Quick Answer
What is the difference between lễ vu quy and lễ thành hôn?
Lễ Vu Quy and Lễ Thành Hôn are the two different titles used on Vietnamese wedding invitations depending on which family sends them. The bride's family issues invitations titled Lễ Vu Quy ("the ceremony of the bride's departure"), while the groom's family issues invitations titled Lễ Thành Hôn or Lễ Tân Hôn ("the ceremony of marriage completion").
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What is the difference between lễ vu quy and lễ thành hôn?
Also called: vu quy, thanh hon, Vietnamese wedding invitation wording.
If you have ever received two different-looking Vietnamese wedding invitations for what turns out to be the same couple, this is why — the wording on the card depends entirely on whether the bride's family or the groom's family sent it, and mixing up the terms on a printed invitation is a noticeable etiquette slip.
Why the wording differs by family
Traditional Vietnamese marriage was understood as the bride leaving her family to join her husband's household, so the bride's side frames the event as her "departure" (vu quy), while the groom's side frames it as the household's marriage being "completed" (thành hôn). Both refer to the same wedding and reception, but the header on each family's card differs to reflect their respective role.
- •Lễ Vu Quy — used on invitations sent by the bride's family.
- •Lễ Thành Hôn (or Lễ Tân Hôn) — used on invitations sent by the groom's family.
- •Some modern invitations sidestep the distinction entirely and use a neutral phrase like "Lễ Cưới" (simply "wedding ceremony") instead.
Planning notes
- •If designing invitations for both families, confirm which side is sending which batch before finalizing the wording — this detail is easy to get backwards.
- •Overseas Vietnamese communities sometimes simplify to a single neutral title for both sides' cards — check family preference before assuming the traditional split applies.
- •This is a wording convention only — it does not change the shared ceremony schedule or guest list logistics.
Manage separate invitation batches for each family
Weddingkart lets you manage distinct invitation lists per family while keeping one shared RSVP count for the day.
See guest management →Frequently Asked Questions
Does lễ vu quy refer to a separate ceremony from lễ thành hôn?
No — both terms refer to the same wedding day and reception; they are simply the different titles each family uses on its own set of invitations, reflecting the bride's and groom's differing traditional roles.
Which term should I use if I am printing one shared invitation?
Many modern couples use a neutral term like "Lễ Cưới" (wedding ceremony) on a single shared invitation rather than choosing between vu quy and thành hôn, especially for guests unfamiliar with the distinction.
Is this distinction used in all Vietnamese-speaking communities?
It is widely recognized, though usage varies — some overseas Vietnamese communities and modern urban couples now favor simpler, neutral invitation wording over the traditional vu quy/thành hôn split.
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By Mayank JaiswalLast updated