Temple Wedding Invitations - Questions

[NormalMormon]

Does anyone know how to word a temple wedding invitation/announcement?

We want to annouce to our extended family and friends that we are getting married in the temple.

Many of them aren't members, and even the ones who are we don't necessarily want there. We JUST want family at both the sealing and reception.

So do I include like...TWO cards in one envelope? One announcing the wedding, and one inviting the family? How can I do it on ONE invitation only?

[Guest tomk]

Announce the day of the sealing in the temple (but not the time) and invite everyone to attend the reception on (day and time).

For those who are to attend the sealing, insert a smaller note indicating the time of the sealing.

There is no easy way to explain to non-members why they cannot attend the sealing. If they really need an answer they can call you. Just explain your beliefs to them. They may feel kind of hurt (that is okay) but if they love you they will not let it keep them from sharing in your day (at the reception).

[Doctor Steuss]

The majority of wedding announcements that I receive where they will be sealed essentially say something along the lines of:

"You are hereby invited to attend a reception in their honor at______" without any mention of when the actual wedding will be occurring. If you have a lot of family and friends who aren’t LDS, check with your bishop on the possibility of a small ring-exchange ceremony. It won’t have any of the pomp of a “regular” wedding, but it might fill that void of “participation” for those who aren’t LDS. My close friend had a ring exchange ceremony as hardly anyone in his family is active LDS. It was just a real short dilly right before the reception.

If I'm invited to the sealing (which is a rarity as most people who know me know I've never been to the temple) there's usually a small separate card that says I've been asked to attend the sealing, and the time/place/etc.

[NeuroTypical]

My wife and I both attend the temple. In the last 4 or 5 temple wedding announcement we've received, I don't think any of them included an actual invite to the temple. We just get invited to the reception.

Here's the latest:

Mr. and Mrs. So-and-so

announce the marriage of their daughter

Miss so-and-so

to

Some freckled guy

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Buford Pickanose

Marriage solemnized in the Denver Temple

Friday Apr 4, two thousand eight

You are cordially invited to attend

a reception in their honour

on Saturday Apr 5 at 6 p.m.

at the Very Nice Reception Center

Podunk, Colorado

Included in the envelope, was an additional card saying

Celebrate with the Bride and Groom with a dinner and dance

Ring Ceremony will be held at 7 p.m.

Kindly Respond on or before May 30st.

________ Number attending

________ Will not be attending

I assume those invited to the temple got an additional card in their mailing.

LM

[Canuck Mormon]

I assume those invited to the temple got an additional card in their mailing.

LM

That's the way my wife and I did it for our wedding last year. We just added a sheet inviting them to the wedding ceremony. Her family is 99% inactive (only mother and father could attend), but nobody seemed too put out by it. If they were, they didn't say anything to ruin the day.

[Aphrodite]

I think it's so awful most people you know can't attend your wedding. I feel bad on your behalf that you miss out on a proper wedding I waited my entire life to walk down the aisle! I wouldnt give that up for anything.

[NormalMormon]

Well, my family got what they wanted when I was married initially. I don't really mind that they can't see me get married in the temple because it doesn't mean as much to them as it does to me.

[NeuroTypical]

I feel bad on your behalf that you miss out on a proper wedding

That's a bit strong, isn't it Aphrodite? I mean, not everybody shares the same idea about what constitutes a 'proper wedding'...

[WillowTheWhisp]

Aphrodite, they didn't miss her 'proper' wedding. For those to whom the temple sealing means nothing they already attended what they saw as the 'proper' wedding. That's one thing about the way we do it here in the UK. By law we have to have the civil ceremony first followed by the temple sealing so the non-members and non temple recommend holders attend the church ceremony which is the legal 'til death us do part' bit and then the temple sealing is often a very small private affair.

NM - I would send out invitations to the celebration part if you are having a party afterwards and then if there are just a few going to be at the actual sealing why not just tell them by word of mouth the time they need to be at the temple.

[Moksha]

We JUST want family at both the sealing and reception.

Why even bother making an announcement for the noninvitees to the sealing and reception? It would most likely be rude to make a noninvitation, especially to the reception.

[NormalMormon]

What if I just said the traditional "So and so are getting married at this place on this day..."

And that's it? No dates or times, and I just include a reception card with the ones I want there?

[sgallan]

There is no easy way to explain to non-members why they cannot attend the sealing.

True bad sad. I am a godless heathen and even I understand the concept of religious rites that are considered sacred. I respect that a great deal. Yet oddly, it is the other religious folk, moreso than the heathen like me, who take offense to a significant religious rite that transcends the "it's a wedding", aspect.

On the downside of my view, if one is not religious then I see no reason for anything religious, or even formal, for a coupling to be legal. To me it is.... go to a court house.... sign some paperwork...... have it noterized.... and that is that. Outside a religious perspective.... what is the big deal?

[KayaLove00]

I think it's so awful most people you know can't attend your wedding. I feel bad on your behalf that you miss out on a proper wedding I waited my entire life to walk down the aisle! I wouldnt give that up for anything.

Well...to be honest, every single member of our church has the desicion to marry in or out of the temple. Some decide to have a marriage outside of the temple and then later marry inside it. It's all up to what the member wants to do and whatever their choice may be, they accept all the blessings and or trails that may follow. Many many members have a ring ceremony which I STRONGLY encourage for family/friends not of our faith. It's important to always keep them in mind and there feelings. Whichever they choose, it is blessed in the sight of the Lord.

[Iggy]

What if I just said the traditional "So and so are getting married at this place on this day..."

And that's it? No dates or times, and I just include a reception card with the ones I want there?

You will NOT be getting married in the temple. You have already been married civilly. You WILL be getting sealed. The only people who can be in on that are ENDOWED members.

You and you husband will HAVE to receive your ENDOWMENTS first.

Sending out wedding announcements when you are not getting married in the Temple is going over the top. It would be okay to send out announcements that say: John and Jane Doe have been Sealed for time and all eternity, this date, at the So and So Temple. Have you talked this over with your Bishop, RS Pres and Temple Preparedness Teacher? I take it you haven't because you are still calling it a Marriage, when in reality it is a Sealing. As you are already civilly and legally married.

[MorningStar]

I've seen people add little cards to invite to the sealing itself.

[MorningStar]

So let me get this straight - you're married already and you're going to have a reception because you're getting sealed? Usually when people do that, they just invite people at church and leave it at that.

I loved my temple wedding and was happy not to be walking down the aisle. I don't like the feeling of having all eyes on me. Our sealing was very intimate with only our closest family members. Looking into my husband's eyes while making those covenants, I forgot my family was there. :)

[pushka]

Well, being sealed to somebody I really love is an exciting prospect for me...and the Wedding Ceremony beforehand, for myself and my non-member family and non-member friends.

Trouble is, I just have to find a suitable bloke now...I've got my eye on a couple locally, now how can I get them to notice, and more importantly, to like me? LOL :)

[NormalMormon]

Morning star - YES of course I am having a reception/celebration afterwards! Are you kidding? Any excuse for a party is excuse enough for me.

08/08/08 - the date is set! 8AM!