Wording Your Wedding: Afternoon Edition

Wedding invitation wording can be tricky, but it's an important part of ensuring your guests have all the information they need to attend your big day. The wording you choose will also give guests an idea of the level of formality of your wedding. This article will cover everything you need to know about how to word an afternoon wedding invitation.

How to word the host line

The host line is the opening line of a wedding invitation and it names the hosts of the event. Here are some tips and examples to help you word the host line for an afternoon wedding invitation:

One Set of Married Parents Hosting

If the bride's parents are hosting the wedding, their names are usually listed first, followed by the groom's parents. Include the parents' full names, with middle names for a very formal wedding. If they have different last names, use "and" to join their names. Here are some examples:

• Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Timothy Williams (very formal, including middle name)
• 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

If the bride's parents are divorced, include the mother's name first, followed by the father's name on a separate line. Do not use "and" to connect their names. Here's an example:

• Dr. Vance and Elizabeth Gregory
• Mr. James 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. Here are some examples:

• 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

If the couple and their families are contributing to the wedding, you can use a phrase like "Together with their families" as the host line. Here are some variations:

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

Couple Is Hosting

If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves, you can omit the host line or start the invitation with a warm introduction, such as:

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

Remember, the host line is just the beginning of your wedding invitation. Be sure to include other important details such as the request to attend, the names of the couple, the date and time, the location, and any reception information.

How to word the attendance request

The attendance request is the section of the wedding invitation that lets guests know they are invited to the wedding. Here are some examples of how to word the attendance request for an afternoon wedding:

• "The pleasure of your company is requested at the marriage of [bride name] and [groom name]"
• "Together with their families, [bride name] and [groom name] request the honour of your presence at their wedding"
• "Join us as we celebrate the wedding of [bride name] and [groom name]"
• "We would love for you to join us at the wedding of [bride name] and [groom name]"
• "You are invited to celebrate with us as [bride name] and [groom name] tie the knot"
• "Eat, drink, and be merry as we celebrate the marriage of [bride name] and [groom name]"
• "Come eat cake and celebrate the wedding of [bride name] and [groom name]"
• "We request the honour of your presence at the marriage of [bride name] and [groom name]"
• "We invite you to share in our joy at the wedding of [bride name] and [groom name]"

The tone of the attendance request can be formal, fun, casual, creative, modern, or simple, depending on the style of the wedding. For a formal wedding, the request is more traditional and elegant, while a fun wedding invitation might be more playful and exciting.

The time of the wedding should also be considered when wording the attendance request. For an afternoon wedding, the time can be indicated as "half after four o'clock" or "four o'clock in the afternoon". It is important to provide clear and concise information about the wedding, including the date, time, location, and dress code, to ensure guests have all the details they need to attend.

How to list the names of the couple

The names of the couple getting married are a crucial part of a wedding invitation. Here are some tips and examples for how to list their names:

Traditional Wedding Invitation Wording

If you're opting for a traditional, formal wedding invitation, the names of the couple are usually written in larger text and perhaps in a fancy typeface. For different-sex couples, the bride's name typically goes first, followed by the groom's full name and title. The bride is referred to by her first and middle names only if her parents are hosting, and the groom is referred to by his first, middle, and last name.

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 and looks best.

Creative and Modern Wedding Invitation Wording

If you're going for a more creative or modern invitation, you can play around with the order of the details and the phrasing. You can put the couple's names at the very top, centre, or beginning of the invitation. Feel free to add lines that feel more like a text message than a traditional invitation.

Casual Wedding Invitation Wording

For a casual wedding invitation, the request to attend can be more conversational, and the date and time should be written using numbers. The couple's names are usually written in sentence format, such as: " [Name] & [Name] invite you to share in their joy at their wedding."

General Tips

• For formal invitations, write out names and addresses in full.
• For less formal invitations, using first names only is fine.
• If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves, you can skip the host line and go straight to the names.
• If the couple is contributing to the cost of the wedding along with their parents, you can use a line such as "Together with their families."

How to write the date and time

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, the date and time are important elements to get right. Here are some tips and examples to help you write the date and time for an afternoon wedding invitation:

Formal Wedding Invitation Wording

For a formal wedding invitation, the date and time are usually written out in full, with no numerals. If your wedding is taking place on a Saturday afternoon in September, you could write:

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

• The day of the week is capitalized.
• There is a comma between the day of the week and the date.
• The year is on a separate line and is written in lowercase.
• The time of day is spelled out, e.g., "half after four o'clock" or "four-thirty in the afternoon".
• "In the afternoon" can be included for clarity, but it is not necessary.

Casual Wedding Invitation Wording

For a more casual or informal wedding invitation, you can be more flexible with the wording. You can use numerals and a more conversational tone:

> Saturday, Sept 15, 2024, 4:30 pm

Or:

> Join us for an afternoon celebration on Saturday, Sept 15, 2024, at 4:30 pm.

Other Considerations:

• Be consistent with the date and time formatting throughout your invitation suite, including any response cards.
• If you are using numerals for the time, choose a legible font to avoid confusion (e.g., a "2" that looks like a "5").
• If your wedding is taking place between noon and 4:30 pm, it is considered afternoon, and you can indicate this on your invitation.
• If your wedding starts at 5 pm or later, it is considered an evening event.

How to include the location

The location of your wedding is one of the most important pieces of information to include on your invitations. Here are some tips and examples to help you word this section of your invitation:

Venue Name and Address: On your invitations, be sure to include the name and full street address of your wedding venue. If your wedding is taking place abroad, don't forget to include the country as well. The city and state should be written out in full. The street address is not usually needed unless omitting it could cause confusion or if the wedding is taking place at the host's home.

Examples:

> The Ritz-Carlton Lake Como, Italy

> The Ritz-Carlton, 1234 Main Street, London, UK

Timing: If your ceremony and reception are at the same location, 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 on a separate line or on a separate insert card.

Examples:

> Reception to follow

> Dinner and merriment to follow at Boone Hall, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Timing for Multiple Venues: If you are holding additional events, such as an after-party, or if the ceremony and reception are in separate locations, you can include more than one address on your wedding stationery. If the event is on the same day as the ceremony, you can add the details beneath the reception information. If the event is on a different day, include a separate details card outlining the timeline of events.

Examples:

> Dinner and dancing to follow at The Ritz-Carlton, 1234 Main Street, London, UK

> After-party to follow at Club XYZ, 5678 Party Street

Timing for Reception-Only Invitations: If you are hosting a reception-only celebration, make some tweaks to your invitation copy. Replace "request the honour of your presence at the wedding of" with "request the honour of your presence to celebrate the wedding of." You can also add a line at the top stating that you've already tied the knot, followed by a request to attend the reception.

Examples:

> Request the honour of your presence to celebrate the marriage of Mr. John Smith and Mr. Edward Jones

> We tied the knot! Please join us for a reception celebration

Dress Code: Including dress code information on your invitations is not compulsory, but it can be helpful for your guests. This information can be included in the lower corner or bottom centre of the invite, or on a separate details card.

Examples:

> Black-tie

> Cocktail attire

> Beach-casual

Frequently asked questions