Wording Tips For Your Cruise Wedding Invitations

Planning a wedding can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to figuring out the proper etiquette for inviting guests. This is especially true for couples who are opting for a cruise wedding and are unsure about how to word their invitations. The wording of a cruise wedding invitation should convey critical information, such as who is hosting the wedding, the couple's names, the wedding date, time, and location, as well as reception details. It's also important to consider the tone and formality of the event, including the dress code, and whether guests are expected to pay for their cruise package. To ensure that your guests have all the necessary details, it's advisable to include enclosure cards with additional information, such as accommodation and travel arrangement itineraries.

Include the request to come to the wedding

The request line is where you extend an invitation to your guests to join your wedding celebration. This is where you ask them to attend your wedding.

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 a more formal tone)
• "Request 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"

If you're having a cruise wedding, you could say something like:

• "The pleasure of your company is requested aboard as we set sail in celebration of [bride's name] and [groom's name]"
• "Join us on the high seas as we celebrate the marriage of [bride's name] and [groom's name]"
• "Ahoy! You're invited to celebrate with us as we cruise into matrimony"
• "Request the honour of your presence as we exchange vows aboard the S.S. Love Boat"

Feature the names of the couple

The names of the couple are the main event of the wedding invitation and are usually displayed in larger text and sometimes in a fancy typeface. For heterosexual couples, the bride's name traditionally comes before the groom's. However, for same-sex couples, this tradition is not applicable, and the names can be listed alphabetically or simply in the order that sounds better.

If you are using traditional wedding invitation wording, follow these formatting rules:

• Capitalise proper names and titles.
• Don't use punctuation, except after courtesy titles.
• Avoid abbreviations; instead, 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 Jack Alexander Smith to Mason Jacob Kim"
• "Together with their families, Olivia Rose Smith and John Michael Reyes request the honour of your presence at their wedding"
• "Come party with us, Jack Alexander Smith and Mason Jacob Kim are tying the knot!"
• "Good food, good drinks, good friends. Jack Smith & Mason Kim request you to celebrate with them as they get hitched"
• "Jack Smith & Mason Kim would love to eat wedding cake with you"
• "Amal Alamuddin and George Timothy Clooney request the pleasure of your company at the celebration of their marriage"
• "Miss Beyonce Knowles and Shawn 'Jay Z' Carter are getting married"
• "Mr. & Mrs. Jon Flores and Mr. Tom Byrne & the late Mrs. Nancy Byrne request the honour of your company at the marriage of their children Talia Flores & Stephen Byrne"

Add reception information

The final section of your wedding invitation is dedicated to the reception. This is where you can notify guests of the type of celebration to expect, whether it's a full meal, drinks and canapes, or something else.

If your ceremony and reception are in the same location, you can simply write "and afterward at the reception" or "reception immediately following". If the reception is held elsewhere, it should go on a different line, with the address on a separate card for formal invitations.

If the reception is not immediately after the ceremony, include the time. You can also include the dress code here, usually in the lower right corner of the invitation. If you don't specify attire, the invitation's style will indicate the dress code, with a more elaborate invitation suggesting a formal, black-tie affair.

• "Dinner and merriment to follow"
• "Food, wine, and merriment to follow"
• "Dress as you wish, dine as you like, dance as you please"
• "Dinner and dancing to follow at Casa de la Guerra"
• "Reception to follow in Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn, New York"
• "Reception immediately following at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch, Beaver Creek, Colorado"

Provide the wedding date, time, and location

The wedding date, time, and location are essential details that should be included in your wedding invitation. Here are some tips and examples to help you word this information effectively:

Provide the Wedding Date

The traditional way to write the date is to spell it out completely, rather than using numerals. For example, if your wedding is on Saturday, October 26, 2024, you would write "Saturday, the twenty-sixth of October, two thousand twenty-four". Here are some key formatting tips:

• Capitalize the day of the week (unless your invitation font is all uppercase or lowercase) and separate it from the date with a comma.
• For dates from the 21st to the 31st of a month, use a hyphen between the tens and ones place (e.g., "the twenty-sixth").
• Write out the month in full with capital letters and no abbreviations.
• The year is usually on a separate line from the day and month, and there is no comma between the month and year.
• For the year, use "two thousand" followed by the number (e.g., "two thousand twenty-four").
• You may choose to omit the day of the week or the year, but including them is recommended for clarity.

For a more casual wedding, you can write the date more informally. For instance, "Saturday, May 17, 2025" or using numerals as "Saturday, 8/15/2026". Just ensure that the format of the date matches the tone of the rest of the invitation.

Provide the Wedding Time

The time can be written in different ways depending on the formality of your wedding. For traditional wedding invitations, write out the time in full without using numerals. For example, 3:30 p.m. would be written as "half after three o'clock". Here are some additional tips:

• For times on the hour, simply write the number and "o'clock" (e.g., "four o'clock").
• Formal invitations traditionally use "half after" instead of "half past" for times on the half-hour.
• Write the time in lowercase letters.
• You don't need to specify "in the morning," "in the afternoon," or "in the evening" unless the time is 8, 9, or 10 a.m. or p.m., where there could be confusion.
• For times between noon and 4:30 p.m., use "in the afternoon."
• For noon, simply write noon instead of "12:00 p.m."

For a more casual wedding, you can use numerals for the time, such as "4pm" or "5:30pm". Just ensure that the format of the time matches the tone of the date and the rest of the invitation.

Provide the Wedding Location

The location section of the invitation should include the name of the venue and the city, state, and country if necessary. Here are some tips for formatting:

• List the venue name on one line and the city and state on the following line(s).
• For formal weddings, spell out the state name in full.
• The street address of the venue is usually not included unless it is a private residence or omitting it may cause confusion.
• Zip codes are typically not included.

If your wedding reception is at the same location as the ceremony, you can simply write "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow." If the reception is at a different location, provide the venue details on a separate line or on a separate insert card.

Include RSVP and gift information

When it comes to cruise wedding invitations, there are a few key components to include to ensure a smooth planning process and enjoyable event. Here are four to six paragraphs with details on how to word the RSVP and gift information for your cruise wedding invitations:

RSVP Deadline and Response Options:

It is essential to provide a clear RSVP deadline, typically two to four weeks before the wedding date. This allows enough time for finalising travel details and vendor arrangements. Specify the preferred response method, such as a dedicated phone number, email address, URL to your wedding website, or a pre-addressed and stamped envelope for mailed responses.

Guest Information:

Ask guests to include their full names and the names of any additional attendees, such as spouses or plus-ones. This information is crucial for creating place cards and ensuring an accurate headcount. If children are invited, indicate this clearly to avoid confusion.

Meal Preferences and Dietary Requirements:

If your cruise wedding includes a meal, provide options for guests to select their preferences. This can be done through checkboxes or a fill-in-the-blank format. It is also essential to inquire about any dietary restrictions to accommodate special needs, such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or allergy-friendly options.

Creative Touches:

Consider adding a creative twist to your RSVPs to make them unique and engaging. For example, you can ask guests to share a fun memory or advice for the newlyweds, request a song they would like to hear, or even their drink of choice to help stock the bar. These additions will make responding to your invitations more enjoyable for your guests.

Gift Information:

It is generally considered impolite to include gift or registry information directly on the wedding invitation or response card. Instead, include a link to your wedding website, where guests can find information about your registry on a separate page. This approach maintains etiquette while still providing guests with the information they need to choose a gift.

By including these details in your cruise wedding invitations, you will be well on your way to a well-organised and memorable event.

Frequently asked questions