Elegant Wedding Invitation Calligraphy: A Step-By-Step Guide

Wedding invitations are one of the first things your guests will see, touch, and feel when it comes to your wedding. They also convey critical information, such as who is getting married, the wedding date, and the wedding location.

The good news is that the rules of wedding invitation etiquette are not that complicated. The primary tenet is actually much simpler and more straightforward than you think. The most important rule is that you create a beautiful wedding invitation that represents you, your love, and the big day to come.

1. Host Line: Traditionally, the bride's parents are the hosts, and their names come first. However, listing the names of both sets of parents is acceptable and gracious. If the couple and their parents are contributing, you can opt for something like, Together with their parents or Together with their families.

2. Request Line: Traditionally, couples include formal wording in the request line to denote a formal religious ceremony, whereas modern celebrations tend to use more casual language. Common wording options include invite you to join, please join us to celebrate, and the pleasure of your company.

3. Couple's Names: For heterosexual couples, the bride's name traditionally comes first, followed by the groom's full name. For same-sex couples, the wording of the host line may dictate the order of the names. If you are hosting yourselves, it is up to you to decide.

4. Date, Time, and Location: Include the wedding date, start time, and wedding venue. For formal invitations, spell out the date and time rather than using numerals. Include the full address for a destination wedding or out-of-town guests.

5. Reception Details: Let your guests know what type of festivities to expect after the ceremony. If the ceremony and reception are at different locations, include the addresses on separate cards for formal invitations.

The host line: Who is hosting the wedding?

The host line is the first line of a wedding invitation and indicates who is hosting (and traditionally, paying for) the wedding. Here are some examples of how to word the host line in different scenarios:

Bride's Parents Hosting

The traditional format is as follows:

> Mr. and Mrs. John Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Jane Marie to Mr. Jeffrey James Johnson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Johnson...

If the bride's parents have different last names, the format can be adjusted as follows:

> Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Timothy Williams (very formal; 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)

Groom's Parents Hosting

A similar format can be used, replacing the names as appropriate:

> Mr. and Mrs. Jack Johnson request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of Jane Marie Smith to Jeffrey James Johnson...

Both Sets of Parents Hosting

When both sets of parents are sharing expenses, list both sets of parents as hosts, beginning with the bride's family:

> Mr. and Mrs. Robert Smith and Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Gringo invite you to share in the ceremony uniting their children Francis Christopher Gringo and Jane Marie Smith...

Couple Hosting

When the couple is hosting the wedding, the host line can be omitted or replaced with a warm and welcoming introduction:

> Together with full hearts

> With hearts full of love and joy

If the couple wishes to include their parents in the invitation, the following format can be used:

> Miss Sarah Nichole Williams and Mr. Andrew David Douglas, together with their parents, request the pleasure of your company...

Divorced Parents Hosting

When listing divorced parents as hosts, each parent's name should be on a separate line, starting with the mother's name, without an "and" between them. If the mother has not remarried, preface her name with "Mrs." and include her first name, maiden name, and married name:

> Mr. and Mrs. Philip Hopkins request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Andrew David Douglas...

If the divorced parents have remarried, the format can be adjusted as follows:

> Mr. and Mrs. Mark Christopher Dannenberg and Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Andronico Cukar request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Jane Marie Smith...

Honouring a Deceased Parent

If the couple wishes to include a deceased parent in the invitation, the courtesy title is omitted, and the wording should clarify that the deceased parent is not the one extending the invitation:

> Jane Marie, daughter of Tess Smith and the late John Smith, requests the honour of your presence as she joins in marriage Mr. Jeffery James Johnson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Johnson...

The request line: How to invite your guests to join your wedding celebration

The request line is where you extend an invitation to your guests to join your wedding celebration. This is where you'd use formal wording to denote a formal religious ceremony, or more casual language if you're planning a non-religious service or a more casual wedding ceremony.

• "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"
• "Please join us to celebrate"

If you're having a religious ceremony, you can use the British spelling of "honour" to denote formality. If you're going for a more casual tone, you can use phrases like "please join us" or "invite you to join."

The request line is an important part of your wedding invitation, as it sets the tone for your celebration and invites your guests to share in your special day. You can use creative wording to match the style and theme of your wedding, whether it's rustic, elegant, modern, or vintage.

Feel free to add your own personal touches and style to the request line, while making sure to include clear and essential information about the wedding celebration.

Couple's names: How to format the names of the couple

When it comes to formatting the names of the couple on wedding invitations, there are a few different approaches you can take depending on the couple's preferences and the formality of the event. Here are some detailed instructions and examples to help you format the names of the couple in a clear and elegant way:

Traditional and Formal Approach:

• For a traditional and formal wedding invitation, the bride's name typically comes first, followed by the groom's full name.
• If the bride's parents' names are listed as hosts, the bride's name on the request line can be her first and middle name, without the last name.
• In the case of same-sex couples, you can list the names alphabetically by last name or based on what looks best with the invitation design.
• For a very formal wedding, it is customary to include middle names and write out the full date and time (e.g., "Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-four, at half after four in the afternoon").
• The venue's street address is usually included unless the ceremony is held at a well-known location or the couple's home.
• If the reception is at the same location, simply add "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow."

Modern and Casual Approach:

• For a modern or casual wedding, it is acceptable to use only first names or first and last names without titles.
• You can also get creative with the request line, such as "Good food, good drinks, good friends" or "Join us as we celebrate our love."
• Numerical figures are often used for the date and time on modern invitations.
• If the wedding is informal, you may omit titles and use first and last names or even just first names.

Addressing Envelopes:

• When addressing envelopes, the outer envelope should be more formal, including full names and personal titles such as Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Mx.
• For married couples with the same last name: "Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Warren" (outer envelope); "Mr. and Mrs. Warren" or "Thomas and Michelle" (inner envelope).
• For married couples with different last names: "Ms. Maria Stevens and Mr. David Estevez" (outer envelope); "Ms. Stevens and Mr. Estevez" or "Maria and David" (inner envelope).
• For unmarried couples living together, use separate lines for each name without the conjoining "and": "Mr. Stanley Kim" and "Ms. Amanda Rhee" (outer envelope); "Mr. Kim and Ms. Rhee" or "Stanley and Amanda" (inner envelope).
• When addressing a family with children under 18, list the parents' names on the outer envelope and include each child's name on the inner envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham" (outer envelope); "Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham, Daniel, Jeffrey, Miss Brittany, and Mx. Kelly" (inner envelope).

Date, time and location: How to format the date, time and location

The date, time and location of your wedding are arguably the most important details to include on your invitations. Here's how to format them correctly:

The Date

Traditionally, the date is written in full on wedding invitations, e.g. "Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-one". The day of the week and the month should be capitalised, and the year should be in lowercase. You can also write the date in numerical form, e.g. "Saturday, 15th September 2021".

The Time

The time of day should be written in full, e.g. "half after four o'clock" or "four-thirty in the afternoon". Alternatively, you can use numerals, e.g. "4:30 p.m." or "4.30 pm". If your wedding is taking place in the evening (from 5:00 p.m. onwards), you can simply write "in the evening" after the time.

The Location

Write the name and full street address of your wedding venue, including the city, state and zip code. If your wedding is taking place abroad, include the country as well. If the reception is at the same location as the ceremony, you can simply write "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow". If the reception is at a different venue, include the full address on a separate insert card.

Reception details: What to include if the ceremony and reception are at different venues

If the ceremony and reception are at different venues, you have a few options for how to include the reception details on your wedding invitations. The most common approach is to include a separate reception card with the event details as part of the invitation suite. This ensures that guests have all the information they need in one place. However, this option can increase the cost of mailing due to weight, as you may also need to include RSVP cards with their envelopes and direction cards.

Another option is to put the reception information on the back of the invitation. This can save on cost and reduce the risk of losing separate inserts. However, this may not be well-received by guests, especially if your wedding has a formal tone.

If you prefer to keep everything on one card, you can include the reception details on the same invitation as the ceremony information. This approach saves money and reduces the risk of guests losing separate inserts. Here is an example of how to word the invitation:

> "Friday, the eighteenth of August

>

> two thousand and seventeen

>

> at three in the afternoon

>

> Reception to follow at six in the evening

>

> [Reception venue name and address]"

Alternatively, you can include a line such as "Reception to follow at [time]" at the bottom of the invitation, followed by a separate card with the reception venue address and maps for both the ceremony and reception locations.

Regardless of the option you choose, it is important to provide clear and concise information to your guests. You may also want to include additional details on your wedding website, such as directions, transportation information, and lodging suggestions.

Frequently asked questions