Choosing The Right Wording For Your Wedding Invitations

Wedding invitations are one of the first things your guests will see, touch, and feel when it comes to your wedding. The wording of your wedding invitation can be tricky, but it doesn't have to be complicated. The rules of wedding invitation wording are more like guidelines, and you can add your own creative touches while making sure your invitations include the essential information.

The essential elements of a wedding invitation are:

1. Host line: The opening line on a wedding invitation names the hosts of the event, usually the people paying for the wedding.

2. Request line: This is where you invite your guests to join your wedding celebration.

3. Couple's names: The names of the couple are usually displayed in larger text and can be written in various ways depending on the couple's preferences and the formality of the event.

4. Date, time, and location: Include the wedding date, start time, and venue name and address.

5. Reception details: Let guests know what type of festivities to expect after the ceremony.

Honoring deceased parents: Include the phrase the late before their name

Honouring deceased parents on a wedding invitation can be tricky, but there are ways to word the invite to ensure their memory is honoured. Here are some suggestions and examples to help you navigate this situation:

Traditional Wording

If you wish to include your deceased parent's name on the invitation, a traditional way to do so is to use the phrase "the late" before their name. This indicates that they are no longer with us but are still honoured and remembered. Here's an example:

> "The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Jennifer Drake, daughter of John Drake and the late Barbara Drake, to Brian Connors, son of Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Connors."

Alternative Wording

If you prefer not to use the phrase "the late", you can find other ways to word the invitation. For example, you could include a tribute to your deceased parent within the invitation:

> "Together with their families, Jennifer Drake and Brian Connors invite you to share in their joy as they unite in marriage. Jennifer, daughter of John Drake and the beloved Barbara Drake (1950-2022), and Brian, son of Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Connors, request your presence as they exchange vows and begin their journey as husband and wife."

Same-Sex Weddings

When honouring deceased parents in same-sex weddings, you can simply swap the gender references to match the couple. Here's an example:

> "The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Emily Jones, daughter of the late Elizabeth Jones and Mr. Robert Jones, to Zara Brown, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Brown."

Less Formal Wording

If a formal invitation doesn't suit your style, a less formal approach is also acceptable. Here's an example that still honours the deceased parent:

> "Fatima and the late Arjun Sharma, along with their families and friends, invite you to celebrate their marriage on Saturday, July 21st, 2024, at 6:00 pm at Bluxome Street Winery in San Francisco, California."

Remember, the most important thing is to follow your heart and choose wording that feels right for you. Your guests will appreciate the sentiment, and your parent's memory will be honoured.

Host line: Include the name(s) of the event host(s) at the top of the invite

The host line is the opening line on a wedding invitation and names the hosts of the event. The hosts are usually the people paying for the wedding. Here are some examples of how to word the host line, depending on who is hosting:

One Set of Married Parents Hosting

Include the parents' full names, with middle names included for very formal weddings. If they have different last names, write "and" to join the two names.

Examples:

• 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. Do not use "and" to connect the two names; instead, give each name its own line.

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 according to preference or in the order that looks best with the invitation design.

Examples:

• 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 both of their families are contributing to the cost of the wedding, many choose to add a line such as "Together with their families" as the host line.

Examples:

• Together with their families
• Together with our families
• Together with their parents

Couple Hosting Themselves

If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves, 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

Request line: Invite your guests to join your wedding celebration

The request line is where you invite your guests to your wedding celebration. Here are some examples of wording for the request line:

• "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 them"
• "Invite you to share in their joy"
• "Invite you to share in their love and commitment"
• "Invite you to their wedding"
• "Join us for the wedding of..."
• "Kindly join us at the wedding of..."
• "Please come help us celebrate our love"

The request line wording can be formal or casual, depending on the tone you want to set for your wedding. For a formal wedding, you might use "request the honour of your presence", while for a casual wedding, you could say something like "please come help us celebrate our love".

If the wedding is a religious ceremony, the request line can be more formal, whereas modern celebrations tend to use more casual language. Using the British spelling of "honour" denotes a more formal tone.

The request line is also a good place to set the tone for your celebration. For example, you could use "invite you to share in their joy" or "invite you to celebrate with them" to convey a happy and festive mood.

The request line is just one part of the wedding invitation. Other essential elements include the host line, the couple's names, the date, time, and location of the ceremony, and the reception details.

Couple's names: Display the couple's names clearly and prominently

When it comes to wedding invitations, the couple's names should be the main event. Here are some tips to ensure their names are displayed clearly and prominently:

Font and Size

Use a larger text size for the couple's names than the rest of the text. You can also use a fancy typeface to make their names stand out. Bold or italicised fonts can also be used to emphasise the couple's names.

Name Order

For heterosexual couples, the bride's name typically comes first, followed by the groom's name. For same-sex couples, there is no traditional order, so go with what sounds better or list the names alphabetically. For couples with the same last name, you can use "Mr. and Mrs. [Last Name]" on the outer envelope, and " [First Name] and [First Name]" on the inner envelope.

Middle Names and Last Names

For very formal invitations, include the middle names of the couple. Last names are usually included, but for less formal invitations, you may opt for first names only.

Honoring a Deceased Parent

If one of the couple's parents has passed away, you can honour them by including their name. For example: " [Couple's Name], daughter/son of [Deceased Parent's Name] and the late [Surviving Parent's Name]".

Unmarried Couples

For unmarried couples living at the same address, list both names on one line, with the person you are closest to first.

Professional Titles

If one or both members of the couple have a professional title, such as "Doctor", include this on the invitation. For example: "Doctor [Name] and Mr. [Name]".

Same-Sex Couples

Same-sex couples can choose to list their names alphabetically or based on what looks best with the invitation design.

Hosts

If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves, you can omit the host line or start the invitation with a warm introduction, such as "Together with full hearts".

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

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, the goal is to provide guests with the information they need to know when and where the wedding will take place, so they can show up on time. Here are some tips to ensure your guests have all the details they need:

Date and Time:

Spell out the date and time in full using words instead of numerals for a traditional wedding. For example, if your wedding is on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at 3:30 p.m., the wording could be: "Saturday, the twenty-sixth of October, two thousand twenty-four, at half after three o'clock in the afternoon." The day of the week and the month should be capitalized. The year is usually on a separate line and is written as "two thousand twenty-four" (without an "and"). The time of day is also written out as "three o'clock" or "half after three o'clock."

For a less formal wedding, you can use a combination of words and numerals. For example, "Saturday, May 17, 2025, 4:30 p.m." can be written as "Saturday, May seventeenth, two thousand and twenty-five, four-thirty p.m."

Location:

When it comes to the location, include the name and full street address of the venue, along with the city and state. For a formal wedding, spell out the state name in full. If your wedding is taking place abroad, be sure to include the country as well. For example: "The Ritz-Carlton, 1234 Main Street, Houston, Texas, United States."

If the reception is at the same location, you can simply add "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow." If the reception is at a different location, include the full address on a separate details card tucked into the invitation.

Here's an example of how you can combine all these elements into a clear and elegant wedding invitation:

"Together with their families, Olivia Rose Smith and John Michael Reyes request the honour of your presence at their wedding on Saturday, the seventeenth of August, two thousand and twenty-four, at half after four o'clock in the afternoon, at the Smith Residence, 1234 Elm Street, Austin, Texas. Reception to follow.

Frequently asked questions