Crafting The Perfect Wedding Invitation: A Guide To Gracious Wording

Wedding invitations are an important part of the planning process. They're one of the first things your guests will see, touch, and feel, and they convey critical information.

The wording of your wedding invitation will depend on the tone and style of your wedding. If you're having a rustic wedding, for example, you might want to use informal wording. On the other hand, if you're having a classic, formal wedding, you'll want to use more traditional language.

But no matter the style, there are some essential elements that should be included in your wedding invitation:

- The host line: This is where you name the hosts of the event, usually the people paying for the wedding.

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

- The couple's names: Make sure your names are front and centre!

- The date, time, and location of the ceremony: Include everything your guests need to show up at the right place at the right time.

- The reception details: Let your guests know what type of festivities to expect.

You may also want to include an RSVP card and enclosure cards with more information, such as accommodation and travel details.

Now that you know the basics, it's time to start drafting your wedding invitation!

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

The host line is the opening line of a wedding invitation and names the hosts of the event. If you're hosting the wedding yourselves, this line can be omitted. However, if you're including the names of the people hosting the wedding, there are a few different ways to word the host line depending on who is hosting. Here are some examples:

One Set of Married Parents Hosting

Include the parents' full names (with middle names for very formal weddings). If they have different last names, write "and" to join the two names.

• Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Timothy Williams (very formal; 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.

Both Sets of Parents Hosting

For different-sex couples, list the bride's parents' names at the top of the invite, 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. 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 opt for something like, "Together with their families" or "Together with our families" or "Together with their parents".

Couple Hosting

If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves, you can skip the host line altogether or start the invitation wording with a warm and welcoming 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 on your invitation, where you ask the invitee to attend your wedding celebration. Here are some examples of request lines for wedding invitations:

• "Request the pleasure of your company"
• "Invite you to celebrate with them"
• "Would love for you to join them"
• "Request the honour of your presence"
• "Joyfully invite you to share in a celebration of love and commitment"
• "Invite you to join them in the celebration of their union"
• "Invite you to share in their joy as they become husband and wife"
• "Request the pleasure of your company as they exchange vows"

The request line can be formal or informal, depending on the style of your wedding. For a formal wedding, you might use "request the honour of your presence", while for an informal wedding, you could say "invite you to celebrate with us".

If the couple's names are not included in the host line, be sure to include them in the request line. You can include full names, or just first names, even for a formal invitation. Traditionally, the bride's name would come first, followed by the groom's name, but you can feature the names in whichever order you prefer.

The request line is a great place to set the tone for your celebration and let your personality as a couple shine through. Whether you're having a traditional, formal wedding or a fun, playful celebration, the request line is a chance to get creative and make your invitation unique to you.

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 the most prominent feature. Here are some ideas for how to word this section of the invitation:

Formal Wording

For a formal wedding invitation, it is traditional to include the first and middle names of the couple. For heterosexual couples, the bride's name typically comes first, followed by the groom. For same-sex couples, the names can be listed in alphabetical order by surname or in the order that looks best with the invitation design.

> Together with their families, Lydia Harrison and William Jones invite you to join them at the celebration of their marriage.

> Mr. and Mrs. John Smith & Mr. and Mrs. James Jones invite you to celebrate the marriage of their children Jessica and Edward.

> Together with their parents, Kenzie M. Smith and Jennifer L. Smith and Mark Franklin and Mary Elizabeth Reyes request the honour of your presence at their wedding.

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

> Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Timothy Williams request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Blake Ellender to Ryan Rodney.

Informal Wording

Informal wedding invitations may be more suitable for less formal weddings or for couples who want a more modern and relaxed tone. These invitations may use first names only and a more casual request for guests to join the celebration.

> Jessica and Jane are getting hitched!

> Join us to celebrate our wedding.

> [Couple] invite you to join them as they say "I do!".

> Please join [couple] as we tie the knot!

> The wedding of [couple].

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

> Good food, good drinks, good friends. Jack Smith & Mason Kim request you celebrate with them as they get hitched.

> Jack Smith & Mason Kim would love to eat wedding cake with you.

> Jennifer and Jacob Jones invite you to join them for the marriage of their parents Jessica Smith & Edward Jones.

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

When it comes to wedding invitations, the date, time and location of the ceremony are essential details that should be communicated clearly to your guests. Here are some tips and examples to help you word this section of your wedding invitation:

Formal Wording

For a formal wedding invitation, the date and time are usually written out in full, with no numerals. Here are some examples:

• "Saturday, the twenty-sixth of October two thousand twenty-four at half after five o'clock in the evening"
• "Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-one, at half after four in the afternoon"
• "Saturday, the seventeenth of August two thousand twenty-four at half after four o'clock"

Informal Wording

If you're having a more casual wedding, you can write the date and time more informally. Here are some examples:

• "Saturday, May 17th, 2025, at 4:30 p.m."
• "Saturday, June 21st, 2025, 4pm"
• "Saturday, August 15th, 2026, 5:30pm"

Additional Tips

• Capitalisation: The day of the week should be capitalised (unless your wedding invitation's font is all uppercase or lowercase).
• Commas: There should be a comma between the day of the week and the date.
• Hyphen: If the date falls between the 21st and 31st of the month, use a hyphen between the tens and ones place (e.g., "twenty-sixth").
• Year: The year is usually on a separate line from the day and month, with no comma in between. Use a hyphen between the tens and ones in the year (e.g., "two thousand twenty-four").
• Time of Day: For times on the half-hour, formal invitations traditionally say "half after" instead of "half past". The time should be written in lowercase letters.
• A.m. and p.m.: You don't need to include "a.m." or "p.m." unless you're writing the time informally.
• Morning, Afternoon, Evening: You don't need to specify "morning", "afternoon" or "evening" unless the time is between 8-10 a.m. or 5-10 p.m., where there could be confusion. For times after 5 p.m., use "in the evening".
• Reception Details: If the reception follows immediately at the same venue, you can simply say, "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow." If the reception is at a different time or location, include this information on a separate reception card.

Reception Details: If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, just say reception to follow

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, it's important to include all the essential details, such as the couple's full names, the hosts, the ceremony location, and the reception venue. Here are some tips and examples for crafting the reception details section of your wedding invitation when the ceremony and reception are held at the same venue:

Keep it Simple

If the ceremony and reception are held at the same venue, you can simply state "Reception to follow" at the bottom of the invitation. This concise phrase conveys all the necessary information without taking up too much space.

Provide Additional Details

While "Reception to follow" is sufficient, you may want to include more specifics about the reception, especially if there will be activities like dining or dancing. Here are some examples of wording you can use:

• "Dinner and dancing to follow"
• "Cocktails, 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"

Consider the Timing

If the reception is not immediately following the ceremony and there is a gap between the two, be sure to include the timing details. For example, you can say, "Reception at 6:00 pm" or "Join us for the reception at sunset."

Match the Tone of Your Invitation

The wording you choose for the reception details should align with the overall tone and formality of your wedding invitation. If you're having a formal wedding, opt for traditional phrasing such as "Dinner and dancing to follow." For a more casual affair, feel free to use light-hearted wording like "Cake and celebrations afterward."

Include Practical Information

While it's not necessary to include the street address of the venue if the ceremony and reception are at the same location, you may want to provide additional practical information for your guests. This could include directions to the venue, transportation options, or lodging suggestions, especially if you have guests travelling from out of town. This type of information can be included on a separate insert card within the invitation suite.

Remember, the key is to provide clear and concise information about the reception while maintaining a cohesive and elegant invitation design. Choose wording that reflects the style and tone of your wedding, and don't be afraid to add a touch of personality to make it unique!

Frequently asked questions