Should our last names be on our invitations?

We didn't put our last names on the Save the Dates but we did on the invitations just because they're a little more formal.

I did similar wording for our invitations. I was worried about it looking too cluttered as well but I think it worked out. Husband has a difficult last name so I wanted my friends and family to know how to spell it since it is my new last name.

Wedding invite

Most people don’t know how to spell (we don’t teach spelling in schools on a regular basis either so it’ll only get worse). If you have “complicated” last names, I’d put them on there. That way people have them in front of them if they’re writing a check (in the car in the parking lot like my aunt does for EVERY wedding 😉).

View Quoted Comment

I don't think yours is cluttered at all! Our reception is at a different location than the ceremony, so I had to include that info. Originally I had the reception details like this:

Cocktail hour with reception to follow

5 o'clock in the evening

Location

But my mom made a big deal about not having a set dinnertime in there, so I had to add two extra lines for that. Again, I really should've just sent them to the printer and said oh well lol

View Quoted Comment

His last name is Craig, so it's not really an issue in that aspect, I don't think anyway lol. But yes, this is a good point. Thank you!

We're date twins!

I'm putting our last name on ours..but it's a personal preference kind of thing. You could do a separate reception insert and have the ceremony info on the main paper and the reception/other details on another..but that's more $$.

I opted to make the details insert..because I also don't like clutter. I'm still struggling with the wording of that page.

I think it’s up to you. My first name is pretty unique so anyone who receives our invitation should definitely know it’s from us.

We put our last names, but I don't think you have to if you don't want to. I only did because I liked how it looked on our invitations. It really is up to you. If anything i'd at least put your or his names on the corner of the envelope

our invitation

I would include last names on the invitations!

I would use last names. A lot of people may know more than one "Amy." And Aunt Matilda may not remember the name of the guy you are dating. Last names avoid confusion.

Though it has been traditional on very formal invitations to spell out o'clock, I think that every time I see a less formal one that says, at 2 in the afternoon, or at 6 in the evening, I notice and think, what an improvement! Several online stationers show examples doing that, omitting o'clock 2-3 times, decluttering the page a little. . . . But add your last names, please. In the time we have been together, I have been to weddings, and milestone anniversaries, on my husband's side, for a Carlo and Marie, a Carl and Marie, a Giancarlo called Carl and Maria, and several other name duplicates ( or nearly so ) What a PITA to see an invitation with 2 first names, and not have a clue what Jean ( Jeanne, Jeanette, Janette) is marrying what Joe ( Joseph, Josef, Joel, Joey). And nothing saying who the parents are, so I cannot tell if they are hubby's family, high school friends, workers from past jobs. Hubby knows. I hate being clueless. And most often, I am the one looking up couples by first name, in an address or phone and email list kept by last names. One day, I am going to write a check for one of his nephews, to Joe and Theresa Nosurnames. And sign it, Judith and T. . . They can have fun at the bank. . . . Make your names a little more formal, nicknames first okay but a full first and last name for each of you . And drop any other oddities, like spelling out o'clock 4 times, something only done on the most formal cards. Also, you only need to use the city and state once, in the church line, if both in the same city . It will be assumed the same in the second use, the reception hall.
With 3 fonts, script and print, and pictures and colors , nothing about your invitation otherwise is at all formal . So why bother with formal language ? Note: I do think they are attractive, not complaining about them being less formal. Just that you have a strange mix, so extremely informal, two first names no surnames, mixed with overly formal spelling out of words rarely used. And couples rarely use just first names, unless parent names ARE used, which you do not want for good reason.

On the invitations we used our first and middle names and left the last names out.

I put our last names because I wanted to, but in general I would not ask your parents for suggestions and make the decisions you want.

My fiance and I have both been married before and I used my first and middle name and used his first and last name since that's the name I'll be taking. We didn't mention our families bc they're not helping pay or really part of the planning

I used his last name, but not mine. my parents names we listed. I think this is a more formal “traditional” way to do it. Your closest guests will know who it’s for, but more distant guests or guests of your parents might not know and last names will help clarify.

Of course everyone had an opinion ;P that just seems to the the way it goes in wedding planning, doesn’t it??

I think it’s completely up to you and I think it’s perfect the way it is if that’s what you like! If you think you’ll regret it and your names aren’t too long, you can certainly include them and it still wouldn’t be too bulky. But I don’t think you NEED to. I definitely understand not wanting it to be too crowded.

I’ve been asking for my mom’s input a lot but only because she’s fronting most of the bill and for some reason, the invites are what she cares most about so we’re going a more formal route with parents’ names and everything haha.

I’ve been seeing last names dropped from many invitation templates on Minted, Zola, Etc. so it seems to be the trend now in favor of the bold, dramatic text like you have. Aka I don’t think you’re breaking any “rules” so go on with you bad self, girl. Have fun!

View Quoted Comment

My husband and I used these same invites but they were in blue

View Quoted Comment

I loved them in blue too. Blue was a color we considered too. Did you get the thank you cards too? mine should be here today

We opted to use full (first middle last) names solely because I liked how it laid out better on our invites.