Wording Wedding Invitations: A Guide To Getting It Right

Wedding invitations are an important part of the planning process. They are one of the first things your guests will see, touch, and feel, and they convey critical information. The wording of your wedding invitation can be tricky, but it doesn't have to be a daunting task. Here are some tips and guidelines to help you craft the perfect invitation.

The wedding invitation should include the following essential information:

- Host Line: Traditionally, the bride's parents are the hosts and are named at the top of the invitation. However, it is becoming more common to include both sets of parents or just the couple themselves as hosts.

- Request Line: This is where you invite your guests to join the celebration. The wording can vary depending on the formality of the event and the type of ceremony.

- Couple's Names: The names of the couple should be front and centre, with the bride's name traditionally coming before the groom's. For same-sex couples, the order of names can be alphabetical or based on design preference.

- Date, Time, and Location: Include the wedding date, start time, and venue address. For formal invitations, spell out the date, time, and state, and avoid using abbreviations.

- Reception Details: If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, a simple Reception to follow will suffice. Otherwise, include the reception address on a separate line or card.

- Hosted by one set of parents: Mr. and Mrs. Ernie Lively invite you to share in the joy of the marriage uniting their daughter Blake Ellender to Ryan Rodney on Saturday, the ninth of September two thousand twelve at noon. Boone Hall, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Dinner and merriment to follow.

- Hosted by both sets of parents: Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Adams and Mr. and Mrs. David Beckham request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their children Victoria Caroline and David Robert Joseph on Saturday, the fourth of July Nineteen ninety-nine at half past seven in the evening. Luttrellstown Castle, Clonsilla, Ireland. Reception to follow.

- Hosted by the couple: Amal Alamuddin and George Timothy Clooney request the pleasure of your company at the celebration of their marriage on Saturday, 27 September 2014 at noon. Aman Canal Grande Hotel in Venice, Italy. Festivities to follow.

- Hosted by divorced parents: Ms. Pamela Jacobsen and Mr. Fred Jacobsen invite you to share in their wedding festivities at the marriage of their daughter Jordan to Paige on Saturday, the tenth of April two thousand and twenty-one at half past six in the evening. Hotel Chantelle, New York City, NY. Dress as you wish, dine as you like, dance as you please.

Remember, these are just guidelines, and you can personalise your wedding invitations to match your style and tone. Feel free to get creative and add your unique touches!

The host line: This is where you state who is hosting the wedding, whether that be the couple themselves, one set of parents, or both sets of parents

The host line is the very first thing you'll want to include on your wedding invitation. This is where you state who is hosting the wedding, whether that be the couple themselves, one set of parents, or both sets of parents. Traditionally, the bride's parents are the hosts, but nowadays, it's becoming more common to include the groom's parents or even the couple themselves. Here are some examples of how to word the host line for each scenario:

Hosted by One Set of Parents

For a formal invitation, include the parents' full names, and for a very formal invite, you can include their middle names as well. If the parents have different last names, you can write "and" to join their names.

"Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Timothy Williams" (very formal, includes middle name)

"Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Williams" (formal)

"Mr. and Mrs. Christopher and Sarah Williams" (formal, includes both first names)

"Christopher and Sarah Williams" (less formal)

Hosted by Both Sets of Parents

For different-sex couples, list the bride's parents' names first, followed by the groom's parents' names. For same-sex couples, you can list the names in alphabetical order by last name or in the order that looks best with your 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)

Hosted by the Couple

If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves, you can skip the host line altogether or start the invitation with a warm and welcoming introduction, such as:

"Together with full hearts"

"With hearts full of love and joy"

Hosted by the Couple and 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 our families"

"Together with their parents"

Hosted by the Couple with Mention of Parents

"Sophia Marie Taylor, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, and John James Anderson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Anderson..."

Hosted by Divorced Parents

To include divorced parents on the invitation, list the mother's name first, followed by the father's name on a separate line without an "and" between them. If the mother is not remarried, use the courtesy title "Ms." followed by her preferred last name (maiden or married). To include stepparents, list the mother and stepfather's names first, followed by the father and stepmother's names.

Hosted by Parent, Including Deceased Parent

If you want to honour a deceased parent on your invitations, include them in the host line or after the bride or groom's name, using the phrase "the late" before their name.

"Mrs. and Mr. Michael Francis Middleton request the honour of your company at the marriage of their daughter Catherine Elizabeth Middleton..."

Hosted by Same-Sex Parents

To include the names of same-sex parents with different last names, use the courtesy titles "Mr.", "Mrs." or "Mx." and list their names in alphabetical order by last name. If the parents have the same last name, list their names in alphabetical order by first name.

"Mr. Michael and Mr. Sean Flannigan request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Julie Marie to Stephen Anthony..."

The request line: This is where you invite your guests to join your wedding celebration

The request line is where you extend an invitation to your wedding celebration and set the tone for your big day. Here are some examples of wording for the request line, depending on the style and formality of your wedding:

Formal Wedding in a Place of Worship

> "...request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their children..."

Formal Wedding Not in a Place of Worship

> "...request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their children..."

More Casual Wedding

> "...invite you to celebrate the wedding of..."

Very Informal Wedding

> "...invite you to join the fun as they stand together in front of family and friends..."

> "Join us as we celebrate..."

> "Together with our families, we invite you to join us..."

> "The honour of your presence is requested..."

> "Your attendance is cordially requested..."

> "Invite you to celebrate with them..."

> "Would love for you to join them..."

> "Request the honour of your presence..."

> "Request the pleasure of your company..."

> "Invite you to join us..."

> "Please join us to celebrate..."

> "Love the pleasure of your company..."

Couple's names: The names of the couple should be front and centre. For heterosexual couples, the bride's name typically comes first. For same-sex couples, the wording of the host line may dictate the order

The names of the couple should be the most prominent feature of the wedding invitation. The text of the invitation should be centred around the names, with the font size larger than the rest of the text. The couple's names should be written in full, including middle names for formal invitations. However, for a less formal feel, first names only may be used.

For heterosexual couples, the bride's name typically comes first, followed by the groom's name. This tradition stems from the custom of the bride's family hosting and paying for the wedding. However, this is not always the case nowadays, and the couple may be hosting the wedding themselves or alongside both sets of parents. In this case, the couple can decide whose name comes first.

For same-sex couples, the wording of the host line may dictate the order of the couple's names. If one set of parents is hosting, their names will come first, followed by their child's name. If both sets of parents are hosting, the names are usually listed alphabetically by last name or in the order that looks best with the invitation design. Same-sex couples can also choose to list their names alphabetically by last name or based on what sounds better.

Date, time and location: Include everything your guests need to know to show up at the right place and time

When it comes to wedding invitations, the date, time and location are essential details that require careful consideration. Here are some instructive guidelines to ensure your guests have all the information they need to arrive at the right place and time:

Dates:

Spell out the date for formal invitations to avoid any confusion. The traditional way is to write the date in full, including the day of the week, followed by the date itself, then the month and year on a separate line. For example: "Saturday, the twenty-sixth of October two thousand twenty-four". Note that the day of the week should be capitalised, and there should be no comma between the month and year.

For more casual weddings, you can be less formal. For instance, "Saturday, May 17th, 2025" or simply "Saturday, August 15th, 2026".

Times:

For formal invitations, write out the time in full, without using numerals. For instance, if your wedding begins at 3:30 pm, write it as "half after three o'clock". If your wedding is at 4:00 pm, you can write "four o'clock". Avoid using "a.m." or "p.m." and instead, specify the time of day, such as "in the morning", "in the afternoon" or "in the evening".

For casual weddings, using numerals is fine. So, "4:00 pm" or "5:30 pm" is acceptable.

Locations:

Include the full address for out-of-town guests, especially if the wedding is at a private residence. For example: "First Methodist Church, 260 East Market Street". If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, simply write "Reception to follow".

If the reception is at a different location, include the full address on a separate card for formal invitations. For less formal invites, include the reception details directly on the invitation.

Additional Tips:

• Proofread your invitations carefully to avoid errors.
• Capitalise proper names and titles, such as "Doctor".
• Use upper-case letters for days and months, but lower-case for numbers.
• Avoid abbreviations and symbols, except for "&" between names.
• Don't include zip codes unless absolutely necessary.

Reception details: If the ceremony and reception are at the same location, a simple reception to follow will suffice. If the reception is elsewhere, include the full address

Reception Details

If your ceremony and reception are at the same venue, you can simply say "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow." This can be included at the bottom of the invitation.

If the reception is at a different location, you can list the venue on the following line or on a separate insert card, called a reception card. This should be treated as a separate event and include all the relevant details, such as the full address and other pertinent information.

If you're not serving a full meal, you could say something like: "Join us after the ceremony for cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and dancing."

• "Reception immediately following the ceremony"
• "Dinner and dancing to follow"
• "Cake, punch, and merriment to follow" (if not serving a full meal)
• "Feasting and merriment to follow"
• "Dining, dancing, and happily ever after to follow"

Frequently asked questions