Rhiannon Hendricks
Wedding invitations are an important piece of the planning puzzle. They set the tone for the wedding and convey critical information. The wording of a wedding invitation provides all the essential details, like 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. Here are some tips on how to word your wedding invitations:
Host Line:
The opening line on a wedding invitation names the hosts of the event, usually the people paying for the wedding. This could be one set of parents, both sets of parents, the couple and their parents, or just the couple.
Request Line:
This is where you invite your guests to join your wedding celebration. Traditionally, couples include formal wording to denote a religious ceremony, while modern celebrations tend to use more casual language.
Couple's Names:
Make sure the couple's names are front and centre. For heterosexual couples, the bride's name traditionally comes first. For same-sex couples, the wording of the host line may dictate the order, or it may be up to the couple to decide.
Date, Time, and Location:
Include the date, start time, and location of the ceremony. For formal invitations, spell out the date and time in full. Include the full address for a destination wedding or out-of-town guests.
Reception Details:
If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, simply say reception to follow. If the reception is elsewhere, include the full address on a separate card.
Dress Code and RSVP:
Including dress code information is optional but helpful. It is usually included in the lower corner or bottom centre of the invite. You can also include an RSVP card for guests to fill out and return, or provide an online RSVP option through your wedding website.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Host Line | Names of the host(s) of the event (traditionally the people paying for the wedding) |
| Attendance Request | Request to attend, e.g. "invite you to join", "please join us to celebrate", "pleasure of your company" |
| Couple's Names | Names of the couple, traditionally with the bride's name first |
| Date and Time | Date and time, traditionally written out in full, but modern invites may use numerals |
| Location | Name and address of the venue |
| Reception Details | Information about the reception, e.g. "reception to follow" or "dinner and dancing to follow" |
| Dress Code | Optional, but helpful for guests, e.g. "black tie", "formal attire", "cocktail attire" |
Host Line
The host line is the opening line on a wedding invitation and names the hosts of the event. The hosts are usually the people who are paying for the wedding. The wording will vary depending on who is hosting the wedding. Here are some examples of host lines for different hosting scenarios:
One Set of Married Parents Hosting
Include the parents' full names, with middle names for very formal weddings. If they have different last names, write "and" to join the two names.
- Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Timothy Williams (very formal; the middle name is included)
- Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Williams (formal)
- Mr. and Mrs. Christopher and Sarah Williams (formal; includes both first names)
- Christopher and Sarah Williams (less formal)
One Set of Divorced Parents Hosting
Include the mother's name first, followed by the father's name on a separate line. Do not use "and" to connect the two names.
- Ms. Pamela Jacobsen
- Mr. and Mrs. Fred Jacobsen
Both Sets of Parents Hosting
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 alphabetically by last name or according to preference and design.
- Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Wong and Mr. and Mrs. Adam Hollis (formal)
- Aaron and Alisha Wong together with Adam and Beatrice Hollis (less formal)
Couple Is Hosting With Their Families
When the couple and their families are contributing to the wedding, you can add a line such as "Together with their families".
- Together with their families
- Together with our families
- Together with their parents
Couple Is Hosting
If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves, you can skip the host line or start with a warm and welcoming introduction.
- Together with full hearts
- With hearts full of love and joy
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Request Line
The request line is the second line of a wedding invitation, where the couple extends an invitation to the guests to attend their wedding celebration. It is placed right after the host line, which mentions the names of the people hosting the wedding event.
- Request the honour of your presence
- Request the pleasure of your company
- Invite you to celebrate with them
- Would love for you to join them
- Invite you to join us
- Joyfully welcome you to attend
- Are delighted to invite you
- Are happy to invite you
- Would be honoured by your presence
- Would be delighted by your presence
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Couple's Names
The wording of wedding invitations is an important piece of the planning puzzle. The invitations convey critical information about the wedding while also setting the tone for the event. Whether you opt for classic, traditional wording or something more creative and whimsical, there are some basic elements that should be included.
The Couple's Names
The names of the couple are usually displayed in larger text and often in a fancy typeface. For heterosexual couples, the bride's name traditionally comes before the groom's. However, for same-sex couples, this tradition does not apply, and the couple can choose to list their names alphabetically or simply go with what sounds better.
If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves, the invitation can begin with a welcoming introduction, such as:
> "Amal Alamuddin and George Timothy Clooney request the pleasure of your company at the celebration of their marriage Saturday, 27 September 2014 at noon Aman Canal Grande Hotel in Venice, Italy Festivities to follow"
If the couple is hosting along with their parents, the invitation can include "together with their parents" before listing the parents' names:
> "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"
Other Important Elements
In addition to the couple's names, there are several other essential elements that should be included in the wedding invitation:
- The request to attend: This lets guests know exactly what they are being invited to and can be worded in various ways, such as "invite you to join" or "the pleasure of your company."
- Date and time: Traditionally, the date and time are spelled out in full for formal invitations, while numerical figures are used on modern invites.
- Location: Include the name and full address of the wedding venue, especially if the wedding is taking place abroad.
- Reception details: If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, simply state "reception to follow." Otherwise, include the full address and other pertinent information on a separate details card.
- Dress code: Including dress code information is optional but can be helpful for guests. It is usually mentioned in the lower corner or bottom centre of the invite.
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Date, Time, and Location
The date, time, and location of the wedding are essential details that should be included in the invitation. Here are some tips and examples to help you word this information effectively:
Date and Time:
Spell out the date, day of the week, and year in full for formal invitations. For example, "Saturday, the eleventh of June two thousand and twenty-three". The day of the week should be capitalised. The year should be written in numerals and in lowercase, without an "and" between the thousands and the hundreds.
For modern or casual invitations, you may use numerals for the date. If you do so, choose a legible font to avoid confusion (e.g., between "2" and "5").
The time of day should also be spelled out in full for formal invitations. For instance, "twelve o'clock in the afternoon" or "half after four o'clock". You may use "o'clock" or simply the number followed by "in the afternoon" or "in the evening" (e.g., "4:00 p.m. in the afternoon"). Noon marks the beginning of the afternoon, and evening starts at five o'clock.
Location:
Include the name of the wedding venue and its full street address, particularly for destination weddings or out-of-town guests. The street address is usually omitted for well-known venues or if the wedding is held at the host's home.
For formal weddings, write out the state name in full. Including the zip code or postcode is optional. If the wedding is taking place abroad, be sure to include the country as well.
Combining Date, Time, and Location:
You can combine the date, time, and location information in various ways, depending on the style and formality of your invitation. Here are some examples:
- "Saturday, the fifth of May, two thousand seventeen, at one o'clock in the afternoon, The Reagan Library, Simi Valley, California."
- "Saturday, the seventeenth of August two thousand twenty-four, at half after four, [venue name and address]."
- "Saturday, 27 September 2014, at noon, Aman Canal Grande Hotel in Venice, Italy."
- "Saturday, the ninth of September two-thousand twelve, at noon, Boone Hall, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina."
- "Saturday, the eleventh of June two thousand and twenty-three, twelve o'clock in the afternoon, Arctic Club Hotel, 700 Third Avenue, Seattle, Washington."
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Reception Details
The reception details are an important part of your wedding invitation, providing guests with the critical information they need to celebrate with you. Here are some tips and examples to help you word your reception details effectively:
Location and Address
If your ceremony and reception are at the same venue, you can simply state "reception to follow" or "reception immediately following." If the reception is at a different location, include the full address and other pertinent information. For example:
> Reception to follow at The Plaza Hotel, 5th Avenue at Central Park South, New York, NY 10019
Time
If your reception is not immediately following the ceremony, be sure to include the time. Spell out the time for formal invitations, e.g., "at seven o'clock in the evening." For modern or casual invitations, you can use numerals, e.g., "at 7 p.m."
Festivities
Give your guests an idea of what to expect at the reception. This could include dinner, drinks, dancing, dessert, or any other activities you have planned. Here are some examples:
> Dinner and dancing to follow
>
> Drinks, dinner, and dancing immediately following the ceremony
>
> Join us for hors d'oeuvres, drinks, dessert, and dancing
Dress Code
Including dress code information is optional, but it can be helpful for your guests. You can mention the dress code in the lower corner or bottom centre of the invitation, or include it on a separate details card. Here are some examples:
> Black-tie invited
>
> Dress as you wish, dine as you like, dance as you please
>
> Cocktail attire
RSVP
Most couples choose to include a separate response card for guests to fill out and return. You can also provide the option of RSVPing via your wedding website. Be sure to include an RSVP deadline to help with your planning and catering.
Multiple Venues
If you have additional events or your ceremony and reception are in separate locations, you can include multiple addresses on your invitation. If the events are on the same day, provide the details beneath the reception information. For events on different days, include a separate details card outlining the timeline.
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Frequently asked questions
Wedding invitations should include the following:
- Host line: The host is usually the person/people paying for the wedding.
- Request line: This is where you invite your guests to the wedding.
- Couple's names: The bride's name typically comes first, followed by the groom's name. Same-sex couples can choose whichever name comes first.
- Date, time, and location of the ceremony: Include the full address for a destination wedding or out-of-town guests.
- Reception details: If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, simply write "Reception to follow."
The wording of a wedding invitation depends on the formality of the event. Here are some general guidelines:
- Capitalize proper names and titles.
- Avoid using punctuation, except after courtesy titles.
- Avoid abbreviations and instead, spell everything out.
- Include middle names for very formal invites.
- Write "and" to join two names if the parents have different last names.
The host line is located at the top of the invitation and varies depending on who is hosting:
- One set of parents: Include the full names of the bride's or groom's parents.
- Both sets of parents: List the bride's parents' names first, followed by the groom's parents' names.
- Couple is hosting: You can skip the host line or start with a welcoming introduction.
- Divorced parents: Include the mother's name first, followed by the father's name on a separate line.
- Deceased parent: Include the phrase "the late" before their name.
The couple's names should be prominently featured on the invitation. For heterosexual couples, the bride's name traditionally comes first. For same-sex couples, the wording of the host line may dictate the order, or it can be based on preference or design.
For formal invitations, spell out the date, time, and location in full. For casual invitations, it is acceptable to use numerical figures. Include the full address for destination weddings or out-of-town guests.
