Wedding Invitation Wording In the Military
Officers in the regular army and navy above the rank of lieutenant have their titles prefixed in full, on invitations. A lieutenant uses the prefix “Mr.” His rank and branch of service are engraved on a line beneath the name. Below the rank of captain the name is prefixed by “Mr.,” and with the rank of captain and above, by the military title.
The prefix Mr. is used by lieutenant with rank following, like this:
Mr. James Hudson Brown,
Lieutenant Eleventh Regiment
United States Infantry
However, some of our older officers who are well posted on such matters do not think this recent custom is in accord with good military usage, believing that on anything as formal as a wedding invitation, a lieutenant, just as does a captain or a colonel, should have his rank appear like this:
LIEUTENANT WILLIAM BRONSON LIVINGSTON,
Twenty-fourth United States Infantry
The difference between Lieutenant and Captain are this:
MR. JOHN ALFRED SMITH
LIEUTENANT TWENTY-FOURTH INFANTRY,
UNITED STATES ARMY.
CAPTAIN JOHN ALFRED SMITH
TWENTY-FOURTH INFANTRY,
UNITED STATES ARMY.
MAJOR JOHN ALFRED SMITH
UNITED STATES ARMY
(RETIRED)
Mr. and Mrs. John James Smith
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Mary Louise
Captain, United States Air Force
To
Mr. Benjamin Michael Jones
Friday, the tenth of July
Two Thousand and Six
at one o’clock
Valley Country Club
Any Town, Any State
Mr. and Mrs. William Printer
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Pricilla Marie
to
Captain Michael Anthony Smith
United States Marines
Saturday, the Thirty Second of September
Two Thousand and Seven
at one o’clock
Valley Country Club
Any Town, Any State
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Smith
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Maria Stephanie
to
General Jonathan Randal McMichael
United States Army, Retired
Saturday, the thirty fist of April
Two Thousand and Two
Valley Country Club
Any Town, Any State
Lower than Captian :
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Smith
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Maria Stephanie
to
Mr. Jonathan Randal McMichael
Airman, United States Air Force
Saturday, thirty fist of April
Two Thousand and Two
at half after two o’clock
Valley Country Club
Any Town, Any State
If Groom is a Non-Commissioned Officer or Enlisted Man
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Smith
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Maria Stephanie
to
Jonathan Randal McMichael
Airman, United States Air Force
Saturday, the thirty fist of April
Two Thousand and Two
at half after two o’clock
Valley Country Club
Any Town, Any State
Father of the Bride is a member of the Armed Forces
Staff Sergeant and Mrs. Daniel Smith
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Maria Stephanie
to
Jonathan Randal McMichael
Saturday, the thirty fist of April
Two Thousand and Two
at half after two o’clock
Valley Country Club
Any Town, Any State
