Weddings are a happy time – full of expectations for the future.
But . . .
What if it is cancelled?
No one wants to ever talk about the possibility of a cancelled wedding, but for a variety of reasons it can – and does – happen.
Everyone involved finds planning a joyful occasion but no one ever plans to cancel or postpone that event. The guidelines on how to handle this difficult time in as pleasant and civil manner as possible are relatively simple.
When informing guests of a cancelled wedding, short and sweet is the best route.
If a formal wedding is postponed or cancelled after the invitations have gone out, all invited guests must be notified as soon as possible. When time permits, this is best done with printed cards.
Here are some wording examples for a cancelled wedding:
• If there has been a death in the family, the card would read:
Mrs. George Franklin Davis
regrets that the death of
Mr. Davis
obliges her to recall the invitations
to the wedding of her daughter
Saturday, the second of April
An invitation recalled in this manner just indicates that the wedding will not take place as originally planned.
When it is rescheduled, it may take place as a small family ceremony if you feel a large wedding may be considered inappropriate. The couple may wear their formal attire but they will usually have honor attendants only.
• If a wedding is postponed and a new date is already set, new invitations may be sent out with this copy:
Mr. and Mrs. Douglas John Smith
announce that the marriage of their daughter
Carolyn Jane
to
Edward Patrick Murphy
has been postponed from
Saturday, the 11th of May
until
Saturday, the 25th of May
at four o’clock
Grace Presbyterian Church
Pleasantville
• If the wedding is cancelled, invitations need to be recalled promptly with a printed card which reads:
Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Benjamin Clark
announce that the marriage of their daughter
Eileen Marie
to
Harold Robert Smith
will not take place
However, if time is short, invitations may be recalled by personal notes or phone calls. Notes should be patterned after these formats and signed by the person issuing the invitations. Phone calls should also be made in the name of issuing the invitations.
Reasons other than death or illness in the family are not usually mentioned, as it really is none of their business.
A common question that arises after the cancellation of a wedding is, “What do I do with the gifts I have received?”
If the wedding is merely postponed, send an announcement to all the guests, keeping the presents you’ve already received.
On the other hand, if it’s a cancelled wedding, every gift – even those that have been monogrammed – must go back to the person who sent it. A note expressing gratitude and explaining that the wedding will not take place should accompany the gift, but you do not need to give a reason for the cancellation.
Hearts, Joy, Love!
Jean
Photo credit: Nicolas Raymond
Do you have a question or wedding concern? Let me know. I’d be happy to help. Contact me at [email protected] or at 937-235-2586.
