Announcement/Bon Voyage Invitation

#1 wolf_cloud9

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Posted 04 July 2025 - 08:12 PM

My fiance and I are getting married on a Cruise Ship. My question has to do with sending out announcements with an invitation to a Bon Voyage themed reception. I am saving money by making my own annoucements/invitations but am unsure about the way to go about sending these out. Most of our family lives out of town (many states away) and I don't want to not include them in the invitation just in case they would like the chance to join. Do I make this an announcement and include a reception card and RSVP card within? Please give detailed advice - I'm clueless about wedding etiquette. Thank you.

#2 Wedding Queen and MOG

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Posted 04 July 2025 - 09:14 PM

Announcements are not invitations - announcements are to be sent to those not invited to the wedding or reception. Send reception invitations to anyone you'd like to invite to the party and announcements to anyone you;re not inviting who needs to know that you have been married.

#3 wolf_cloud9

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Posted 05 July 2025 - 12:30 PM

Ok, so I'm already aware that announcements and invitations are seperate and I know what they are. Maybe I was not clear with my question.

I am sending out invitations to everyone; however, it seems strange to me to send out invitations to a reception only when not everyone is aware we are getting married on a cruise and nobody is invited to come with. Basically . . . I'm not sure of how to word the invitation to our "Bon Voyage" reception party - while announcing that this is a send off for us to get married, rather than having a celebration after our wedding.

Thank you.

#4 Wedding Queen and MOG

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Posted 05 July 2025 - 03:52 PM

You're right - that was certainly not the message I got with your first post. So, to clarify, you are having a party on the cruise ship before the wedding but then the guests must leave the ship before you marry and you want to know how to work invitations to this sort of event. Do I have this correct now?

#5 Etiquette Now

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Posted 05 July 2025 - 05:01 PM

A reception cannot be hosted before the wedding, as this is a celebration of your wedding. You could host some sort of non-wedding related event though.

Only wedding guests may be invited to a pre-wedding party as these involve gifts.

If hosting a reception after the wedding, your guests will know you are married by the simple fact that they are receiving a wedding reception invitation.