Guide To Wording Your Wedding Invitation For Church Ceremony

Wedding invitations are an important piece of the planning puzzle. They set the tone for the wedding and convey critical information. The wording of the invitation will depend on the type of wedding and the hosts.

If the wedding is taking place in a church or another house of worship, the British spelling of honour is typically used in the request line, for example, request the honour of your presence.

Hosted by One Set of Parents:

> Mr. and Mrs. Ernie Lively invite you to share in the joy of marriage uniting their daughter Blake Ellender to Ryan Rodney Saturday, the ninth of September two-thousand twelve at noon Boone Hall Mount Pleasant, South Carolina Dinner and merriment to follow.

Hosted by Both Sets of Parents:

> Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Adams and Mr. and Mrs. David Beckham request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their children Victoria Caroline to David Robert Joseph Saturday, the fourth of July Nineteen ninety-nine at half past seven in the evening Luttrellstown Castle Clonsilla, Ireland Reception to follow.

Hosted by the Couple:

> Amal Alamuddin and George Timothy Clooney request the pleasure of your company at the celebration of their marriage Saturday, 27 September 2014 at noon Aman Canal Grande Hotel in Venice, Italy Festivities to follow.

Hosted by Divorced Parents:

> Mr. Angiolo Guiseppe and Ms. Elettra Rossellini invite you to share in the joy of marriage uniting their son Roberto Rossellini to Ingrid Bergman Saturday, the twenty-fourth of May nineteen fifty at noon Hotel Boca Chica, Acapulco, Mexico Dinner and merriment to follow.

Hosted by Parent, Including Deceased Parent:

> Mrs. and Mr. Michael Francis Middleton request the honour of your company at the marriage of their daughter Catherine Elizabeth Middleton to Prince William, Duke of Cambridge Son of Charles, Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales Friday, the twenty-ninth of April two thousand and eleven at eleven o'clock in the morning at Westminster Abbey – 20, Deans Yard London, England Reception to follow.

Include the date, time, and location of the ceremony

The date, time, and location of the ceremony are essential components of a wedding invitation. Here are four to six paragraphs with detailed instructions on how to include this information:

Include the Date

Spell out the date and year for formal invitations to avoid any confusion. For example, write "July 2, 2025" instead of "7/2/2025." This ensures that your guests clearly understand when your wedding will take place.

Provide the Time

For formal invitations, spell out the time of day using phrases like "four o'clock" or "half past four o'clock." You can also indicate the time of day, such as "in the morning," "in the afternoon," or "in the evening." This helps guests plan their day and arrive on time.

Specify the Location

Include the name of the wedding venue and, if necessary, the full address, especially for destination weddings or out-of-town guests. You may also want to include specific spaces within the venue, such as "In the Chapel" or "On the Lawn." Providing clear location details ensures that your guests can easily find the ceremony site.

Combining the Information

"Saturday, the sixteenth of October, Two thousand and twenty, at four o'clock in the afternoon, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Randwick, Sydney."

Additional Tips

If you have a destination wedding or a complex venue, consider including additional details such as the specific spaces within the venue or the full street address. You can also mention the city and state, especially if your guests are travelling from different regions. This ensures that your guests can navigate to the correct location without confusion.

Format and Style

When formatting the date, time, and location information, consider the style and tone of your wedding invitation. For formal invitations, spell out dates, times, and addresses in full. For informal or contemporary invitations, you may use abbreviations, numerals, or a more casual tone. Here is an example of a formal invitation:

"Saturday, the ninth of September, two-thousand twelve, at noon, Boone Hall, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina."

"Saturday, 16 October 2021, 4 pm, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Randwick, Sydney."

Recognise the hosts of the wedding

Recognising the hosts of the wedding is an important part of the wedding invitation. Traditionally, the bride's parents hosted and paid for the wedding, but nowadays, the groom's family, other loved ones, or the couple themselves may host. Here are some examples of how to word the invitation depending on the hosts:

Hosted by One Set of Parents

Formal Invitation:

> Mr. and Mrs. Ernie Lively invite you to share in the joy of marriage uniting their daughter Blake Ellender to Ryan Rodney Saturday, the ninth of September two-thousand twelve at noon Boone Hall Mount Pleasant, South Carolina Dinner and merriment to follow

Casual Invitation:

> Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Simon Peter Blunt invite you to the marriage of Emily Olivia Leah and John Burke July 10, 2010 at half past six in the evening Via Regina Teodolinda, 35 Como, Italy Food, wine, and merriment to follow

Hosted by Both Sets of Parents

Formal Invitation:

> Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Adams and Mr. and Mrs. David Beckham request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their children Victoria Caroline to David Robert Joseph Saturday, the fourth of July Nineteen ninety-nine at half past seven in the evening Luttrellstown Castle Clonsilla, Ireland Reception to follow.

Casual Invitation:

> With great pleasure Kimberly and Jonathan Biel and Lynn Bomar Harless and Randall Timberlake invite you to celebrate the marriage of their children Jessica and Justin October 19, 2012 at four o'clock in the afternoon Borgo Egnazia Resort 72015 Savelletri di Fasano BR, Italy Dress as you wish, dine as you like, dance as you please

Hosted by the Couple

Formal Invitation:

> Amal Alamuddin and George Timothy Clooney request the pleasure of your company at the celebration of their marriage Saturday, 27 September 2014 at noon Aman Canal Grande Hotel in Venice, Italy Festivities to follow

Casual Invitation:

> Miss Beyonce Knowles and Shawn “Jay Z” Carter are getting married Friday, April 4th, 2018 at four o'clock in the afternoon Join us for dinner and drinks

Hosted by Divorced Parents

To include divorced parents, list the mother's name first, followed by the father's name on a separate line. If the mother is not remarried, use the courtesy title "Ms." followed by her preferred last name.

Formal Invitation:

> Mr. Angiolo Guiseppe and Ms. Elettra Rossellini invite you to share in the joy of marriage uniting their son Roberto Rossellini to Ingrid Bergman Saturday, the twenty-fourth of May nineteen fifty at noon Hotel Boca Chica, Acapulco, Mexico Dinner and merriment to follow

Casual Invitation:

> Ms. Pamela Jacobsen Mr. and Mrs. Fred Jacobsen invite you to share in their wedding festivities at the marriage of their daughter Jordan to Paige Saturday, the tenth of April two thousand and twenty-one at half past six in the evening Hotel Chantelle New York City, NY Dress as you wish, dine as you like, dance as you please

Hosted by Parent, Including Deceased Parent

To honour a deceased parent, include them in the host line or after the bride or groom's name. Use the phrase "the late" before their name.

Formal Invitation:

> Mrs. and Mr. Michael Francis Middleton request the honour of your company at the marriage of their daughter Catherine Elizabeth Middleton to Prince William, Duke of Cambridge Son of Charles, Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales Friday, the twenty-ninth of April two thousand and eleven at eleven o'clock in the morning at Westminster Abbey – 20, Deans Yard London, England Reception to follow

Casual Invitation:

> Together with their families Malaak Compton daughter of Gerald and Louisa Compton and Christopher Rock son of the late Julius Rock and Rosalie Rock invite you to share in their wedding festivities November 23, 1996 at eight o'clock in the evening The Estate at Florentine Gardens 97 Rivervale Road River Vale, New Jersey Dinner reception to follow

Convey the tone and formality of the wedding, including the dress code

The tone and formality of the wedding can be conveyed through the wording, format, and style of the invitation. Here are some tips to guide you:

Host Line

The host line is an important aspect of setting the tone. Traditionally, the bride's parents are the hosts, and their names are listed at the top of the invitation. However, including the names of both sets of parents as hosts is also a gracious option. If the couple and their parents are contributing, you can use phrases such as "Together with their parents" or "Together with their families."

Request Line

The request line is where you invite your guests to join your celebration. The wording here can indicate the level of formality. For a formal, religious ceremony, you might use "request the honour of your presence." For a non-religious or more casual wedding, you might opt for "invite you to celebrate with them" or "please join us to celebrate."

Couple's Names

The couple's names should be prominently featured and easy to read. For heterosexual couples, the bride's name traditionally comes first. For same-sex couples, you can choose the order based on alphabetical order or what sounds better. Using full names is typical for formal invitations, while first names may be used for a less formal feel.

Date and Time

The date and time can also convey formality. Formal invitations typically spell out the date and time in full, while numerals are often used for modern or casual invites. For a formal invitation, you might write "Saturday, the seventeenth of August two thousand twenty-four at half after four in the afternoon." For a casual invitation, "Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 p.m."

Location

The location of the wedding and reception can be included to provide critical information to your guests. For formal invitations, it is customary to write out the full address, including the city and state. If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, a simple "Reception to follow" may be sufficient.

Dress Code

Including dress code information is optional but can be helpful for your guests. The dress code is typically mentioned in the lower corner or bottom centre of the invitation, or on a separate details card. The level of formality you choose will guide your guests' attire choices. Here are some common dress code options:

• White Tie or full evening dress: The most formal code, indicating long-tail tuxedos for men and full-length ball gowns for women.
• Black Tie: Usually for an evening wedding, with men in tuxedos and women in formal floor-length gowns.
• Formal or Black Tie Optional: Encouraging formal attire but providing flexibility, with men in dark suits and women in floor-length gowns or cocktail dresses.
• Lounge Suit or Semi-Formal: Suitable for a daytime wedding, with the option of a classic suit or tux for men and formal evening wear for women.
• Cocktail Attire: A step above smart casual, with men in suits or jackets and women in above-the-knee dresses or dressy separates.
• Smart Casual: Neat attire without being overly dressy, such as dark denim or chinos with a shirt for men and a skirt or smart trousers for women.

Remember, the style and format of your invitation will also convey the tone and formality of your wedding. A classic, traditional invitation suggests a more upscale affair, while a rustic, informal invitation indicates a casual celebration.

Recognise the couple's parents, if they are not also the hosts

Recognising the couple's parents on a wedding invitation when they are not the hosts can be done in a few ways. Here are some suggestions:

Including Both Sets of Parents

If both sets of parents are contributing equally or the couple is paying for most of the wedding, you can use phrases such as:

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

For example:

• "Together with their families, Jessica Smith & Edward Jones invite you to join them as they say 'I do'!"
• "Together with their parents, Lydia Harrison and William Jones invite you to join them at the celebration of their marriage"

Including One Set of Parents

If only one set of parents is hosting, you can use their names followed by "request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their children":

"Mr. and Mrs. Robert Martin request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their children, Julia and David"

Including Parents of the Bride or Groom Individually

If you want to include the names of the bride's or groom's parents separately, you can do so on separate lines:

"Mr. John Smith and Mrs. Beth Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter, Jessica Smith, to Mr. Edward Jones"

Including Step-Parents

If one of the couple's parents has remarried, you can include the step-parent's name on the same line:

"Mr. and Mrs. Paul Howard request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of her daughter, Jessica Smith, to Mr. Edward Jones"

If both biological parents and step-parents are hosting, start with "Together with their families":

"Together with their families, Jessica Smith and Edward Jones invite you to celebrate their wedding"

Including Widowed Parents

If one of the couple's parents is widowed, you can use their name only:

"Mrs. Beth Smith requests the pleasure of your company at the marriage of her daughter, Jessica Smith, to Mr. Edward Jones"

Including Divorced Parents

If the couple's parents are divorced but share the same surname, include both parents' full names:

"Mr. John Smith and Mrs. Beth Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter, Jessica, to Mr. Edward Jones"

If the divorced parents have different surnames, keep each parent on a separate line:

"Dr. Vance and Elizabeth Gregory, and Mr. James Abner and Lydia Abner invite you to the wedding of their children, Amy Abner and Charles Hyland"

Including Remarried Parents

For remarried parents, use the mother's new married name:

"Mr. John Smith and Mrs. Beth Howard request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter, Jessica Smith, to Mr. Edward Jones"

Other Considerations

When recognising the couple's parents on the wedding invitation, it is important to be consistent with the tone and formality of the invitation. Additionally, be sure to include clear details about the time and location of the wedding, as well as any other relevant information on a separate card or the wedding website.

Include a proper request line

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

• "Invite you to join"
• "Please join us to celebrate"
• "Love the pleasure of your company"
• "Request 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)
• "Request the pleasure of your company" (or variations on this) is used to denote a non-religious ceremony locale

If you are having an informal wedding, and/or prefer a more modern approach to your invitation design, then use whatever unique wording feels right for you and your style.

• "Join us for dinner and drinks"
• "Join us as we tie the knot!"
• "Share in their wedding festivities"
• "Are getting married"
• "Are delighted to invite you to celebrate with them"
• "Invite you to celebrate with them"

Frequently asked questions