Punctuating Wedding Invites: The Ultimate Guide To Perfect Etiquette

Wedding invitations are an important part of wedding planning, as they are often the first impression guests will have of the event. The wording of a wedding invitation should convey essential details such as the couple's full names, the hosts of the event, the ceremony location, and the reception venue. While the specific wording can vary depending on the level of formality desired, there are some standard conventions to follow. This includes spelling out dates and times in full for formal invitations and using proper titles and punctuation for names.

Host Line

The host line is the first line of a wedding invitation and it names the event's host or hosts. The host is usually the person or people paying for the wedding. The wording will vary depending on who is hosting, and can include one or both sets of parents, the couple, or the couple and their parents. Here are some examples of host lines for wedding invitations:

One Set of Married Parents Hosting

Include the parents' full names, with middle names for a very formal wedding. If they have different last names, write "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 on a separate line. Do not use "and" to connect the two names.

• Mr. Angiolo Guiseppe and Ms. Elettra Rossellini
• Ms. Pamela Jacobsen, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Jacobsen

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 in alphabetical order 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 of their families are contributing to the cost of 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 the invitation with a warm and welcoming introduction.

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

Attendance Request

The request to attend your wedding lets guests know exactly what they're being invited to. This is where you extend the invitation to attend your wedding, and you can use it to set the tone for your celebration. Here are some options for the wording of this section:

• "The pleasure of your company"
• "At the marriage of their children"
• "Would love for you to join them"
• "Invite you to celebrate with them"
• "The honour of your presence" (the British spelling of "honour" traditionally indicates that the ceremony will be held in a church or another house of worship)

> "Together with their families, Emma and Jax request the pleasure of your company..."

> "The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Jack Alexander Smith to Mason Jacob Kim..."

> "Come party with us! Jack Alexander Smith and Mason Jacob Kim are tying the knot..."

> "Jack Alexander Smith & Mason Jacob Kim together with their parents invite you as they say 'I do'..."

> "With much love, John and Eliza Smith invite you to celebrate their son Jack Alexander at his wedding to Mason Jacob Kim..."

The Request Line

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

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

Additional Notes

• If you are having a formal wedding, everything should be written out in full (no numerals). For example, if your ceremony is on 15 September 2024 at 4:30 p.m., the wording should be: "Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand and twenty-four, at half after four in the afternoon".
• 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.
• If you are having a casual wedding, it is fine to use numerals.

Names of the Couple

When addressing wedding invitations, it's important to get the names of the couple just right. Here are some tips to ensure you're following the correct wedding invitation etiquette:

Married Couple With the Same Last Name

For a heterosexual couple, the outer envelope is usually addressed as "Mr. and Mrs. [Husband's First Name] [Shared Last Name]". For same-sex couples, either name can come first. If the couple prefers a more modern approach, you can include both names: "Mr. [Husband's First Name] and Mrs. [Wife's First Name] [Shared Last Name]".

On the inner envelope, you can address them as "Mr. and Mrs. [Shared Last Name]" or use their first names.

Married Couple With Different Last Names

When addressing a married couple with different last names, the outer envelope should list both names on the same line, with the woman's name first. If the names are too long to fit on one line, list them separately. For example: "Ms. Maria Stevens and Mr. David Estevez".

On the inner envelope, you can use their first names or list their surnames separately: "Ms. Stevens and Mr. Estevez".

Married Couple With One Hyphenated Last Name

If one spouse has chosen to hyphenate their last name, the outer envelope can be addressed as "Mr. [Husband's First Name] [Husband's Last Name] and Mr. [Spouse's First Name] [Hyphenated Last Name]".

On the inner envelope, you can use their first names or list the names separately, including the hyphenated last name: "Mr. [Husband's First Name] and Mr. [Spouse's First Name] [Hyphenated Last Name]".

Unmarried Couple

For unmarried couples living together, both names should be included on the same line on the outer envelope. List the person you are closest with first, followed by their partner. For example: "Mr. Stanley Kim and Ms. Amanda Rhee".

On the inner envelope, you can use their first names or list their surnames: "Mr. Kim and Ms. Rhee".

General Tips for Names and Titles

• Capitalize proper names and titles.
• Avoid abbreviations and punctuation, except after courtesy titles.
• Spell out the title "Doctor" but use symbols like "Mr." and "Ms."
• Use both partners' full legal names. If they prefer to go by nicknames, use those on save-the-date cards or more informal pieces of the invitation suite.
• Include a nickname in addition to the legal first name if that's what the person is commonly known by.
• Drop middle names if the line becomes too long.
• Include a host line at the top of the invitation, indicating who is hosting/inviting. This is usually the couple or the parents of the couple.

Date and Time

When it comes to wedding invitations, the date and time are crucial elements that require careful consideration. Here are some detailed guidelines to help you punctuate and format this information effectively:

Formal and Traditional Style:

Writing the Date:

• Capitalize the day of the week and the month: "Saturday, the Twenty-Sixth of October".
• For dates from the 21st to the 31st of a month, use a hyphen: "the Twenty-First of May" or "the Thirty-First of December".
• Spell out the year in full: "Two Thousand and Twenty-Four". Avoid using "and" in the year, and refrain from capitalizing any part of the date.
• You can choose to include or omit the day of the week and the year, depending on your preference.

Writing the Time:

• Write out the time in full: "Half After Three O'clock" or "Three-Thirty". Avoid using numerals for a more formal look.
• For times on the hour, simply state the hour: "Three O'clock".
• Specify the time of day: "in the Morning", "in the Afternoon", or "in the Evening". You can omit these phrases for times that are unlikely to cause confusion, such as 8:00 a.m. or 9:00 p.m.
• For noon, simply write "Noon" instead of "12:00 noon".
• If your wedding is more formal, avoid using a.m. or p.m. and instead, indicate the time of day.

Informal and Casual Style:

• For a more relaxed or modern wedding, you can write the date and time using numerals and abbreviations: "Saturday, 5/26/2024, 5:30 p.m."
• You can also use a combination of words and numerals: "Saturday, May 17, 2025, 4 p.m."
• Remember to maintain consistency in the formatting of the date and time.

Additional Considerations:

• If your ceremony and reception are at the same location, you can simply add "Reception to Follow" at the bottom of the invitation.
• For separate or delayed reception details, include a separate reception card with the full information.
• Avoid including the end time of the ceremony or reception on the invitation. If needed, this information can be shared on your wedding website.
• Consider providing an earlier start time on the invitation to ensure guests arrive on time. However, avoid padding the time by more than 15 minutes.

Location

The location of the ceremony and reception is an essential detail to include on your wedding invitation. Here are some tips and guidelines to help you correctly punctuate and format this information:

• Include the Full Address: For out-of-town guests or if the wedding venue is not well-known, provide the full address, including the street name and number, city, and state. If the wedding is taking place abroad, include the country as well. For example: "The Ritz-Carlton, 1234 Main Street, New York, NY" or "The Beachside Resort, Costa del Sol, Spain".
• Omit Address for Well-Known Locations: If the wedding is taking place at a well-known institution or venue with only one location, you can omit the address. For example: "Brooklyn Museum of Art" or "Central Park, New York, NY".
• Private Residence: When the wedding is held at a private residence, include the names of the homeowners followed by the address. For example: "At the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Darwin, 260 East Market Street".
• Ceremony and Reception at the Same Location: If the ceremony and reception are held in the same place, you can simply add "Reception to follow" or "and afterward at the reception" on the same line as the address.
• Separate Cards for Reception Details: For formal invitations, provide the reception details on a separate card. This is especially important if the ceremony and reception are at different locations. Include the full address and any other pertinent information, such as the time if it's not immediately following the ceremony.
• No Punctuation: As with other sections of the invitation, avoid using punctuation, except after courtesy titles.
• Capitalization: Capitalize proper names and titles. For example: "Mr. and Mrs. Charles Darwin" or "The Ritz-Carlton Hotel".
• Spell Out Street Designations: Instead of using abbreviations like "St." or "Ave.", spell out the street designations in full. For example: "Oak Street" or "Avenue Road".
• Avoid Abbreviating State Names: Write out the full state name instead of using the postal code abbreviation. For example: "California" instead of "CA".
• Be Consistent: Ensure that the format and style you use for the location information are consistent with the rest of the invitation.

Frequently asked questions