Wording Wedding Invites: Etiquette Guide For Bride And Groom

Wedding invitation wording can be a tricky task, but it's important to get it right as it's one of the first things your guests will see and it conveys critical information. The good news is that the rules of wedding invitation etiquette are not that complicated, and there's room for creativity. Here are the key things to include:

1. Host Line: Start by stating who is hosting the wedding, usually the person(s) paying for it. This could be one or both sets of parents, the couple, or a combination of both.

2. Request Line: Invite your guests to join your wedding celebration. The wording here can be formal or casual, depending on the tone you want to set.

3. Couple's Names: The names of the couple should be front and center. For heterosexual couples, the bride's name typically comes first. For same-sex couples, you can go in alphabetical order or choose what looks best with the design.

4. Date, Time, and Location: Include the wedding date, start time, and venue name and address. For formal invitations, spell out the date and time in full.

5. Reception Details: Let guests know what to expect after the ceremony, such as Reception to follow or Dinner and dancing to follow. If the reception is at a different location, include the address.

6. Dress Code and RSVP: Including dress code information is optional but helpful. You can also mention how guests should RSVP, such as via a wedding website or response card.

The host line: This is where you state who is hosting the wedding, usually the person(s) paying for it

The host line is the first line of a wedding invitation and is where the name(s) of the event host(s) appear. The hosts are usually the people paying for the wedding. The host line can be omitted if the couple is hosting the wedding themselves.

If the bride's parents are hosting, their names would traditionally come first, followed by the groom's parents. However, including the names of both sets of parents as hosts is also a gracious option, regardless of who is footing the bill. For same-sex couples, the names can be listed according to preference or in the order that looks best with the invitation design.

One Set of Married Parents Hosting

Include the parents' full names, with middle names included for a very formal wedding. If they have different last names, use "and" to join the two names.

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

List the mother's name first, followed by the father's name on a separate line. Do not use "and" to connect the two names.

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, list the names in alphabetical order by last name or in the order that looks best with the 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 of their families are contributing to the wedding, you can use a phrase such as:

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

Couple Hosting

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

• "Together with full hearts"
• "With hearts full of love and joy"

Honoring Deceased Parents

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

"Lauren Martinez, daughter of Marta Martinez, or Lauren Martinez, daughter of Robert Martinez and the late Marta Martinez."

Including Step-Parents

If you have step-parents, you can include them in the host line as well. Here's an example:

"Mr. & Mrs. Flores, Mr. & Mrs. Hill, Mr. & Mrs. Byrne and Mr. & Mrs. Lin request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of Talia Flores & Stephen Byrne."

Remember, the host line is just the first part of your wedding invitation. Be sure to include the other essential elements such as the request line, the couple's names, the date, time, and location of the ceremony, and any post-ceremony plans.

The attendance request: Let your guests know what they are being invited to

The attendance request line is where you extend the invitation to your wedding and can be used to set the tone for your celebration. Here are some examples of wording for this line:

• "The honour of your presence" – traditionally used to denote a religious service.
• "The pleasure of your company" – used to denote a non-religious ceremony.
• "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"
• "Together with their parents, invite you to celebrate with them"
• "Together with their families, invite you to share in their joy"
• "Together with full hearts, invite you to join them"
• "With hearts full of love and joy, invite you to celebrate with them"

The attendance request line can be followed by an action line, which outlines what guests are being invited to share in. Here are some examples:

• "At the marriage of their daughter" – if the bride's parents are hosting.
• "At the marriage of their children" – if both sets of parents are hosting.
• "At the celebration of their union" – if the couple is hosting.
• "As they say 'I do'!"
• "In celebration of their marriage"

The 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, so they should be displayed in a larger text and oftentimes in a fancy typeface. The bride's name typically comes before the groom's name, and for formal invitations, the bride's first and middle names are used, while the groom's first and last names are used. However, this is all up to personal style and same-sex couples can list names alphabetically or based on what looks best with the invitation design.

If you are using traditional wedding invitation wording, follow these rules to format names:

• Capitalize proper names and titles.
• Don't use punctuation, except after courtesy titles.
• Avoid abbreviations; in general, spell everything out except courtesy titles.
• Don't spell out courtesy titles, except for "Doctor" in the case of medical doctors.
• Consider using both partners' full legal names. If you prefer to go by a nickname, use it on the save-the-date or other, less formal pieces of the invitation suite.
• Drop the bride's and/or groom's middle names if they become too long to fit on one line.
• "The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Talia Camila Flores and Stephen Anthony Byrne"
• "Talia Flores and Stephen Byrne invite you to a celebration of their love and commitment"
• "Together with their parents Talia Flores & Stephen Byrne invite you to share in their joy as they tie the knot"
• "Mr. & Mrs. Jon Flores request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Talia Camila Flores to Stephen Anthony Byrne"
• "Mr. & Mrs. Tom Byrne request the honour of your presence at the marriage of Talia Camila Flores to their son Stephen Anthony Byrne"

Date and time: The date and time are often spelled out in full for formal invites

When it comes to wedding invites, the date and time are usually spelled out in full for formal invites. Here are some examples and guidelines to help you with the wording:

Date and Time Wording Examples:

For a formal wedding invitation, the date and time are typically spelled out in full. For instance, if your wedding is on the fifteenth of September 2024 at 4:30 p.m., the wording could be:

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

• "Saturday, the eleventh of June two thousand and twenty-three at twelve o'clock in the afternoon."
• "Saturday, the fourth of July Nineteen ninety-nine at half past seven in the evening."
• "Saturday, the twenty-seventh of September 2014 at noon."
• "Friday, the fourth of April 2018 at four o'clock in the afternoon."

The day of the week and the specific month should be capitalised. The year is written in numerals and is lowercase, with no "and" between the thousands and the hundreds.

The time of day is also spelled out, and you can include whether it's morning, afternoon, or evening. For instance:

• “Four o'clock" or "four o'clock in the afternoon" for 4:00 p.m.
• “Half after four o'clock" or "half past four o'clock" for 4:30 p.m.
• “Twelve o'clock" or "twelve o'clock in the afternoon" for 12:00 p.m.

Evening begins at five o'clock, and afternoon is from noon to four o'clock.

Additional Tips:

• For a less formal or casual wedding invitation, you can use numerals for the date and time, like "Saturday, 6/11/2024, 12:00 pm."
• Be sure to double-check the spelling and wording of your venue with them.
• Including the specific spaces within the venue can be helpful, like "In the Chapel" or "On the Lawn."
• Including the full street address is optional, and you may choose to include the state or postcode if needed.

Location: Include the name and address of the venue

The location line of your wedding invitation is where you include the name and address of your wedding venue. This is one of the most important details to include, so that your guests know where to go!

The format you use depends on the formality of your wedding. For a formal wedding, write out the full address, including the city and state. You can also include the street address if the venue is a private residence, or if omitting it would cause confusion. If your wedding is taking place abroad, include the country as well.

• "at [venue name and address]"
• "at the [co: 5>venue name], [city], [state]"
• "at [co: 2]venue name], [city, state] zip code"
• "at [co: 3]venue name], [city], [state], [country]"

If you're having a more casual or modern wedding, you can be more flexible with the location line. Here are some ideas:

• "at [co: 5]venue name], [city]"
• "at [co: 2]venue name] in [city], [state]"
• "at our favourite spot, [co: 5]venue name and address]"
• "join us at [co: 5]venue name and address] for the ceremony"

Remember to include reception details if the ceremony and reception are at different locations. You can include the full address on a separate card, or simply write "reception to follow" if it's at the same venue.

Frequently asked questions