Crafting The Perfect Wedding Invitation Message: A Guide

Wedding invitations are one of the first things your guests will see, touch, and feel when it comes to your wedding. They set the tone for the wedding and convey critical information. There are many ways to send wedding invitations, from traditional paper invitations to modern text messages. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to type a wedding invitation message, covering everything from the essential information to include to etiquette and creative wording ideas.

Honoring a deceased parent

Honouring a deceased parent in a wedding invitation is a thoughtful way to memorialise them on your special day. Here are some ways to include them:

Wording

The traditional wedding invitation format is as follows:

[Engaged Person's Full Name]

Child of [Parent's Full Name] and the late [Deceased Parent's Full Name]

[Engaged Person's Full Name]

Request the honour of your presence at their marriage.

This format can be adapted for same-sex couples by swapping "daughter" for "son", or using gender-neutral terms like "bride" and "groom".

If you are close with your step-parent, you may choose to include them on the invitation as well. Here is an example of how to word this:

[Engaged Person's Full Name]

Child of [Parent's Full Name] and the late [Deceased Parent's Full Name]

[Engaged Person's Full Name]

Child of [Step-parent's Full Name] and the late [Deceased Parent's Full Name]

Request the honour of your presence at their marriage.

Other Considerations

If the parent died a long time ago or if you don't want to include them in the invitation, that is perfectly okay too. There are other ways to honour a deceased parent during your wedding:

• Lighting a memorial candle
• Reserving a seat for them at the ceremony and reception
• Including a note "in loving memory" of them in the wedding programme
• Giving a toast in their honour
• Reading a memorial poem during the ceremony or reception
• Holding a bouquet of flowers that reminds you of them

Including divorced parents

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, the general rule is to include who is hosting, a request for attendance, the names of the couple, the date and time, the location, and reception details. Here are some examples and guidelines for including divorced parents in the invitation:

Divorced Parents' Names:

The names of divorced parents should appear on separate lines, with no "and" between them. The mother's name is typically listed first, unless she is not contributing financially to the wedding, in which case the father's name comes first. It is acceptable to include step-parents as well. Here's an example:

> Ms. Sarah Smith

> Mr. John Smith

> request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter

> Michael Alan Timmons

Divorced Parents, Mother Remarried:

If the mother is remarried and has a different last name, it is appropriate to include the bride's last name to prevent confusion:

> Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jones

> Mr. John Smith

> request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter

> Michael Alan Timmons

Divorced Parents, Both Remarried:

If both parents are remarried, include the bride's last name for clarity:

> Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jones

> Mr. and Mrs. John Smith

> request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter

> Michael Alan Timmons

Step-parents:

If you only want to include a step-parent, such as your step-father, the wording can be adjusted slightly:

> Neena and Kenneth Peterson

> Invite you to the marriage of Neena's daughter

> Hunter Walter Franke

Including Both Biological Parents and Step-parents:

To include both biological parents and step-parents, you can use the following structure:

> Brandon and Amber Radcliffe

> along with Reyna Marie

> and John and Patricia Smith

> request the honor of your presence

> at the marriage of their children

> on Saturday, the tenth of November

> two thousand twenty-seven

> at two o'clock in the afternoon

Multiple Step-parents:

If you have multiple step-parents and want to include everyone, you have two options. The first option is more detailed:

> along with Elise & Christine Hanley,

> and Olivia & Addison Martin

> request the honor of your presence

> at the marriage of their children

> ...

The second option is more concise:

> Charlotte Melissa Hudson

> request the honor of your presence

> at the marriage of their children

> ...

General Tips:

• If one parent has been remarried for a significant time and the step-parent has played an important role in your life, you can include their name on the same line as their spouse.
• If you have two to four sets of remarried parents hosting, list each couple on their own line or use the phrase "Together with their families" to keep the invitation uncluttered.
• If one parent is widowed, start with their name or their new married name and their spouse's name. Be sure to specify who is related to the bride or groom.
• If you are including professional titles, keep in mind that a title should not be used with Mr., Mrs., or Ms.
• You can use "Together with their families" if the couple's parents are contributing financially to the wedding but you want to avoid listing individual names.

Host line etiquette

The host line is the opening line on a wedding invitation and traditionally names the hosts of the event, usually the bride's parents. However, including the names of both sets of parents as hosts is also acceptable and is a gracious option, especially if both are contributing financially. If the couple is hosting, the host line can be omitted or replaced with a warm and welcoming introduction. Here are some examples of host line wording for different scenarios:

One Set of Married Parents Hosting

For a very formal wedding invitation, include the parents' full names with middle names. If they have different last names, use "and" to join them.

• Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Timothy Williams (very formal with middle name)
• Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Williams (formal)
• Mr. and Mrs. Christopher and Sarah Williams (formal with 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 them.

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, the order can be based on preference or what 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 sets of parents are contributing, you can use a line such as "Together with their families" as the host line.

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

Honouring a Deceased Parent

A common way to honour a deceased parent is to include them alongside one of the couple's names. Here's an example:

• Lauren Martinez, daughter of Marta Martinez, and Robert Martinez
• Lauren Martinez, daughter of Robert Martinez and the late Marta Martinez

Couple Hosting Themselves

If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves, 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

RSVP instructions

Kindly respond by [date]

Please let us know if you can make it by [date]. This will give us time to give our caterers the final headcount and finalize our seating chart.

[Names of couple] request the pleasure of your company and ask that you confirm your attendance by [date].

We can't wait to celebrate with you! Please let us know if you can join us by [date].

We would be delighted if you could join us for our special day. Please confirm your attendance by [date].

We would love for you to celebrate with us! Please confirm your attendance by [date] by visiting our wedding website or sending us an email/text message.

We kindly request the honour of your presence at our wedding and ask that you RSVP by [date].

Reception information

The reception details are an important part of your wedding invitation. If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, you can simply write "reception to follow" or "dinner and dancing to follow". If the reception is at a different location, you should include the full address and other pertinent information on a separate details card tucked in with your main invitation.

If the reception is not immediately following the ceremony, include the time. You can also include the time if you wish to specify when dinner will be served.

• "Reception to follow"
• "Dinner and dancing to follow"
• "Drinks and dancing to follow"
• "Dinner, drinks and dancing to follow"
• "Cocktails, dinner and dancing to follow"
• "An evening of celebration to follow"
• "Reception immediately following at [venue]"
• "Dinner to follow at [venue]"
• "Reception to follow at [venue]"
• "Reception to follow at the residence of [name]"
• "Join us following the ceremony for a reception"
• "Please join us for drinks, dinner, and dancing immediately following the ceremony"
• "Let's Party! Join us for a reception of cocktails, dinner, and dancing following the ceremony"

If the reception is at a different location, you can include the following information on a separate card:

• Name and address of the reception venue
• Start and end times, if applicable
• Directions for how to get from the ceremony venue to the reception venue
• Information on pre-arranged transportation from the ceremony to the reception

Dress Code

Including dress code information on your invitation is not compulsory, but it can be helpful for guests. If you are having a black-tie wedding, it is important to include this information on the invitation. If no dress code is specified, guests will infer the dress code based on the formality of the invitation.

• "Black-tie (tuxedos and floor-length gowns)"
• "Formal attire (suits and dresses)"
• "Cocktail attire (suits or dress shirts with ties and cocktail dresses)"
• "Beach-casual (long- or short-sleeve shirts with pants or shorts, sundresses, and sandals)"

Frequently asked questions