Does it matter whose name goes first?

Etiquette states the woman's name on all wedding related items.

^^^ that is easily the weirdest "etiquette" rule I've ever heard of lol.

I don't think it matters. I think it is usually Mr. and Mrs. John and Stacy Smith (or whatever names you have).

AugustBride, I wonder if that etiquette rule hearkens back to the times when the bride's parents paid for the wedding. As they were the hosts they would be listed first on the invitations and it would make sense to have their daughter listed immediately after their names (I don't know this to be a fact, it's just a thought).

On sationary it is always the woman's name first unless you are doing mr and mrs.

I order stationary for clients all the time at work. Women are always first

This isn't even a wedding rule, it's just stationary in general.

I was told shorter name goes first. Anyhow, I always put my name first on everything. It just sounds better. Well, I got some engraved gifts from my side of the family but they put FH's name first. It looks strange to me. Is it "wrong" though?

Honestly, it doesn't really matter. Whatever sounds best to you.

I think its whoever sounds better. On our thank yous, i did me first since I am not changing my name and I wanted to drawl attention to that.

It should be the bride's name first. FH was the one to point that out to me when I designed our invites. I looked it up (because I don't trust his etiquette skills) and he was right. Damn. I hate when that happens! LOL

I guess my question is more of: do we have to be consistent? Like pick one and stick with it forever. Or sometimes it can be the woman's name first and sometimes it can be the guy's name first.

Tina, it should always be the woman's name first. However, if it isn't like that and you don't do it like that and you constantly switch it up...the etiquette police are not going to come find you. It's your choice to follow or not, just like everything else.

For everything wedding related we have done my name first. However when FMIL writes anything, it's always my FH name first. It doesn't really matter, just do whatever you think sounds good.

Everything wedding related, my name has gone first. save the dates, invites, return address labels, everything. my thought is that this is the last time i'll be able to be first, cuz after we're married it'll be Mr And Mrs McDowell. ha. but just in general, his name is usually first when we're like signing cards or something to his family, but my name first when it's to my family (obviously). it just depends who is writing it/making it in general for us, but wedding stuff for sure has been me first. our thank yous will be from mr and mrs mcdowell. and we'll be introducted as mr and mrs justin and nicole mcdowell at our reception/end of ceremony

My mother in law made a big fuss about my name going first on the saw the dates. Saying that the man is the head and should come first and all that other bs. I didn't care and just put his name first on everything else just to appease her.

Yes, back in the day, you always used the male name first, then the female.

As others said, I've heard that pre-wedding stuff (invites included) should have the woman's name first and post-wedding stuff should have the man's name first.

I don't think any of your guests will even think about that when they get the invite though so do whatever you like best!

The =man's first name should never be separated from his last name (goes way back and could have changed by now) so if saying first names it would be Sally & Bob Smith formally it would be Mr. & Mrs. Robert Smith. But if you are including your maiden name, usually the woman's name goes first. (ladies first)

I put my name first on everything before the wedding. Now DH's name goes first.

I wanted to be consistent, but it wasn't (it isn't) a big deal to me either way.

Our stuff all says "Reed & Erin" instead of "Erin & Reed." However, we did address envelopes with the man's name first.

I just like to shorten things sometimes, and R&E is better than E&R in my mind.

I figured a few people might wonder why we "flipped" the names, but I don't really care. They can all talk about it to each other, and I won't hear a word.

I was told my name first, his second for the invites. I do find it very odd that once you get married it's guy first girl second. I've never understood why it matters.

I noticed most of the time it's the bride's name first, so that's what I've been doing. Except for our invitations. I wasn't paying attention and I put his name first.

I don't think it matters too much how you do it. It is "proper" for the bride's name first, but if you mix it up or do the opposite I don't think people will really notice or care.