Formal Wedding Invitations: Crafting The Perfect Guest Invite

There are many ways to formally invite someone to a wedding. The wording of the invitation is important as it conveys the tone and formality of the event. The invitation should include the host line, attendance request, the names of the couple, date and time, location, reception details, and optional dress code. Here are some examples of formal wedding invitation wordings:

- Mr. and Mrs. John L. Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their son Jack Alexander to Mason Jacob Kim on Saturday, the seventeenth of August two thousand twenty-four at half after four at [venue name and address]. Reception to follow.

- Together with their parents, Emma and Jax request the pleasure of your company at their wedding on [date and time] at [venue name and address]. Dinner and dancing to follow.

- The honor of your presence is requested at the marriage of Jack Alexander Smith and Mason Jacob Kim on Saturday, the seventeenth of August two thousand twenty-four at half after four at [venue name and address]. Reception to follow.

The host line: The first line of a wedding invitation is dedicated to the host

The first line of a wedding invitation is dedicated to the host, also known as the party covering the expenses. Traditionally, the bride's parents are the hosts of the wedding and are named at the top of the invitation, even for very formal affairs. However, with changing times, it is now common for the groom's parents, the bride, the groom, or a combination of all three to contribute. There is no official order or requirement to list the names and it is entirely up to personal preference. Here are some examples of how to word the host line for different 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 them.

• 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)

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.

• 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 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 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

The attendance request: Let guests know what they're being invited to

The attendance request is a crucial part of a wedding invitation. This is where you formally ask your guests to attend your wedding. Here are some ways to phrase this request:

• "The pleasure of your company is requested"
• "We request the honour of your presence"
• "We invite you to celebrate with us"
• "We would love for you to join us"
• "We ask you to be present with us at the ceremony uniting…"
• "We invite you to share in our joy"
• "We joyfully request the pleasure of your company"
• "We invite you to share our happiness"
• "We ask those dearest in our hearts to join us"
• "You are invited to a celebration of our new life together"
• "We invite you to be with us as we celebrate"
• "Please join us to share our joy and support our love"
• "We invite you to witness our marriage vows"
• "Join us at our wedding celebration"

The tone of the attendance request can be formal, casual, or creative, depending on the style of your wedding. For a formal wedding, you might use phrases like "request the honour of your presence" or "the pleasure of your company is requested". For a casual wedding, you could say something like "we would love for you to join us" or "join us at our wedding celebration". If you're having a creative or themed wedding, feel free to get more whimsical with your wording, such as "we decided on forever, and forever begins when we exchange vows".

The attendance request is also where you specify what your guests are being invited to. This includes the type of ceremony and any post-ceremony celebrations. Here are some examples:

• "at the marriage of their daughter"
• "at the celebration of their union"
• "as they say 'I do'!"
• "in celebration of their marriage"
• "at the marriage of [name] and [name]"
• "at the wedding of [name] and [name]"
• "reception to follow"
• "dinner and dancing to follow"
• "cocktails, dinner and dancing to follow"
• "an evening of celebration to follow"

In addition to the attendance request, a wedding invitation typically includes the host line, the couple's names, the date and time, the location, and any other pertinent information such as dress code or a wedding website.

The couple's names: The main event

The couple's names are the main event and are usually displayed in larger text and often in a fancy typeface. For formal invitations, the bride's full name (first, middle, and last) is typically listed first, followed by the groom's full name. However, this tradition is not set in stone, and same-sex couples may choose to list their names alphabetically or based on what sounds better.

For formal invitations, it is customary to use titles (Mr., Mrs., Ms., etc.) and write out full names, including middle names. Formal invitations also spell out the date and time in full (e.g., "Saturday, the eleventh of June, two thousand and twenty-three, at twelve o'clock in the afternoon").

• Talia Camila Flores and Stephen Anthony Byrne, Saturday, the eleventh of June, two thousand and twenty-three, at twelve o'clock in the afternoon
• Jack Alexander Smith and Mason Jacob Kim, Saturday, the seventeenth of August, two thousand twenty-four, at half after four in the afternoon
• Olivia Rose Smith and John Michael Reyes, Saturday, the eighteenth of September, two thousand twenty-two, at three o'clock in the afternoon

For informal or casual invitations, it is common to use first and last names only and to use numerical dates and times (e.g., "June 11, 2024, 12:00 pm").

• Talia Flores and Stephen Byrne, June 11, 2024, 12:00 pm
• Jack Smith and Mason Kim, August 17, 2024, 4:30 pm
• Olivia Rose and John Michael, September 18, 2022, 3:00 pm

Date and time: Include the date, time, location, and address

When it comes to the date and time of your wedding, traditional wedding invitation wording requires that the date and time are spelled out in full. For example, if your wedding is on the fifteenth of September, two thousand and twenty-one, at half past four in the afternoon, the wording should reflect this.

For a formal wedding invitation, you could say:

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

However, for a more casual affair, you could use numerals and say:

> Saturday, 15th September 2021, 4:30 p.m.

It's also important to include the name and full street address of your wedding venue, including the state and zip code. If your wedding is taking place abroad, include the country as well.

Formal Wedding Invitation Wording

> Saturday, the seventeenth of August two thousand twenty-four at half after four at [venue name and address] Reception to follow

Fun Wedding Invitation Wording

> Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 4:30 in the afternoon at [venue name and address] Dinner and dancing to follow

Casual Wedding Invitation Wording

> Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 4:30 in the afternoon at [venue name and address] Reception to follow

Creative Wedding Invitation Wording

> Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 4:30 in the afternoon at [venue name and address] Party to follow

Modern Wedding Invitation Wording

> Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 4:30 in the afternoon at [venue name and address] Reception to follow

Simple Wedding Invitation Wording

> Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 4:30 in the afternoon at [venue name and address] Reception to follow

Reception details: If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, say reception to follow

If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, you can include the reception details at the bottom of the invitation, following the ceremony details. Here are some examples of how to word the reception details:

Formal Wording Examples:

• "Reception to follow"
• "An evening of celebration to follow"
• "Reception immediately following the ceremony"
• "Dinner and dancing to follow"
• "Cake, punch, and merriment to follow"
• "Feasting and merriment to follow"
• "Dining, dancing, and happily ever after to follow"

Informal Wording Examples:

• "Dinner and dancing to follow"
• "Followed by dinner and dancing"
• "Drinks and dancing to follow"
• "Dinner, drinks, and dancing to follow"
• "Cocktails, dinner, and dancing to follow"
• "Adult reception to follow"

If you are having a casual reception, you can use wording such as "dinner and dancing to follow" or "drinks and dancing to follow." If you prefer a more formal tone, you might say "reception to follow" or "an evening of celebration to follow."

Including a separate reception card with the invitation suite is another option. This can be helpful if you want to provide additional details or if the reception will be held at a different location.

Frequently asked questions