Last Updated on July 25, 2025 by Joy Editors
Have you ever looked at your wedding invitation draft and wondered about using “honor” or “honor”? This tiny detail carries deep meaning in wedding traditions. The same question puzzled me while planning my own wedding.
“Honor” and “honor” are both correct spellings. The choice depends on your wedding venue and style. Etiquette experts say “honor” belongs in church or religious house of worship ceremonies. This traditional spelling shows deep respect to God when couples marry on sanctified ground.
Your wedding style plays a big role in this choice. Couples who want a formal, traditional celebration should use “honor” in their invitations. The venue matters too. Couples getting married in reception halls or parks might like different wording like “pleasure of your company”.
Let me help you understand everything about the honor vs honor choice. This small detail matters more than you might think and shapes your special day’s character.
Honor vs Honor: Understanding the Spelling Difference
The difference between “honor” and “honor” is more than just a spelling choice. These variations show how English language traditions can add subtle meaning to your wedding stationery.
British vs American English: Honor vs Honor
Regional language conventions shape these spelling differences. American English uses “honor” without the “u”. British English prefers “honor” with the “u”. This pattern shows up in related words too. Americans write “honored” and “honorable,” while the British use “honored” and “honorable.”
Some words stay the same in both versions of English. “Honorary,” “honorific,” and “honorarium” never get the “u” added, whatever the region.
Why both spellings are technically correct
“Honor” and “honor” mean the same thing – high respect, esteem, or achieving an obligation. Neither spelling is wrong. They just come from different English language traditions.
These spelling variations exist all over the English-speaking world. Americans stick to “honor,” and Canadians lean towards “honor”. Notwithstanding that, some Canadian writers switch to American spelling for international readers.
How spelling affects tone and formality
Your spelling choice adds subtle meaning to wedding invitations. The British “honor” creates a more formal, traditional feel. Many couples pick this spelling to raise the classic tone of their celebration.
This choice has meaningful roots. People traditionally use “honor” for church ceremonies or religious venues. It shows respect to God when the ceremony takes place on sacred ground.
Both spellings work well for ceremonies in gardens or reception halls, though “honor” is more common. It also makes sense to stay consistent – if you use “honor” on invitations, your response cards should say “favor”.
The choice ended up being about your personal style and the tone you want for your big day.
Religious and Venue-Based Usage
The original wedding etiquette shows a clear difference between using each spelling variation based on your ceremony location and religious significance.
Use of ‘honor’ in religious ceremonies
The British spelling “honor” holds special significance in religious contexts. This spelling indicates that the ceremony will take place in a church or another house of worship. Religious ceremonies specifically reserve the phrase “request the honor of your presence”.
The tradition shows respect and deference to God when ceremonies take place on sanctified ground. God becomes the host in religious ceremonies, which explains why people prefer the more formal spelling. This respectful approach goes beyond churches—any religious ceremony can use this spelling, including Jewish weddings held under a chuppah.
When to use ‘honor’ for secular venues
Weddings that take place outside religious settings—beaches, gardens, ballrooms, or hotels—typically use the American spelling “honor”. Many couples choose different phrases like “request the pleasure of your company” for secular venues.
Your ceremony’s religious significance matters more than its physical location when choosing between spellings. Some couples choose “honor” even for outdoor ceremonies if they believe God’s presence sanctifies the ground.
Examples: Church vs Garden Wedding Invitations
Religious Ceremony Example:Mr. and Mrs. John Francis Smith request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Erin Elizabeth to Mr. George William Cruz III, Saturday, the twenty-eighth of March two thousand and fifteen at Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Mobile, Alabama
Secular Venue Example:Mr. and Mrs. John Francis Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Erin Elizabeth to Mr. George William Cruz III, Saturday, the twenty-eighth of March two thousand and fifteen at Grand Hotel Point Clear, Alabama
Note that after selecting either “honor” or “honor,” consistency becomes crucial throughout your wedding stationery—especially when you write “favor/favor of your reply” on your RSVP cards to match your original choice.
Matching Tone and Style in Invitation Wording
Wedding invitation wording creates the mood for your celebration and tells guests what to expect. Your chosen phrases do more than share simple details—they set the stage for your event’s formality and style.
Formal vs Casual: Choosing the right phrase
Traditional wedding invitations spell out every detail without abbreviations and often use British spellings to honor customs. The dates appear as “the seventeenth of August two thousand twenty-six” rather than numbers. This elegant approach signals a sophisticated celebration ahead.
Relaxed celebrations work well with abbreviations and casual language. Dates can simply show up as “August 17, 2024” and time as “4:30 in the afternoon.” Your guests will know they can expect a relaxed celebration where comfort comes first.
Request line options: ‘honor of your presence’ vs ‘pleasure of your company’
Request lines invite guests and carry deep traditional meaning. “The honor of your presence” belongs exclusively to ceremonies in houses of worship. This British spelling shows respect to the venue’s sacred nature.
“The pleasure of your company” traditionally belongs to ceremonies in secular venues like hotels, gardens, or reception halls. This small difference lets guests know your ceremony’s location immediately.
Alternative phrases for modern weddings
Modern couples often want wording that matches their personality:
- “Because you have shared in our lives by your friendship and love, we request the pleasure of your company”
- “With joyful hearts we invite you to join us at our marriage ceremony”
- “We invite you to share in our joy as we unite in marriage”
These options include the work to be done while adding personal touches. Some couples use fun phrases like “Good food, good drinks, good friends… hope you will attend our wedding” for very casual celebrations.
Note that your chosen style should flow through your entire invitation suite. This creates a unified first impression of your special day.
Maintaining Consistency Across Invitation Elements
Your wedding invitation suite needs a polished, professional look through consistency. The choice between “honor” or “honor” will affect other parts of your stationery.
RSVP cards: ‘favor of your reply’ vs ‘favor of your reply’
Your invitation’s spelling choice directly impacts your RSVP cards. Proper etiquette demands that response cards match your main invitation’s formality and spelling. The RSVP wording should say “the favor of a reply is requested” if you’ve used “honor”. The same applies when you use “honor” – “the favor of a reply” becomes the right choice.
Set your RSVP deadline three to four weeks before your wedding date. This gives you enough time to get your final headcount to the caterer and chase up anyone who hasn’t responded.
Design and typography considerations
Your invitation suite’s visual elements should look cohesive. The typography, paper weight, texture, and color choices tell your guests about your celebration’s formality level.
Here are some design principles for formal wedding invitations:
- Use no more than 2-3 font styles to keep things elegant
- Make sure all proper nouns are capitalized
- Write out all numbers, dates, addresses, and titles in full
- Leave enough white space to balance the design
Tips to keep spelling consistent throughout
Your stationery suite needs careful attention to maintain spelling consistency. Make a detailed checklist before finalizing your design:
- Match all instances of honor/honor and favor/favor
- Keep date formats consistent (write them out for formal invitations)
- Either use abbreviations everywhere or nowhere at all
- Match response wording with invitation formality
- Look at all elements together before approving the final print
Etiquette experts stress that “whatever spelling you use, it is important to be consistent in your spelling choice throughout your invitation suite!”
Comparison Table
| Aspect | “Honor” | “Honor” |
| Language Origin | American English | British English |
| Traditional Usage | Secular ceremonies | Religious ceremonies |
| Appropriate Venues | Reception venues, parks, gardens, hotels | Churches, religious houses of worship |
| Formality Level | More casual/modern | More formal/traditional |
| RSVP Card Wording | “The favor of a reply” | “The favor of a reply” |
| Religious Significance | No specific religious connotation | Shows respect and deference to God on sanctified ground |
| Common Companion Phrase | “Pleasure of your company” | “Honor of your presence” |
| Regional Preference | Predominantly used in USA | Used in Britain, Canada, and other Commonwealth countries |
| Usage in Derivatives | Used in words like “honorary,” “honorific” | Not used in these specific derivatives |
| Consistency Rule | Must use “favor” throughout suite | Must use “favor” throughout suite |
Conclusion
The choice between “honor” and “honor” for wedding invitations goes beyond simple spelling priorities. Both options work correctly, each with its own traditional context. The British spelling “honor” definitely carries a more formal tone that fits religious ceremonies on sanctified ground perfectly. The American spelling “honor” suits secular venues and casual celebrations better.
This small detail ties into the bigger picture of wedding etiquette. Your choice between “request the honor of your presence” or “request the pleasure of your company” tells guests a lot about your venue and ceremony style.
The spelling you pick should stay consistent throughout your wedding stationery. Your RSVP cards need to match with “favor” or “favor” to create a polished invitation suite.
Some might call it a small difference, but these traditional touches help couples create invitations that truly capture their ceremony’s spirit. Wedding stationery gives guests their first peek at your special day.
The “honor” versus “honor” choice offers another chance to make your celebration unique while honoring meaningful traditions. Your venue, event formality, and personal style should guide this decision. Whatever spelling you choose, your eye for detail will without doubt help create wedding invitations that set the perfect tone for your celebration.
