Wording Etiquette For Wedding Invites: The Solo Guest

Wedding invitation wording is an important piece of the planning puzzle. It's one of the first things your guests will see, and it conveys critical information about the event. The wording you choose can also indicate the level of formality, from rustic and casual to classic and upscale.

There are a few essential elements that should be included in all wedding invitations: a request to come to the wedding, the names of the couple, and reception information. The invitation should also recognise the hosts of the wedding, convey the tone and formality, and indicate how guests should RSVP.

The invitation should include the date, time, and location of the ceremony, and specify if children are allowed. If the reception is at a different location, include the address on a separate card for formal invitations.

Host Line: The host line is where the name(s) of the event hosts appear

Host Line

The host line is where the name(s) of the event hosts appear. Traditionally, the bride's parents are the hosts and their names are listed at the top of the invitation. However, it has become increasingly common for both sets of parents to be included as hosts, or for the couple to host the wedding themselves, or even for the couple to host together with their parents.

One Set of Married Parents Hosting

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

> Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Timothy Williams

For a less formal invitation, you can drop the middle name and use the format below:

> Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Williams

If you want to include both parents' first names, you can use the following:

> Mr. and Mrs. Christopher and Sarah Williams

For an informal invitation, you can use just the first and last names:

> Christopher and Sarah Williams

One Set of Divorced Parents Hosting

In this case, list the mother's name first, followed by the father's name. Do not use "and" to connect the names; instead, give each name its own line.

> Dr. Vance and Elizabeth Gregory

> Mr. James Abner and Lydia Abner

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, you can list the names according to preference or what looks best with the invitation design.

> Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Wong and Mr. and Mrs. Adam Hollis

> Aaron and Alisha Wong together with Adam and Beatrice Hollis

Couple Hosting with Their Families

When the couple and both their families are contributing, you can use a phrase like the following as the host line:

> 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 inviting introduction, such as:

> Together with full hearts

> With hearts full of love and joy

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

The request line is the second line of your wedding invitation, where you ask your invitees to attend your wedding celebration. Here are some examples of request lines:

• "Request the pleasure of your company"
• "Request the honour of your presence" (the British spelling of "honour" traditionally indicates the ceremony will be held in a church or another house of worship)
• "Invite you to celebrate with them"
• "Would love for you to join them"
• "Your presence is requested"

The request line is usually coupled with a host line, which comes first and tells guests who is hosting the event. Traditionally, the bride's parents are the hosts, but nowadays, it could also be the groom's parents, both sets of parents, stepparents, the couple themselves, or the couple along with their families. Here are some examples of host lines with the request line that follows:

• "Mr. and Mrs. Gutierrez request the pleasure of your company"
• "Mr. and Mrs. Kim together with Mr. and Mrs. Adjemian request the honour of your presence"
• "Together with their families, Kendrick and Kayla invite you to join them for their wedding day"
• "Joyfully welcome you to attend the celebration of their love"

The host line and request line are followed by the names of the happy couple, the wedding date, time, and location.

Couple's Names: The names of the couple are usually displayed in larger text

The names of the couple are the most important part of the wedding invitation and are usually displayed in larger text. Traditionally, the bride's name always comes first, followed by the groom's name. However, this tradition is not set in stone, and couples are free to decide whether or not to follow it. For same-sex couples, names can be listed in alphabetical order or simply in the order that sounds and looks best.

When the bride's parents are hosting, the bride is referred to by her first and middle names, and the groom by his full name and title. If the couple is hosting, their titles are optional. Formal invitations usually include the couple's full names and middle names. For a less formal feel, first names only may be used.

• "The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Jack Alexander Smith to Mason Jacob Kim"
• "Together with their families, Olivia Rose Smith and John Michael Reyes request the honour of your presence at their wedding"
• "Come party with us! Jack Alexander Smith and Mason Jacob Kim are tying the knot"
• "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"

Date, Time, and Location: Include the date, start time, and location of the wedding

The date, time, and location of your wedding are essential details that should be included in your invitation. Here are some tips and examples to help you word this information effectively:

The Date

• Formal Weddings: For formal invitations, it is customary to spell out the date in full rather than using numerals. For example, if your wedding is on Saturday, October 26th, 2024, you would write "Saturday, the twenty-sixth of October two thousand twenty-four". The day of the week should be capitalized, and there should be a comma between the day and the date. The year is usually written on a separate line from the day and month.
• Casual Weddings: If you're having a more casual wedding, you can be more relaxed in your wording. For example, for a wedding on Sunday, May 17th, 2025, you could simply write "Saturday, May 17th, 2025".
• Consistency: Try to maintain consistency in your date formatting, including on any enclosures or response cards. For instance, if you've used the traditional wording for the invitation, carry that over to the RSVP card: "Kindly respond by the seventeenth of April".

The Time

• Formal Weddings: In formal invitations, it is customary to write out the time in full, without using numerals. For example, for a wedding starting at 3:30 p.m., you would write "half after three o'clock". If your wedding begins on the hour, simply write the number followed by "o'clock", e.g., "four o'clock".
• Informal Weddings: For a more casual event, you can use numerals, e.g., "4pm" or "5:30pm". Just ensure that the wording matches the formality of the date.
• Time of Day: It is not necessary to specify "in the morning," "in the afternoon," or "in the evening" unless there could be confusion about whether the event is in the morning or evening (for times between 8, 9, or 10 o'clock). Any time after 5 p.m. is considered the evening, and between noon and 4:30 p.m. is the afternoon. For a noon wedding, simply write "noon".
• Reception Timing: If your reception immediately follows the ceremony in the same location, you can simply write "reception to follow" or "dinner and dancing to follow". If the reception is at a different time and/or location, include a separate reception card with the details.

The Location

• Venue Address: Include the name and full street address of your wedding venue, including the city and state. If your wedding is abroad, add the country as well. The venue's street address is usually included only if it is a private residence or if omitting it could lead to confusion.
• Well-Known Institutions: For well-known institutions with only one location, such as the "Brooklyn Museum of Art", you don't need to include the address.
• Full Details: Ensure you provide all pertinent information so that your guests can find the location easily. If the reception is at a different location, include those details on a separate card for formal invitations. For informal invitations, you can include the reception details on the main invitation.

Reception Details: Notify guests of what's scheduled to follow the wedding ceremony

If the reception is held at the same location as the ceremony, you can simply write "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow". If the reception is more casual, you could say "Cake, punch, and merriment to follow" or "Feasting and merriment to follow".

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. If the reception is at a different time and/or date, be sure to include this information. You could write:

> Join us after the ceremony for cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and dancing at [venue name], [address], at [time].

If the reception is on a different day, you could write:

> You are warmly invited to continue the celebrations at our wedding reception on [date] at [venue name], [address], at [time].

If you're having a reception-only wedding, the wording should make it clear to guests that it is just a reception, with no ceremony included. You could write:

> " [Names of couple] request the pleasure of your company for a reception in celebration of their new marriage."

> "The newlyweds [Names of couple] invite you to a reception in honour of their recent marriage."

Frequently asked questions