Wording Wedding Invites: Etiquette And Examples

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 should provide all the essential details, including the couple's full names, who's hosting the nuptials, the ceremony location, and the reception venue.

The invitation should also convey the tone and formality of the wedding, including the dress code. It should indicate how guests should RSVP and can also recognise the couple's parents, if they are not also the hosts.

The essentials of a wedding invitation are typically laid out line by line, with the host line at the top, followed by a request line, the couple's names, the date, time and location of the ceremony, and the reception details.

Host Line: Names the hosts of the wedding (traditionally the bride's parents)

The host line is the opening line on a wedding invitation and names the hosts of the event. Traditionally, the bride's parents host the wedding, but nowadays, the couple may host themselves or alongside both sets of parents.

If the bride's parents are hosting, the wording could be:

> Mr. and Mrs. John L. Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Jane Smith to John Miller...

If the couple is hosting, the host line can be omitted, or replaced with a welcoming introduction:

> Come celebrate with us as Jane Smith and John Miller tie the knot...

If both sets of parents are hosting, both can be included with the bride's parents' names listed first:

> Mr. and Mrs. John L. Smith and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Miller request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their children Jane Smith to John Miller...

If the couple is hosting alongside both sets of parents, the invitation could read:

> Jane Smith and John Miller, together with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. John L. Smith and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Miller, request the honour of your presence at their wedding...

Attendance Request: Extends an invitation to guests

The attendance request is a crucial part of a wedding invitation, as it lets guests know exactly what they are being invited to. Here are some ways to word this section of the invitation:

• "The pleasure of your company is requested"
• "We request the honour of your presence"
• "Invite you to celebrate with them"
• "Would love for you to join them"
• "Join us as we exchange vows"

The tone of the attendance request can be adjusted to match the style and formality of the wedding. For a more casual and light-hearted wedding, the wording could be:

• "Come celebrate with us"
• "Join us for dinner and drinks"
• "Eat, drink and be merry"
• "We'd love for you to be there"

If the wedding is more formal, the invitation could include a more traditional and elegant phrasing:

• "Request the honour of your presence"
• "The pleasure of your company is requested at the marriage of"
• "Together with their parents, request the honour of your presence"
• "The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of their children"

The attendance request can also be tailored to match the theme of the wedding. For example, if the wedding has a rustic or outdoor theme, the invitation could say:

• "Join us under the stars as we exchange vows"
• "Celebrate with us in the garden"
• "We'd be delighted for you to join us in the countryside"

For a beach wedding, the wording could reflect the relaxed and carefree nature of the event:

• "Join us on the sand as we say 'I do'"
• "We'd be honoured for you to be there as we tie the knot by the sea"
• "Your presence is requested at our beach wedding"

Ultimately, the attendance request should reflect the joy and excitement of the couple and set the tone for the celebration to come.

Couple's Names: The main event

The couple's names are the most important part of the wedding invitation and are usually displayed in larger text and sometimes in a fancy typeface.

For heterosexual couples, the bride's name typically comes first, followed by the groom's full name. If the bride's parents' names are listed at the top, the bride's name can just be her first and middle name, without her last name. In that case, the groom's name is either listed in full or his first and middle names are listed, followed by "Son of Mr. & Mrs." and their surname.

For same-sex couples, the traditional rule of the woman's name first does not apply. The names can be listed alphabetically or simply in the order that sounds best.

For a less formal feel, you may opt to list only the first names.

Traditionally, the date and time should be spelled out in full. For example, if your ceremony is on the fifteenth of September, 2024, at 4:30 p.m., the wording should read, "Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-one, at half after four in the afternoon." The day of the week and the month should be capitalized, and the year should be lowercase. There is no "and" when spelling out the year.

The time of day should be spelled out as "four o'clock" or "half after four o'clock." Evening begins at five o'clock. From noon until four o'clock is considered the afternoon.

List the ceremony venue as follows: "Venue Name" on one line, "City, State" on the following line. For formal weddings, the state name is usually spelled out.

The venue's street address is traditionally not included unless the venue is a private residence. Zip codes are also not usually included.

If the reception will be at the same location as the ceremony, you can simply say, "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow." If the reception is at a different location, you can list the venue on the following line or on a separate insert card.

Date and Time: Should be spelled out in full for formal invites

When it comes to wedding invitations, the date and time should be spelled out in full for formal invites. This means writing out the day, month, and year in full, with the year written in numerical form. For example, if your wedding is on Saturday, October 26th, 2024, you would write:

> Saturday, the twenty-sixth of October, two thousand twenty-four

The day of the week should be capitalized (unless your wedding invitation's font is all uppercase or lowercase), and there should be a comma between the day of the week and the date. If your wedding falls on a date between the 21st and 31st of the month, use a hyphen between the tens and ones place in the date. For example, "twenty-eighth." The month is capitalized and written out in full, without abbreviations.

The year is usually written on a separate line from the day and month, and there is no comma between the month and year. There is no "and" when spelling out the year. For example, "two thousand sixteen."

When writing out the time, it is recommended to use phrases like “half after” for times on the half-hour, rather than "half past." For example, if your wedding begins at 3:30 p.m., you would write:

> at half after three o'clock

If your wedding takes place on the hour, simply write the hour followed by "o'clock." For example, "four o'clock."

You do not need to include "in the morning," "in the afternoon," or "in the evening" unless the wedding is scheduled for 8, 9, or 10 a.m. or p.m., where there could be confusion about whether it is morning or evening. Any time after 5 p.m. is considered the evening, and between noon and 4:30 p.m. is the afternoon. If your wedding is at noon, simply write "noon."

> Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-one, at half after four in the afternoon.

Remember, this style of wording is best suited for formal wedding invitations. For casual or informal weddings, you have more flexibility and can choose to use numbers for the date and time.

Location: Include the full address for destination weddings

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, there are some basic elements that should be included no matter the tone or style you opt for. One of these essential details is the location of the wedding, which should be clearly communicated to ensure guests can attend.

For weddings taking place at a private residence or a destination wedding, it is customary to include the full address of the venue. This ensures clarity for guests and helps to set the tone and formality of the event. Here are some examples of how to word the location line for a destination wedding:

Formal Wording Examples

"on Saturday, the tenth of July, Two Thousand and Twenty-One, at Five Thirty in the Evening, Cranbrook House and Gardens, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Reception immediately to follow."

"Saturday, the twenty-fourth of July, Two Thousand and Twenty-One, at Half Past Four in the Afternoon, The Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch, Beaver Creek, Colorado. An evening of dinner and dancing to follow. Black-tie optional."

"Saturday, the ninth of October, Two Thousand and Twenty-One, at Five o'clock in the evening, One&Only Palmilla, San Jose del Cabo, Mexico. Reception to follow."

Informal Wording Examples

"Join us for the wedding of Gina & Steven on Saturday, the tenth of July, Two Thousand and Twenty-One, at Five Thirty in the Evening, Cranbrook House and Gardens, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Reception immediately to follow."

"Jennifer and Andrew invite you to celebrate their wedding on Saturday, the third of July, Two Thousand and Twenty-One, at Half Past Four o'clock, Surrey-Williamson Inn, Saratoga Springs, New York. Black-tie optional."

"Please join us as we celebrate the wedding of Chase Mattson & Kelianne Stankus on June 9th, 2022, at 5:00 PM, Serendipity Garden, 12865 Oak Glen Road, Oak Glen, CA 92399."

By including the full address for destination weddings, you provide clear and important information for your guests, ensuring they can join you on your special day.

Frequently asked questions