Etiquette Guide: Wedding Invitation Notes Explained

Wedding invitations are an important piece of the wedding planning puzzle. They are one of the first things your guests will see, touch, and feel, and they convey critical information. The wording of a wedding invitation provides all the essential details, including the couple's full names, who's hosting the nuptials, the ceremony location, and the reception venue. The wording can also indicate the level of formality of the event.

The invitation should include the host line, a request line, the couple's names, the date and time, the location, and the reception details. It may also include the dress code and RSVP information.

The host line: Who is hosting the wedding?

The host line is the first line of a wedding invitation and it indicates who is hosting (and traditionally, paying for) the wedding. The host line is also where the name(s) of the event hosts appear.

Bride's Parents Hosting

Mr. and Mrs. John Robert Sutton

Request the honour of your presence

Groom's Parents Hosting

Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Cannon

Request the honour of your presence

Groom's Parents and Bride's Parents Co-Hosting

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Smith

Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Gringo

Invite you to share in the ceremony

Uniting their children

Couple Hosting

Miss Sarah Nichole Williams

Mr. Andrew David Douglas

Together with their parents

Request the pleasure of your company

Divorced Parents Hosting

Mr. John Smith

Mr. and Mrs. Sam Thompson

Invite you to share in the marriage of their daughter Jane Marie to Mr. Jeffrey James Johnson

Honouring a Deceased Parent

Jane Marie, daughter of Tess Smith and the late John Smith

Requests the honour of your presence as she joins in marriage Mr. Jeffrey James Johnson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Johnson

Both Sets of Parents Hosting

Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Adams and Mr. and Mrs. David Beckham

Request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their children Victoria Caroline to David Robert Joseph

Couple Hosting with Both Families

Olivia Rose Smith and John Michael Reyes together with their parents Kenzie M. Smith and Jennifer L. Smith and Mark Franklin and Mary Elizabeth Reyes

Request the honour of your presence at their wedding

Bride and Groom Hosting

Amal Alamuddin and George Timothy Clooney

Request the pleasure of your company at the celebration of their marriage

The request line: How do you invite guests to join the celebration?

The request line is where you extend the invitation to your wedding and set the tone for your celebration. Here are some examples of wording for the request line:

• "Request the honour of your presence..." (or "honour" if you want to sound more British)
• "Request the pleasure of your company..."
• "Together with our parents, we invite you..."
• "We ask you to be present with us at the ceremony uniting..."
• "We invite you to share with us a celebration of love..."
• "We ask you to join us at the marriage of..."
• "We are thrilled to invite you to celebrate the union of..."
• "Our joy will be more complete if you will join us to celebrate..."
• "Please be our guest as we celebrate..."
• "With pride and joy, we invite you to share a special day in our lives as we..."
• "With joyous hearts, we invite you to attend the wedding of..."
• "...we joyfully invite you to share in our celebration of love and commitment..."

The request line is typically followed by an action line, which outlines what guests are being invited to share in. For example:

• "At the marriage of their daughter..." (if the bride's parents are hosting)
• "At the marriage of their children..." (if both sets of parents are hosting)
• "At the celebration of their union..." (if the couple is hosting)
• "As they say 'I do'!"
• "In celebration of their marriage"

The couple's names: Who is getting married?

The names of the couple are an essential element of a wedding invitation. Traditionally, the bride's name always comes first, followed by the groom's full name and title. However, this tradition is not set in stone, and couples are free to choose the order that feels most comfortable for them. Same-sex couples, for instance, may opt for alphabetical order or what sounds better.

When the Bride's Parents are Hosting

"Mr. and Mrs. John L. Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Jack Alexander to Mason Jacob Kim Saturday, the seventeenth of August, two thousand twenty-four, at half after four at [venue name and address]. Reception to follow."

When Both Sets of Parents are Hosting

"Kenzie M. Smith and Jennifer L. Smith, Mark Franklin and Mary Elizabeth Reyes, request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their children, Olivia Rose and John Michael, Saturday, the seventeenth of August, two thousand twenty-four, at half after four in the afternoon at [venue name and address]. Reception to follow."

When the Couple is Hosting

"The honor of your presence is requested at the marriage of Jack Alexander Smith and Mason Jacob Kim, Saturday, the seventeenth of August two thousand twenty-four, at half after four at [venue name and address]. Reception to follow."

When the Couple and Both Sets of Parents are Hosting

"Olivia Rose Smith and John Michael Reyes, together with their parents, Kenzie M. Smith and Jennifer L. Smith, and Mark Franklin and Mary Elizabeth Reyes, request the honor of your presence at their wedding, Saturday, the seventeenth of August, two thousand twenty-four, at half after four in the afternoon at [venue name and address]. Reception to follow."

Fun and Casual Wording Ideas

• "Come party with us! Jack Alexander Smith and Mason Jacob Kim are tying the knot, Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 in the afternoon at [venue name and address]. Dinner and dancing to follow."
• "Jack Alexander Smith and Mason Jacob Kim invite you to share in their joy at their wedding, Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 in the afternoon at [venue name and address]. Reception to follow."

Modern Wording Ideas

• "Jack Smith and Mason Kim would love to eat wedding cake with you, Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 in the afternoon at [venue name and address]. Reception to follow."
• "With much love, John and Eliza Smith invite you to celebrate their son Jack Alexander at his wedding to Mason Jacob Kim, Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 in the afternoon at [venue name and address]. Reception to follow."

Date, time and location: When and where is the wedding?

When it comes to wedding invitations, the date, time, and location are essential elements that require clear and concise communication. Here are some tips and guidelines to ensure your guests have all the necessary information:

Date and Time:

• For formal invitations, it is customary to spell out the date and time in full rather than using numerical figures. For example, write "Saturday, the eleventh of June two thousand and twenty-three at twelve o'clock in the afternoon" instead of "Saturday, June 11, 2023, at 12:00 pm".
• Avoid using abbreviations or punctuation, except after courtesy titles.
• Specify whether the event will take place "in the morning," "in the afternoon," or "in the evening." There is no need to use "a.m." or "p.m."
• If your wedding is taking place abroad, be sure to include the country in the date and location details.

Location:

• Provide the name and full street address of your wedding venue.
• Include the state and zip code for domestic locations and the country for international destinations.
• If your wedding is at a private residence, you may include the street address. Otherwise, the street address is usually omitted unless its omission would cause confusion.

Additional Considerations:

• If your wedding has a specific theme or dress code, you may want to include this information on the invitation or on a separate details card.
• For formal weddings, consider using the British spelling of certain words, such as "honour" instead of "honor," to evoke a more traditional and elegant tone.
• If the reception is at the same location as the ceremony, a simple "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow" will suffice.
• If the reception is at a different location, include the full address on a separate card or details card tucked into the invitation.
• Be mindful of the length of your invitation text. Too much text can overwhelm your guests and take away from the design aesthetic.

Reception details: What happens after the ceremony?

The wedding reception is a party held after the marriage ceremony to celebrate the newlywed couple. The reception can take many forms, from a formal dinner to a casual buffet, but there are some traditional elements that you may wish to include. Here is a guide to help you plan the festivities.

Photos, Cocktails and Canapés

After the ceremony, the couple usually pose for formal photos with the wedding party. This can take between one and two hours, during which guests enjoy a cocktail hour with drinks, canapés and entertainment such as a string quartet.

The Wedding Breakfast

The wedding breakfast is a sit-down meal, usually consisting of three courses. The newlyweds may choose to greet each guest as they enter the room with a receiving line. Once everyone is seated, the meal is served.

Speeches and Toasts

Traditionally, the groom, best man and father of the bride give speeches, but at modern weddings, the bride and maid of honour may also wish to speak. Each speech ends with a toast to the happy couple.

Room Turnaround

After the meal, caterers will need around 30 minutes to an hour to clean up and prepare the room for the evening reception. During this time, guests may go home to change or freshen up, or they can socialise in another area. This is also when evening-only guests will arrive.

The Grand Entrance

Once everyone is ready, the coordinator or MC will introduce both sets of parents, followed by the married couple.

The Cake Cutting

The couple cut the first slice of the wedding cake, which is often a multi-tiered creation elaborately decorated with white frosting. This is usually done at the start of the evening reception, so any evening-only guests feel involved in the celebrations.

The First Dance

The newlyweds take to the floor for their first dance as a married couple, which marks the beginning of the dancing.

The Parent Dances

The bride and her father share a dance, followed by the groom and his mother. After this, the party really gets going, with the DJ or band playing up-tempo beats.

The Party

The celebrations continue with food, drink and dancing. The bouquet and garter toss may also take place at this point.

The Farewell

The couple make their departure, often with guests throwing confetti or blowing bubbles.

Frequently asked questions