Replying To A Formal Invitation

What is the correct wording when replying positively to a formal wedding invitation?
Posted by Nancy; updated 01/24/06

Reply

Centered on the page, without the dashes or bracketed editorial notes:

-[Your Name]
-accepts with pleasure
-the kind invitation of
-[The people inviting, exactly as worded on the invitation]
-for
-[The day, and date as worded on the invitation]
-at [the hour, as worded on the invitation]
-[The address, as worded on the invitation in as many lines as accorded it on the invitation]

The address is generally omitted these days, so you may do so with impunity. If the ceremony is in a house of worship, you technically reply for the reception (with the reception time and address) because no one can invite or exclude people from a house of God, but this often causes confusion these days among the unchurched so it helps to know how educated your hosts are on such fine points of etiquette.
Posted by Cormac; updated 04/09/09