Wording Wedding Invites: Adults-Only Edition

Wedding invitation wording can be tricky, especially when it comes to conveying that your special day is adults-only. The best way to make sure your guests know is to be clear and consistent from the very beginning. Here are some tips and suggestions for wording and etiquette to navigate this potentially sensitive topic.

Adults Only Wording

Deciding whether to invite children to your wedding is one of the most difficult guest list questions. Here are some suggestions for ways to word 'adults only' on your wedding invitations:

Short Wording Suggestions

These shorter examples are perfect for including on your invitation or response card:

• “Please join us for an adult reception at six o’clock”
• “Please note this will be an adults-only celebration”
• “Adult (18 and older) reception to follow”
• “We respectfully request no children under 16 at the reception”
• “Adults only reception”
• “Children over 16 years of age only”

Long Wording Suggestions

These examples are suitable for messages included on information cards, and the longer explanations can soften the wording, helping to clarify your preferences:

• “Although we love your little ones, this is an adult-only affair”
• “The bride and groom request that this be an adults-only reception”
• “Please celebrate with us at an adults-only reception immediately following the ceremony”
• “Due to limited venue space, adults only please”
• “Due to budget/space limitations, we are unable to extend the invitation to children”
• “Although we love your children, we regretfully cannot accommodate them at the venue due to restricted numbers”
• “Although we adore your children, due to budget/space constraints we ask that only adults attend.”
• “Regrettably our chosen venue is unable to accommodate children. Professional babysitting will be provided at the hotel”
• “To allow all wedding guests, including parents, a night of relaxation, we respectfully ask that no children attend the reception”
• “To give all our guests the opportunity to celebrate without having to worry about little eyes and ears, we politely request no children”
• “We hope you will understand our decision to make the wedding children-free, and take the opportunity to let your hair down and celebrate”
• “To allow all guests to relax and enjoy themselves, we have chosen to make our special day adults only. We thank you for your understanding”
• “We wish we could include all children, but are unfortunately only able to invite immediate family”
• “Due to necessity rather than choice, it is children of immediate family only”
• “Unfortunately due to space limitations, we are having an adults-only reception. The only children attending are those who are part of our wedding party. If anyone needs help with making arrangements for childcare, please let us know and we will do our best to assist”

Other Tips

• If you are sending formal invitations with both an outer mailing envelope and an inner envelope, list only the names of the invited adult guests on both envelopes. If you are sending outer envelopes only, list only the names of the invited adult guests.
• Do not put "adults only" on the wedding invitation. The more tactful, gentler way to get this message across is to encourage family members, wedding party members, and friends to spread the word to other guests.
• Include the information on your wedding website.

Addressing Invitations Clearly

Addressing your wedding invitations clearly is important to ensure your guests know who is invited. Here are some tips for addressing your invitations to indicate an adults-only celebration:

Using Name Bands

Name bands are paper wraps digitally printed with your guest names, which are wrapped around your invitation suite. They are a great way to add colour to your invitations and provide space to list the names of each invited guest, helping to avoid any confusion over "plus ones".

Including a Note on Invitations, Response Cards, or Information Cards

If name bands are not within your budget, another option is to include a note on your invitations, response cards, or information cards. Simple wording such as "Adults-only reception" or "Children over 16 years of age only" can be added to the bottom of the invitation or response card. If you have room, you can also add more detail on an information card, which can help put your guests' minds at ease.

Wording Suggestions

• "Please join us for an adult reception at six o'clock"
• "Please note this will be an adults-only celebration"
• "Adult (18 and older) reception to follow"
• "We respectfully request no children under 16 at the reception"
• "Adults-only reception"
• "Children over 16 years of age only"

If you have the space, you could include a longer message on an information card. This can help to soften the tone and clarify your preferences. For example:

• "Although we love your little ones, this is an adult-only affair"
• "The bride and groom request that this be an adults-only reception"
• "Due to limited venue space, adults only please"
• "Although we adore your children, due to budget/space constraints, we ask that only adults attend"

Addressing Envelopes

When addressing your envelopes, only include the names of the invited adult guests. For example, address the envelope to "Mr. and Mrs. Luis Chavez", not "The Chavez Family".

Including a Count on RSVP Cards

To further clarify, you can include a count on your RSVP cards. Beneath the line where guests write their names, add "___ out of ___ guests" and fill in the second line with the number of guests included in the invitation.

The Right Way to Address Your Wedding Invitations

Deciding on an adults-only wedding can be a tricky decision, but there are ways to communicate this to your guests in a tactful and polite manner. Here are some tips and suggestions for addressing your wedding invitations to make your wishes clear.

The Host Line

The host line is where you name the hosts of the event, typically 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. If you are hosting the wedding yourselves, you can omit this line or start with a warm introduction such as "Together with full hearts" or "With hearts full of love and joy".

The Request Line

The request line is where you invite your guests to join your celebration. Traditionally, formal wording such as "request the honour of your presence" was used to denote a formal religious ceremony. For non-religious services or more casual weddings, modern language such as "invite you to join" or "the pleasure of your company" is often used.

The Couple's Names

Ensure that your and your partner's names are clearly legible and prominently featured. For heterosexual couples, the bride's name traditionally comes first. For same-sex couples, the order of names can be alphabetical or based on what looks best with the invitation design.

Date, Time, and Location

Provide the date, start time, and location of the ceremony. For formal invitations, spell out the date, time, and address in full. For casual invitations, using numerals and abbreviations is acceptable.

If you are planning a child-free wedding, you can write "Adults only, please" at the bottom of the invitation. You can also specify if children are welcome by writing "X and X and Family" on the envelope.

Reception Details

The reception details line notifies guests of the festivities to follow the ceremony. If the ceremony and reception are at the same location, a simple "Reception to follow" will suffice. If the reception is at a different location, include the address on a separate card for formal invitations.

Enclosure Cards and RSVP Cards

Once you have the invitation details covered, you can include enclosure cards with more information, such as reception details, RSVP information, or anything else that wouldn't fit on the invitation. Matching stationery will help guests understand that the extra cards are related to the main event.

RSVP cards are essential for getting an accurate headcount. Include a reply-by date, ideally at least three weeks before the wedding, and provide specific instructions on the number of guests and how to respond.

Adults-Only Wedding Etiquette

Deciding whether to invite children to your wedding is one of the most difficult guest list questions. If you want to stick to an adults-only wedding, here are some tips to communicate this to your guests effectively.

Be Clear and Consistent

The best way to ensure your guests know your wedding is adults-only is to be as clear as possible from the very beginning. Start with how you address your save-the-dates and invitations: only the invited guests are named on the invitation. If you are inviting parents, be sure to use only their names on the envelope. If you are inviting parents with the same last name, use "Mr. and Mrs.". If they have different last names, write their names on separate lines without using "and".

Don't Make Exceptions

Decide what qualifies someone as an "adult". Do they have to be over 21? Out of college? Paying their own rent? Stick to your criteria and be firm. You can make an exception for nursing infants and children in the wedding party, but be sure to communicate this to your other guests to avoid any confusion or hurt feelings.

Address Invitations Carefully

If you are sending formal invitations with both an outer mailing envelope and an inner envelope, list only the names of the invited adult guests on both envelopes. If you are sending outer envelopes only, list only the names of the invited adults. You can also write the names of each invited guest on the response card.

Include "Adults Only" on the Invitation

If you want to be very clear, include a little note on your invitations, response cards, or information cards. Simple wording such as "Adults only reception" or "Please join us for an adult reception at six o'clock" are great starting points. If you have room, you can add more detail on your information card, such as "Due to limited venue space, adults only please" or "Although we love your children, we regretfully cannot accommodate them at the venue due to restricted numbers".

Say It on Your Website

On your wedding website, be sure to include an FAQ page. Include the question "Can we bring kids?" and clearly state that you have decided to keep your wedding an adults-only event. You can also provide information for a local babysitting agency.

Spread the Word

Tell your families, wedding party, and other close friends and relatives about your adults-only decision. They don't need to shout it from the rooftops, but they can help answer questions from other guests.

Be Ready for Difficult Conversations

If you receive RSVPs for the entire family, get in touch as soon as the card comes in. Let them know that the invitation is actually only for the parents. You can cite "budget constraints" as the reason, or explain that the venue or activities are adult-centric. If a guest explains that they have no option to leave their children at home, be firm but compassionate in your approach.

Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

The Host Line

The host line is where the name(s) of the event hosts appear. The hosts are typically the people who are paying for the wedding. Depending on who’s hosting, the wording will vary slightly: it could be one set of parents, both sets of parents, the couple and their parents together, or just the couple.

If you are hosting the wedding yourselves, you can skip the host line altogether or start the invitation wording with a warm and welcoming introduction, such as:

• "Together with full hearts"
• "With hearts full of love and joy"

The Request Line

The request line is where you invite your guests to join your wedding celebration. Traditionally, couples would include formal wording in the request line to denote a formal religious ceremony, whereas wedding invitations for modern celebrations tend to use more casual language.

Common wording options include:

• "Invite you to join"
• "Please join us to celebrate"
• "The pleasure of your company"
• "Request the honour of your presence"
• "Love the pleasure of your company"

The Couple's Names

Make sure your and your partner's names are front and centre. They may be placed high, low, or centre depending on your invitation design, but make sure they are clearly legible and prominently featured.

For heterosexual couples, the bride's name traditionally comes before the groom's. For same-sex couples, the wording of the host line may dictate whose name comes first (i.e. if one set of parents is hosting, their names will come first and their child's should follow). If you are hosting yourselves, then it's up to you to decide whose name comes first.

The Date, Time, and Location of the Ceremony

Don't make your guests guess. Include everything they need to show up at the right place at the right time.

The date of the wedding:

Spell out the date and year for formal invitations so that guests don't transpose numbers. For instance, write "July 2, 2025" instead of "7/2/2025".

The start time:

Spell out the time for formal invitations, and don't use a.m. or p.m. Instead, use "in the morning", "in the afternoon", or "in the evening".

The location:

Include the wedding venue. Use the full address for a destination wedding or out-of-town guests.

The Reception Details

The party line comes at the end of the invitation and notifies guests of what’s scheduled to follow the wedding ceremony. Your wedding reception card wording should let your guests know what type of festivities they should expect, whether it’s dinner and dancing, a light luncheon, or cocktails and canapes.

If the ceremony and reception are at different locations, include the addresses on separate cards for formal wedding invitations.

Adults-Only Wording

If you are planning an adults-only wedding, there are a few ways to make this clear on your invitations:

• Only write the name of the guest on the envelope to subtly convey that the invitation is only for them.
• Write "X and X and Family" on the envelope if children are welcome.
• Write "Adults only, please" at the bottom of the invitation if children are not invited.
• Include a note on your invitations, response cards, or information cards, e.g. "Please join us for an adult reception at six o'clock" or "Please note this will be an adults-only celebration".

Frequently asked questions