Creative Wording For Wedding Invites: Formal Or Fun?

Wedding invitations should include the critical information about the wedding, such as who is getting married, the date and location, and the hosts of the wedding. The wording of the invitation can also indicate the level of formality of the event, including the dress code. While formal invitations tend to use traditional and religious language, casual invitations use more modern and playful phrasing. Formal invitations also require that everything is spelled out, including dates and times, while numerals are acceptable for casual invitations.

The host line: This is where you state who is hosting the wedding

The host line is the opening line on a wedding invitation and it names the hosts of the event. The hosts are usually the people paying for the wedding. The host line is important because it sets the tone for the rest of the invitation and the wedding.

The host line varies depending on who is hosting. Here are some examples of how to word the host line for different hosting scenarios:

Hosted by One Set of Parents:

Traditionally, the bride's family hosted and paid for the wedding. If this is the case, include the parents' full names, with middle names for a very formal wedding. For example:

> Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Timothy Williams (very formal; middle name is included)

If the parents have different last names, write "and" to join the two names. For example:

> Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Williams (formal)

Hosted by Both Sets of Parents:

For different-sex couples, list the bride's parents' names first, followed by the groom's parents' names. For same-sex couples, list the names in alphabetical order by last name or in the order that looks best with the invitation design. For example:

> Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Wong and Mr. and Mrs. Adam Hollis (formal)

> Aaron and Alisha Wong together with Adam and Beatrice Hollis (less formal)

Hosted by the Couple:

If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves, you can skip the host line or start the invitation with a warm and welcoming introduction. For example:

> Together with full hearts

> With hearts full of love and joy

Hosted by Divorced Parents:

To include divorced parents on the invitation, list the mother's name first, followed by the father's name on a separate line. Do not use "and" to connect the names. For example:

> Dr. Vance and Elizabeth Gregory and Mr. James Abner and Lydia Abner

Hosted by Parent, Including Deceased Parent:

If you want to honour a deceased parent on the invitation, use the phrase "the late" before their name. For example:

> Mrs. and Mr. Michael Francis Middleton request the honour of your company at the marriage of their daughter Catherine Elizabeth Middleton to Prince William, Duke of Cambridge Son of Charles, Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales

Remember, the host line is just the first part of your wedding invitation. Be sure to include the other essential elements, such as the request to come to the wedding, the couple's names, the date, time, and location of the ceremony, and reception details.

The request line: This is where you invite your guests to join your wedding celebration

The request line is an essential part of your wedding invitation. This is where you extend an invitation to your guests to join your wedding celebration. Here are some tips and examples to help you craft the perfect request line:

Traditional Request Lines

The traditional request line is a formal invitation to the wedding ceremony and reception. It is typically written in a formal and elegant style. Here are some examples:

• "Request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Jessica to Mr. Edward Jones"
• "Request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their children Olivia Rose and John Michael"
• "Invite you to share in the joy of marriage uniting their daughter Blake Ellender to Ryan Rodney"

Modern Request Lines

If you prefer a more modern and casual style, you can use a more relaxed tone in your request line. Here are some examples:

• "Invite you to join us as we tie the knot!"
• "Would love for you to join us at our wedding celebration"
• "Please join us for dinner and drinks to celebrate our marriage"

Creative Request Lines

If you want to add a personal touch or reflect your unique style, you can get creative with your request line. Here are some ideas:

• "We request the pleasure of your wee faces at our wedding celebration"
• "Invite you to sip fizz and dance the night away as we say 'I do'"
• "Request the honour of your presence as we unite in marriage"

Remember, the request line is an opportunity to set the tone for your wedding and give your guests a glimpse of what to expect. Whether you choose a traditional, modern, or creative approach, make sure the wording reflects your personality and the style of your wedding.

The couple's names: Make sure the couple's names are clearly legible

The couple's names are one of the most important elements of a wedding invitation. They should be front and centre, displayed in larger text, and in a fancy typeface. The names should, most importantly, be clearly legible. This is not the place to get creative with fonts—choose something that your guests can easily read.

For heterosexual couples, the bride's name typically comes before the groom's. However, this tradition is not set in stone, and some couples may prefer to go in alphabetical order or simply choose what sounds better. For same-sex couples, the host line may dictate the name order. If one set of parents is hosting, for example, their names will come first, followed by their child's name. If the couple is hosting, it is entirely up to them whose name appears first.

If you are using traditional wedding invitation wording, follow these rules:

• Capitalise proper names and titles.
• Don't use punctuation, except after courtesy titles.
• Avoid abbreviations; spell everything out except courtesy titles.
• Don't spell out courtesy titles, except for "Doctor" in the case of medical doctors.

Remember, the most important thing is that your guests can easily read your names.

Date, time and location of the ceremony: Include everything your guests need to show up at the right place and time

The date, time, and location of the ceremony are essential details that your wedding invitations should include. Here are some tips and examples to help you word this information effectively:

Date of the Wedding:

The date should be written out in full for formal invitations to avoid confusion. For example, if your wedding is on Saturday, July 2, 2025, write it as "Saturday, the second of July, two thousand twenty-five." The day of the week and the month should be capitalized. You can omit the year if desired.

For a casual wedding, you can use numerals and write the date as "Saturday, 7/2/2025" or "July 2, 2025." Be consistent with the date formatting across your invitation suite, including the response card.

Start Time:

Spell out the time for formal invitations, and avoid using "a.m." or "p.m." Instead, use phrases like "in the morning," "in the afternoon," or "in the evening." For a ceremony starting at 4:30 p.m., you could write:

• "at half after four o'clock" (formal)
• "four-thirty in the afternoon" (also acceptable for formal)
• "4:30 p.m." (informal)
• "4:30 p.m. in the afternoon" (informal)

If your ceremony begins on the hour, you would simply write "four o'clock." For a casual wedding, using numerals like "4pm" or "5:30pm" is also acceptable.

Location:

Include the name of the wedding venue and its full address, especially for destination weddings or out-of-town guests. Here are some examples:

• "Venue Name, City, State" for formal weddings, spelling out the state name.
• "Venue Name, City, State, Zip Code, Country" for destination weddings.

The street address is usually omitted unless it's necessary to include for clarity or if the wedding is at a private residence.

Additional Details:

If the ceremony and reception are at the same location, you can simply write "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow." If the reception is at a different location, include the address on a separate line or a reception card.

• "Please join us for a reception at six o'clock in the evening. JW Marriott Houston Downtown, 806 Main Street, Houston, Texas."
• "Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres will be served at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. The Foundry at Herban Feast, 4136 First Avenue South, Seattle, Washington."

Remember, the key is to provide clear and concise information about the date, time, and location to ensure your guests can arrive at the right place at the right time.

Reception details: If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, you can simply say Reception to follow

Reception Details

If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, you can simply say "Reception to follow" at the bottom of the invitation. This is the most straightforward way to let your guests know that they can stay put after the ceremony.

If you want to be more descriptive, you could say "Dinner and dancing to follow", "Cake, punch, and merriment to follow", "Feasting and merriment to follow", or "Dining, dancing, and happily ever after to follow".

If the reception is at a different location, you should include the full address and other pertinent information on a separate details card tucked into the invitation.

Additional Considerations

If the reception is not immediately following the ceremony, be sure to include the time.

If you are not serving a full meal, you might want to let guests know by saying something like "Join us after the ceremony for cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and dancing".

Dress Code

Including dress code information is optional, but it can be helpful for guests. If you are having a black-tie wedding, it is customary to include this information on the invitation. If not, guests will infer the dress code based on the formality of the invitation.

Frequently asked questions