Crafting The Perfect Weekend Wedding Invitation

Wedding invitation wording can be a daunting task for many couples, especially those who are unsure about the etiquette. The style of your wedding will set the tone for your wedding invitation wording. Formal language is best for traditional affairs, but if you're planning a more casual day, you have scope to be a bit more cheeky or inventive with your wording.

- Host Line: Traditionally, the bride's parents are the hosts and are named at the top of the invitation. However, including the names of both sets of parents as hosts is a gracious option, and you can also mention if the couple is hosting. If it's a collaborative affair, you can use phrases like Together with their parents or Together with our families.

- Request Line: This is where you extend the invitation to attend your wedding. Some phrases you can use include The honour of your presence, The pleasure of your company, Invite you to celebrate with them, or Would love for you to join them.

- Couple's Names: Traditionally, the bride's name precedes the groom's name. For same-sex couples, you can go in alphabetical order or choose what sounds better. Formal invitations refer to the bride by her first and middle names, while the groom's full name and title are used. For informal invitations, using first names only is acceptable.

- Date and Time: For formal invitations, spell out the date and time in full. For example, Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-one, at half after four in the afternoon. For casual weddings, using numerals is fine.

- Venue: Include the venue's name and city, and for formal invitations, spell out the state as well. The street address is usually not needed unless it's a private residence or necessary for clarity.

- Reception Information: If the ceremony and reception are at the same location, you can simply state Reception to follow. Otherwise, include the reception details on a separate line or card.

- Dress Code: Including the dress code in the lower right corner of the invitation is optional but helpful for guests. If not specified, the invitation's formality will indicate the expected attire.

- RSVP Details: Include a separate response card or direct guests to your wedding website for RSVPs. The RSVP deadline is typically about four weeks before the wedding.

- Additional Information: You can include extra details on an insert card or your wedding website, such as directions, accommodation suggestions, dietary requirements, and social media preferences.

Remember, these are just guidelines, and you can personalise your weekend wedding invitation to match your style and tone. Happy planning!

The request to come to the wedding

• "We request the pleasure of your company."
• "We're getting married."
• "Join us to celebrate."
• "The pleasure of your company is requested."
• "Request the honour of your presence."
• "Invite you to celebrate with us."
• "Would love for you to join us."

If the wedding is a formal, traditional affair, the wording is usually more formal, such as "We request the pleasure of your company." If the wedding is more casual, the wording can be more relaxed and creative, like "We're getting married!" or "Join us to celebrate."

• "Together with their families, [Bride/Groom full name] and [Bride/Groom full name] request the pleasure of your company at their marriage."
• "[Bride/Groom full name] and [Bride/Groom full name] invite you to celebrate their wedding."
• "The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of [Bride's name] and [Groom's name]."

Remember, for same-sex couples, the traditional rule of the woman's name first does not apply. The names can be listed in alphabetical order or simply in the order that sounds best.

The names of the couple

For heterosexual couples, the bride's name typically comes first, followed by the groom's full name. For same-sex couples, there is no traditional rule, so go with what sounds better or is alphabetical.

If the bride's parents' names are listed at the top, the bride's name can just be her first and middle name, without her last name. In that case, the groom's name is either listed in full or with his first and middle names followed by "Son of Mr. & Mrs..."

For formal invitations, it is customary to use 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.

Formal Wedding Invitation Wording Examples:

• "The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Talia Camila Flores and Stephen Anthony Byrne..."
• "Amal Alamuddin and George Timothy Clooney request the pleasure of your company at the celebration of their marriage..."
• "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..."
• "Talia Camila Flores & Stephen Anthony Byrne request the honour of your company at the celebration of their union..."

Informal Wedding Invitation Wording Examples:

• "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. Flores would love your company at the marriage of their daughter Talia Flores to Stephen Byrne..."
• "Mr. & Mrs. Byrne joyfully invite you to the marriage of Talia Flores to their son, Stephen Byrne..."
• "The Flores and Byrne families joyfully invite you to the marriage of Talia Flores & Stephen Byrne..."

Reception information

The reception details are an important part of your wedding invitation. If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, you can simply write "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow". If the reception is at a different location, include the full address and other relevant information on a separate card.

If the reception is not immediately after the ceremony, include the time. For example, "Reception at 7:00 pm".

If the reception is at the same venue but in a different part of the building, you can write something like "Join us upstairs for drinks and dancing after the ceremony".

• "Reception immediately following the ceremony"
• "Dinner and dancing to follow"
• "Cake, punch, and merriment to follow"
• "Feasting and merriment to follow"
• "Dining, dancing, and happily ever after to follow"
• "Join us for cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and dancing at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu at 4 pm"
• "Reception to follow at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Smith"

Date and time

When it comes to the date and time of your wedding, there are a few key things to keep in mind. Firstly, consider the tone of your wedding – formal or informal. This will dictate whether you use numerals or spell out the date and time in full. For a traditional or formal wedding, write out the date and time in full, for example, "Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-one, at half after four in the afternoon". If your wedding is informal, it's fine to use numerals, for instance, "4:00 p.m." or "4:30 p.m.".

The day of the week and month should always be capitalised, and the year should be in lowercase. There is no "and" when spelling out the year. The time of day should be written out as "four o'clock" or "half after four o'clock". From noon until 4 pm is considered afternoon, and evening begins at 5 pm.

If your wedding is taking place over a whole weekend, you can refer to this as a "wedding weekend" in your invitation. You might also want to include an insert card with your invitation, providing guests with additional details about the weekend's activities. Alternatively, you can direct guests to your wedding website, where they can find more information.

It's important to give your guests plenty of notice, especially if your wedding is taking place over a holiday weekend or requires guests to travel. Aim to send out your invitations three months in advance for destination weddings, and six to eight weeks ahead of time for local weddings.

Dress code

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, the dress code is optional, but it can be helpful for guests. If you're having a black-tie wedding, you must include this information on the invitation. If you don't include attire details, guests will infer the dress code from the formality of the invitation itself. Here are some ideas for how to word the dress code on your invitations:

White Tie

White tie or full evening dress is the most formal wedding dress code. Men wear long-tail tuxedos, and women wear full-length ball gowns.

Black Tie

Black tie usually indicates an evening wedding where men wear tuxedos with black bow ties and women wear formal floor-length gowns. Traditionally, men would wear a black tuxedo, but black tie does not mean you must wear black. You could include the following:

• Black tie
• Tuxedos and floor-length gowns

Formal or Black Tie Optional

These phrases mean that guests are encouraged to wear black-tie attire, but it's not mandatory. Men can wear a dark suit with a shirt and tie, and women should wear a floor-length gown, knee-length cocktail dress, pantsuit, or dressy separates. You could use wording such as:

• Formal attire (black tie optional)
• Black tie optional
• Formal

Lounge Suit or Semi-Formal

This indicates a less formal daytime wedding. The wedding party will be in formal attire, but it's optional for guests. Men should wear a classic suit or tux with a tie, and women should wear formal evening wear. You could include:

• Lounge suit
• Semi-formal
• Jacket and tie

Cocktail Attire

Cocktail attire is a step above smart casual. Women can wear dresses of any length above floor-length, and men can wear a suit (tie optional) or sports jacket and dress shirt. You could use wording such as:

• Cocktail attire
• Dressy casual

Smart Casual

Smart casual means guests should dress neatly, without being too dressy or too casual. Men can wear dark denim, chinos, or suit pants with a neat shirt, and women can wear a skirt or smart trousers. You could include:

Smart casual

Where to Include the Dress Code

There are three main places you can include the dress code:

• On the wedding invitation, in the lower left or right-hand corner, or at the bottom centre
• On a separate information or details card, along with other important guest information
• On your wedding website

Frequently asked questions