Crafting The Perfect Wedding Celebration Invite

Wedding invitation wording can be a minefield, but it's an important part of wedding planning. The right wording ensures your guests have all the information they need and avoids any confusion or awkwardness.

The wording of your wedding invitation will depend on various factors, including the formality of your wedding, the venue, the guest list, and whether you're having a separate ceremony.

- Include all the necessary information: This includes the host names, a warm invitation sentence, the couple's names, the date and time, the location of the ceremony and reception (if different), and an RSVP card or instructions for a digital RSVP.

- Be clear about who is invited: Specify whether children are invited and if guests can bring a plus one.

- Proofread thoroughly: Get a fresh pair of eyes to check for any errors or omissions.

- Provide clarity: Be specific about timings, directions, and instructions to avoid chaos and questions from guests.

- Consider tradition: Traditional wedding invitation wording includes placing the bride's name before the groom's and avoiding including a gift registry on the invitation.

- Choose the right tone: Depending on your wedding style, you may opt for traditional, modern, informal, or fun wording.

- Be mindful of special circumstances: If you have divorced or remarried parents, widowed parents, or are hosting the wedding yourself, adjust the wording accordingly.

- Avoid certain phrases for reception-only invitations: If you're sending invitations for a reception-only celebration, avoid phrases like witness, view, or presence at their wedding. Instead, focus on celebrating the marriage.

Wording for a wedding celebration invite when the ceremony and reception are at separate venues

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, there are some basic elements that should be included no matter what. Here are some tips and examples for wording a wedding celebration invite when the ceremony and reception are at separate venues:

Host Line

Traditionally, the bride's parents are the hosts of the wedding and are named at the top of the invitation. However, including the names of both sets of parents as hosts is a gracious option, especially if they are contributing financially. If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves, you can skip the host line or start with a warm and welcoming introduction such as "Together with full hearts" or "With hearts full of love and joy".

The Request to Attend

This is where you extend the invitation to attend the wedding and set the tone for the celebration. Here are some options for wording 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 the ceremony will be held in a church or another house of worship)

The Names of the Couple

If the names of the couple haven't been included in the host line, they should be included a few lines down. For different-sex couples, the bride's name typically comes first, followed by the groom. For same-sex couples, you can go in alphabetical order or simply choose what sounds better.

Date and Time

For formal weddings, the date and time should be written out in full (e.g. "Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-one, at half after four in the afternoon"). For casual weddings, numerals are fine.

Ceremony Venue

List the ceremony venue by writing the venue name on one line and the city and state on the following line. The street address is not usually needed unless omitting it would be confusing or if the wedding is taking place at the host's home.

Reception Information

If the ceremony and reception are at the same location, you can simply say "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow". If the reception is at a different location, include this information on a separate line or on a separate insert card. Include the time if the reception is not immediately following the ceremony.

Dress Code

Including the dress code on the invitation is optional, but it can be helpful for guests. If you don't include it, the invitation itself will indicate the dress code based on its formality. For example, a very fancy invitation will likely indicate a formal, black-tie affair.

"Together with their families, Emma and Jax request the pleasure of your company at their wedding celebration on Saturday, the fifth of November, two thousand twenty-one, at four o'clock in the afternoon at The Olana, 1851 Turbeville Road, Hickory Creek, Texas. Adult reception to follow. Black tie."

Wording for a wedding celebration invite when the couple is already married

When creating wedding celebration invites for a couple that is already married, it is important to be clear that the invite is for a post-wedding celebration. Here are some ideas for wording:

Paragraph 1

The key to writing wedding celebration invites for a couple that is already married is to make it clear that guests are invited to a celebration of the marriage, rather than the ceremony itself. This is especially important if the celebration will be held some time after the wedding. Here is an example:

"You are invited to a celebration of love and marriage for [Couple's Names]."

Paragraph 2

If the couple has already had an intimate wedding or elopement, this can be acknowledged in the invitation. Here is an example:

"We tied the knot! Our ceremony was small, but our love is big, and we want to share our joy with you. Please join us for a celebration."

Paragraph 3

If the couple is hosting the celebration themselves, this can be included in the invitation. Here is an example:

"[Couple's Names] invite you to join them as they celebrate their marriage."

Paragraph 4

Details about the celebration, such as the date, time, and location, should also be included. Here is an example:

"Please join us on [date] at [time] at [location] as we celebrate our marriage."

Paragraph 5

If there are multiple hosts, such as the couple's parents, this can also be included. Here is an example:

"Together with their families, [Couple's Names] invite you to a celebration of their marriage."

Paragraph 6

Finally, if there is a specific dress code or theme for the celebration, this can be mentioned as well. Here is an example:

"Join us for a black-tie celebration honouring our marriage."

Wording for a wedding celebration invite when the ceremony is intimate

The Host Line

The host line is where the name(s) of the event host(s) appear. The hosts are typically the people who are paying for the wedding. Depending on who’s hosting, the wording will vary slightly: it could be one set of parents, both sets of parents, the couple and their parents together, or just the couple.

If you are hosting an intimate ceremony, you may choose to include a line such as "Together with their families".

The Request Line

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

Couple's Names

Make sure the couple's names are front and centre. For heterosexual couples, the bride's name traditionally comes before the groom's. For same-sex couples, the wording of the host line may dictate whose name comes first.

Date, Time and Location

Don't make your guests guess! Include everything they need to show up at the right place at the right time.

Post-Ceremony Plans

Let your guests know what to expect after the ceremony. It’s a great way to set the tone for your reception with clear expectations.

Examples

Formal

"The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Talia Camila Flores and Stephen Anthony Byrne

Saturday, the eleventh of June two thousand and twenty-three at twelve o'clock in the afternoon

Arctic Club Hotel

700 Third Avenue

Seattle, Washington

Reception to follow"

Casual

"Together with their parents Talia Flores & Stephen Byrne invite you to share in their joy as they tie the knot

June 11, 2024

12:00 pm

Arctic Club Hotel

700 Third Avenue

Seattle, Washington

Dinner and dancing to follow"

Wording for a wedding celebration invite when the couple is hosting

When the couple is hosting the wedding, the host line at the top of the invitation can be omitted. However, if you want to include the names of both sets of parents, you can use "Together with their parents/families".

• "Together with full hearts, [Couple's names] invite you to share in their joy at their wedding on [date] at [time] at [venue name and address]. Reception to follow."
• "With hearts full of love and joy, we request the honour of your presence at the marriage of [groom's name] and [bride's name] on [date] at [time] at [venue name and address]. Dinner and dancing to follow."
• "The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of [groom's name] and [bride's name] on [date] at [time] at [venue name and address]. Reception to follow."
• [Couple's names] request the pleasure of your company at the celebration of their union on [date] at [time] at [venue name and address]. Dinner, drinks and dancing to follow.

Wording for a wedding celebration invite when the couple's parents are divorced

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, the rules of etiquette are not that complicated and are there to serve as a guideline. The most important rule is to create a beautiful wedding invitation that represents the couple, their love, and communicates the vital details of the wedding.

Host Line Wording

The host line typically includes the names of those financially contributing to the wedding. If the couple's parents are divorced, the mother's name is listed first, followed by the father's name on a separate line. The "and" conjunction is omitted as it signifies marriage. If a parent has remarried, the step-parent's name is included on the same line. Here are some examples:

Ms. Sarah Smith

Mr. John Smith

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jones

Mr. John Smith

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jones

Mr. and Mrs. John Smith

Request Line Wording

The request line is an invitation to attend the wedding. Here are some options for the wording:

• "The pleasure of your company"
• "At the marriage of their children"
• "Would love for you to join them"
• "Invite you to celebrate with them"
• "Honor of your presence"

Couple's Names

Traditionally, the bride's name precedes the groom's name. For same-sex couples, there is no traditional order, and alphabetical order or what sounds better can be used. Here is an example:

"Emma and Jax request the pleasure of your company..."

Date and Time

For formal weddings, the date and time are written out in full. The year is optional, and the time of day is spelled out. Here is an example:

"Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-one, at half after four in the afternoon"

Reception Information

For very formal invitations, the reception information is included on a separate card. Otherwise, it can be included on the invitation if there is room. If the ceremony and reception are at the same location, the invitation can state "Reception immediately following" or "Dinner and dancing to follow." Here are some examples:

• "Reception immediately following the ceremony"
• "Dinner and dancing to follow at Casa de la Guerra"

Dress Code

The dress code is usually included in the lower right corner of the invitation. If not specified, the formality of the invitation itself will indicate the dress code. Here are some examples:

• "Black tie required"
• "Black tie optional"

RSVP Details

Most couples include a separate response card for guests to fill out and return. Alternatively, guests can RSVP via a wedding website.

In summary, when addressing wedding invitations for divorced parents, keep the mother's and father's names on separate lines and include step-parents' names if applicable. The rest of the invitation wording can follow traditional guidelines, with flexibility for same-sex couples and modern adaptations.

Frequently asked questions