Mormon Weddings

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are married or "sealed" for "time and eternity" in temples open only to practicing Latter-day Saints. Weddings are generally small and intimate, attended by family and very close friends. The reception afterwards is a much larger affair to which all friends and all members of the bride and groom's extended families are invited. Since more guests are invited to the reception than to the ceremony, the invitations are for the reception. Ceremony cards enclosed with the reception invitations are sent to those guests who are also invited to the temple ceremony.

Invitations to Latter-day Saint wedding receptions differ from standard reception invitations in that they mention that the wedding ceremony was performed in the Latter-day Saint temple. Because Latter-day Saints place great emphasis on the importance of families, the groom's parents are honored by having their names mentioned on wedding invitations. Their names appear beneath the groom's name, preceded by "son of" on a separate line. Guests drop in and out of Latter-day Saint receptions. They arrive to congratulate the newlyweds and stay for a while to talk to friends and to renew acquaintances. Then they leave and go on their way. Consequently, the time line on the invitations mentions the time period during which the reception will be held.

Ceremony cards draw a distinction between weddings held in a Mormon temple and weddings held elsewhere. When weddings are held in a temple, it is so noted on the ceremony card.

Is it proper for us to send a photograph of ourselves with our wedding invitations?

While most Latter-day Saints do send their photographs with their invitations, it is not proper to do so. The principal purpose of wedding invitations is to invite guests to your wedding. Anything else is superfluous. You may, of course, send photos in a separate mailing.