Michael Barrett
request the pleasure of your company
as their parents
Michael and Karie Barrett
renew their wedding vows
at seven o’clock in the evening
Grace Church
1001 Smith Avenue
Nashville, Tennessee 00001


If your children are hosting…


Matthew Jarred Fushia, Morgan Lindsey Fushia, and Hayden Michael Barrett
invite you to share in our joy
as our parents
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Alvin Barrett
renew their vows
at seven o’clock in the evening
Grace Church
1001 Smith Avenue
Nashville, Tennessee 00001


If your children are hosting…


The children of
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Alvin Barrett[or “Michael and Karie Barrett”] request the honor of your presence
at the reaffirmation ceremony
of their parents
at seven o’clock in the evening
Grace Church
1001 Smith Avenue
Nashville, Tennessee 00001


If the children are married and hosting the celebration as couples, they would be listed together with their spouses. A woman may want to include their maiden names on the invitation, even if they do not regularly hyphenate them. This step is a service to guests (such as friends, bosses, and clients of their parents) who will then be able to more easily identify them in the case where a brother isn’t listed on the invitation:


Matthew and Cassandra Jones,
Christopher and Morgan Smith,
and Hayden and Grace Barrett
request the pleasure of your company
at the reaffirmation ceremony
of their parents
at seven o’clock in the evening
Grace Church
1001 Smith Avenue
Nashville, Tennessee 00001


Leave A Comment