Crafting Wedding Invitations: Formal Wording Etiquette

Wedding invitations are one of the first things your guests will see, so it's important to get the wording right. The good news is that the rules of wedding invitation etiquette are not that complicated, and you can feel free to riff off these principles to create your own. Here are some tips on how to formally word a wedding invitation.

The first line of a wedding invitation is usually dedicated to the host of the wedding, also known as the party covering the expenses. Traditionally, this is the bride's parents, but nowadays it could also be the groom's parents, the bride and groom themselves, or a combination of all three. If you have a non-traditional family structure, don't worry – there are plenty of creative ways to word this part of the invitation.

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

After that, you'll want to include the couple's names, the date, time, and location of the ceremony, and any post-ceremony plans. For formal invitations, it's customary to spell out the date and time rather than using numerals.

Finally, you might want to include a dress code and information on how guests should RSVP.

Host Line: Names the hosts of the wedding

The host line is the opening line on a wedding invitation and it names the hosts of the event. Here are some examples of how to word the host line in 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, use "and" to join the two names.

• 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.

Mr. and Mrs. Allen Jones and Mr. and Mrs. Michael Levy

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. Joshua Zimmerli and Captain and Mrs. Aaron David Schwartz
• 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 Hosting With Their Families

When the couple and both of their families are contributing to the cost of the wedding, you can add a line such as:

• 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 the invitation wording with a warm and welcoming introduction, such as:

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

Attendance Request: Lets guests know they're being invited

The attendance request line is where you invite your guests to join your wedding celebration. The tone of the request line should match the tone of the wedding.

For a formal wedding, the request line traditionally denotes a formal religious ceremony. For example:

• "Request the honour of your presence"
• "The honour of your presence is requested"

For a non-religious ceremony or a more casual wedding, you can use more casual language. For example:

• "Invite you to join"
• "Please join us to celebrate"
• "Love the pleasure of your company"

Formal Wedding

• "Request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Talia Camila Flores and Stephen Anthony Byrne"
• "The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Talia Camila Flores and Stephen Anthony Byrne"

Casual Wedding

• "Talia Flores and Stephen Byrne invite you to a celebration of their love and commitment"
• "Together with their parents Talia Flores & Stephen Byrne invite you to share in their joy as they tie the knot"

Creative Wedding

• "Good food, good drinks, good friends. Jack Smith & Mason Kim request you celebrate with them as they get hitched"
• "It's a wedding! John and Eliza Smith invite you to celebrate their son Jack Alexander as he weds Mason Jacob Kim"

Modern Wedding

• "Jack Smith & Mason Kim would love to eat wedding cake with you"
• "With much love, John and Eliza Smith invite you to celebrate their son Jack Alexander at his wedding to Mason Jacob Kim"

Couple's Names: The main event

The main event: the couple's names.

The names of the couple are usually displayed in larger text (and often in a fancy typeface). For heterosexual couples, the bride's name typically comes first, followed by the groom's full name. For same-sex couples, there is no traditional rule, so alphabetical order or what sounds better can be used.

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 with his first and middle names followed by "Son of Mr. & Mrs." and their surname.

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

Traditionally, the couple's names are followed by the date and time of the wedding, which are usually spelled out in full. For example, if your ceremony is on September 15, 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 afternoon.

Date and Time: Formal invites spell these out, modern invites use numerals

When it comes to the date and time on a wedding invitation, there are different conventions depending on whether you are aiming for a formal or modern style.

Formal Invitations

For formal invites, it is customary to write out the date and time in full. For example, "Saturday, the twentieth of June [two thousand fifteen] at half after three o'clock". Note that the year is optional, and the time of day should be written as "o'clock" or "half after".

Modern Invites

In contrast, modern invites tend to use numerals for the date and time, such as "Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 in the afternoon". Using numerals is clearer and helps to avoid confusion.

Other Considerations

• If you are having a very formal wedding, such as a black-tie event, it is generally better to write out the date and time in full.
• If your wedding date has a nice numerical pattern, like "4.3.21", using numerals can emphasise this.
• To avoid confusion, ensure that the font for numerical dates and times is clear and legible.
• If you are concerned about clarity, you can include the numerical date and time on a separate details card tucked inside the invitation.

Location: Name and address of the venue

When it comes to the location of your wedding, the venue's name and address should be included in the invitation. Here are some tips and examples to guide you in wording this section of the invitation:

Providing the Location Information

• Venue Name and Address: Include both the name and full street address of your wedding venue. Providing the venue's name will give your guests a clear idea of the location, and the street address will ensure they can find it easily.
• State, Zip Code, and Country: In addition to the address, be sure to include the state and zip code. If your wedding is taking place outside of your own country, it is important to also mention the country to avoid any confusion.
• Omit Street Address in Some Cases: The street address is not always necessary. If your wedding is held at a well-known location or a place that is easy to find, you may choose to omit the street address to keep the invitation concise.
• Same-Day Ceremony and Reception: When the ceremony and reception are held at the same venue, you can simply write "reception to follow" after providing the venue details. This informs guests that they don't need to travel to a different location for the next part of the celebration.
• Separate Reception Location: If the reception is held at a different venue, include the full address and other relevant information on a separate details card enclosed with the main invitation. This ensures your guests have all the information they need in one place.

Examples of Wording for Location Information

• "at [venue name and address]"
• "at half after four in the afternoon at [venue name and address]"
• "Saturday, the tenth of July two thousand seventeen at half after four o'clock [venue name and address]"
• "Saturday, the seventeenth of May two thousand nineteen at seven o'clock [venue name and address]"
• "Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 in the afternoon at [venue name and address]"

Remember, the level of formality of your invitation wording can be adjusted to match the style of your wedding. Whether you're aiming for a traditional, modern, or casual tone, be sure to include the essential details about the location to help your guests arrive at the right place at the right time.

Frequently asked questions