Elopement Announcements - Wording for announcement help???????????

Question

Hi me and my partner are secretly getting married on December 20th, We plan to tell close family the next day and send out announcement cards to every one else. I have akready made the cards and they are looking beautiful. I am just strggling with the final details. First of all what should be printed on the outside of the card:

"Just to say......"

"Marriage announcement"

"We'd like to let you know....."

etc (dont wanna put "elopement" as the wedding is in my home town)

And what about inside the card:

"Mr So and So and Miss So and so

were joined in marriage

at a secret ceremony on December 20th

2008 at 3.45pm. We would like to invite you

to join us for a celebration dinner at The Oaks, Norwich

on Saturday 3rd January 2008."

"Mr So and So and Miss So and so

were joined in marriage

at a private ceremony on December 20th

2008 at 3.45pm. We would like to invite you

to join us for a celebration dinner at The Oaks, Norwich

on Saturday 3rd January 2008."

"Mr So and So and Miss So and so

were secretly joined in marriage on December 20th

2008 at 3.45pm. We would like to invite you

to join us for a celebration dinner at The Oaks, Norwich

on Saturday 3rd January 2008."

What do you think?

PS: Everytime i post a question asking for help with my wedding people have a nasty habit of judging my plans. I should not have to justify why I dont want my family there, so please try not to say "they'll be so hurt" as you dont know them."

Answer 1

The use of the word 'secret' implies a clandestine marriage on the sly, done deliberately to keep everybody else ignorant of it...not very wise. Even if it's true do you have to add fuel to the flame by hitting them over the head with it in words?

private is better......secret is like sticking your thumbs in your ears and going "nanee nanee nanee we got married and you couldn;t be there"......

You seem to be hung up on using 'secret'....like there was some sort of point you need to make or rub in with your families.....drop the secret....it's like 'sneaking around' and 'deception'....right? They are gonna be upset anyway, why make it worse with your wording?

Answer 2

Hi.

I like....."We'd like to let you know...."

OR....."We would like you to know"

For the inside, I like your 2nd one, with a few modifications:

~ I would leave out the "Mr." and "Miss" formality;

~ no need to put in the time that your wedding was;

~ include the TIME of your reception AND the address (no need for the city, state unless this is in a far away city/town.)

Example:

Brian Thomas Johnson

and

Sarah Lynn Taylor

were joined in marriage

during a private ceremony

on December 20, 2008

We would like to invite you

to join us for a celebration dinner

to honor our marriage on

Saturday, the third of January

two thousand and nine

at six o'clock in the evening

The Oaks, Norwich

address

Good luck and I hope this helps to answer your question!

Answer 3

people all over have private ceremonies they don't invite people too. don't worry about how people will react. it was your day, and you should have the luxury of not having it be a stressful horrible one due to whatever circumstances caused you to not want various people there.

for the inside, i'd use the word "private" as in your middle example  rather than say it was done secretly. it just sounds more classy. you have nothing to hide, so shouldn't feel ashamed about being married, hence not using the word "secret."

as for the front, you don't even need to have wording on it if you don't want. a simple graphic is fine, or just do a one-sheet thing which has no front at all. my niece's invites were like that and they were very elegant indeed.

however, a few cautions: if you are not wanting people to bring gifts, then let them know that. if you are ok with gifts, then be aware some may complain & see this as just a way of your trying to get gifts from them after the ceremony. (not saying it's the case, just saying some will complain of it.) also, who is paying for the dinners? if you are taking the tab for them all, then word your announcement as "We'd like to ask you to be our guests at a celebration dinner..." but if this dinner isn't catered, then you may want to let them know that in some way as well. they may attend, not realizing they are responsible for their own bills.