Cancellations
If a wedding is postponed due to unforeseen circumstances, or cancelled, a white or cream card, measuring 5.5 x 3.5 inches (14 x 9 cm), is sent out.
Indefinite Wedding Postponement
If the wedding plans are put on hold, then the following wording is used:
Owing to the recent death of Mr Samuel Herbert, Mr and Mrs John Debrett deeply regret that they are obliged to cancel the invitations to the marriage of their daughter Caroline to Mr Richard Manners on…
Postponement to a later date
If the wedding date is put back to a different date, the following wording is used:
Owing to the illness of Mrs Sheila Herbert, Mr and Mrs John Debrett deeply regret that they are obliged to postpone the invitations to the marriage of their daughter Caroline to Mr Richard Manners at St Paul's, Knightsbridge from Saturday 17th July 2010 to Saturday 14th August 2010
Change of Plan
If the wedding is to take place quietly, the following wording is used:
Owing to the recent death of her husband, Mrs John Debrett much regrets that she is obliged to cancel the invitations to the marriage of her daughter Caroline to Mr Richard Manners, which will now take place very quietly on Thursday, 12th August 2010
Broken Engagement
If the wedding is cancelled because of a broken engagement, then the following wording is used:
Mr and Mrs John Debrett announce that the marriage of their daughter Caroline to Mr Richard Manners, which was arranged for Saturday 17th July 2010, will now not take place
Public Announcement
There is usually no need for a more detailed explanation if a wedding cancelled, but some families - perhaps if they are particularly well-known or well-connected - issue a public announcement. The wording should simply read:
The marriage arranged between Mr Richard Manners and Miss Caroline Debrett will not take place.
If wedding invitations have already been sent out, informal notes or printed cards should be sent to each guest announcing that the ceremony will not take place. Any early wedding presents received should be returned with a letter of thanks.
