Grafica Acquaviva Wedding Stationery... of a Higher Class.

When you are certain of the date, the church or town hall has been confirmed and the restaurant booked, it is time to think of the announcements. They are responsible for announcing your event and the style of the ceremony and so, apart from choosing the model you like best, they must be impeccable in their style and above all in the printing (faded colours and broken letters are totally unacceptable).

The first step to take is to draw up a generous list of your guests (generous means calculating 20% more than the estimated number). By tradition, ivory paper and italics are used and the announcement is made by the parents but if the couple are no longer very young or live together then they can announce the wedding themselves. Always ask for the draft to check that everything is correct and to avoid unpleasant surprises when the work has been done. Announcements should be sent two months before the ceremony or delivered by hand: the addresses should be written in fine handwriting or, to make a really good impression, written by a calligrapher.

• If they are addressed to only one person: Mrs. Lucia Bianchi.
• If they are addressed to a couple: Mr. and Mrs. Paolo and Lucia Bianchi.
• If the invitation is also for their children, send one in their name: Andrea, Luciana and Marco Anselmi.

If you do not know the name of the wife: Mr. and Mrs. Franco Barcella. For a stunning result, it would be best to give continuity to the style of the announcements matching the menus, place-marks, religious ceremony booklets and thank you cards to be sent on your return from your honeymoon.

Example text

Formal - Parents host + Reception
Mr and Mrs Andrew Gibson request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Louise Gibson to Henry Woodhouse Saturday, the fourth November at four-thirty St Patrick's Church Grand Parade, Penrith with a reception to follow at The Function Centre Macquarie Road, Parramatta RSVP Sixth October 20 River Road Emu Plains NSW 2750

Formal - Parents host
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Gibson request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Luise and Mr. Henry Woodhouse on Saturday, the tenth of June two thousand and four at two o'clock First Church of Christ 219 North Granby Road Granby, Connecticut

Formal - Bride and Groom host
The pleasure of your company is requested at the marriage of Louise Browning and William Jones Saturday, the fourth November at four-thirty St John's Church Grand Parade, Penrith

Formal - Bride and Groom host
Mr and Mrs Peter Browning request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Louise Browning to William Jones son of Mr and Mrs Harold Jones Saturday, the fourth November at four-thirty St John's Church Grand Parade, Penrith

Formal - Bride and Groom host + reception
Jane Elizabeth Smith and Stephen James Richardson request the honour of your presence at their marriage on Saturday, the ninth of June two thousand and four at two o'clock First Church of Christ 219 North Granby Road Granby, Connecticut Reception immediately following the ceremony Hopkinton Country Club 1 Country Club Road Hopkinton, Massachusetts Reply card enclosed Reception Dinner at seven o'clock The Oaks Restaurant 1652 Oleander Avenue Beaufort, South Carolina Reply card enclosed

Formal - Parents host
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Wade Smith request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Elizabeth to Mr. Joseph Nelson Adams Saturday, the twenty-fifth of July two thousand and four at seven o'clock Helen Mauck Galbreath Memorial Chapel Athens, Ohio

Formal - Parents host + Reception
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Wade Smith request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Elizabeth Ann to Mr. Joseph Nelson Adams Saturday, the twenty-fifth of July two thousand and four at seven o'clock Helen Mauck Galbreath Memorial Chapel Athens, Ohio and afterward at the reception Nexus Contemporary Arts Center R.s.v.p. 250-555-1212

Formal - Bride's Mother or Father has remarried
Mr and Mrs Terry Ryan request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of her daughter Louise Browning to William Jones Saturday, the fourth November at four-thirty St John's Church Grand Parade, Penrith

Informal - Parents host + Reception
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Edwards would like Thomas and Julia to join them to celebrate the marriage of their daughter Nicole and Mr. Jonathan William West on Saturday, June 6th 2004 at 4.00pm St. Peter's Church Rose Walk Brighton, East Sussex and afterwards, for the reception at The Welcome Hotel

Informal - Bride and Groom host + Reception
Miss Nicole Edwards and Mr. Jonathan William West would like Thomas and Julia to join them to celebrate their marriage on Saturday, June 6th 2004 at 4.00pm St. Peter's Church Rose Walk Brighton, East Sussex and afterwards, for the reception at The Welcome Hotel

Informal - Bride and Groom host
Anne Jones and Frank Cimino announce their marriage Monday, the twenty-fourth of May Two thousand and four Strawberry Road United Methodist Church Chicago, Georgia

Informal - Parents host
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Jones announce the marriage of their daughter Ann to Frank Cimino Monday, the twenty-fourth of May Two thousand and four Strawberry Road United Methodist Church Chicago, Georgia