Protocol Tuesday: How To List Guests on Invitations

Dear Robert:

Our city has an annual “Holiday Reception”, which provides an opportunity for city officials and community leaders to mingle. On the day of the reception we will have very high-level Canadian visitors. How do we to appropriately show Canadian visitors on the invitation? There is a total of nine Canadians, so I am assuming because of the length, we would list the highest ranking official such as, “The Right Honourable, full name, Deputy Premier and Minister International & Intergovernmental Relations first. Is it appropriate to say after that, “and his entourage”, or “and honored Canadian guests”?

                  --KD

Dear KD:

Guests are frequently listed on invitations -- but usually it's when the event is in their honor. It sounds as if this event is not in their honor and they will simply be guests. If that's correct ... then their names would not be on the invitation. If your boss/host or of the event were to recognize their presence and welcome them in his or her remarks at the event -- that would be very appropriate.

If the event IS in their honor ... then use their name(s), but not their job/office. Typical wording would be:

In the US we use the US spelling "honor" -- But I'd use "Honour" in this case because it is correct to use "The Right Honourable" for this official since that's the way he is accustomed to seeing his name written at home ... and I think it would be weird to use one with a U and one without a U in this close proximity.

                  Robert Hickey
                  www.formsofaddress.info