Crafting Fun Wedding Invites: Informal Wording Ideas

Wedding invitations are one of the first things guests will see, so it's important to get them right. The wording of your wedding invitation should reflect the tone and theme of your wedding. If you're having a casual wedding, your invitation should be fun and laid-back.

The basic information common to all invitations is: who is hosting, the nature of the event, where and when it will take place, and how the guest should respond. The wording you choose can also indicate the level of formality.

- You are invited to the wedding of [name] and [name]

- Join us for the wedding of [name] and [name]

- We're getting married, please join us

- Kindly join us at the wedding of [name] and [name]

- Please come and help us celebrate our love

The host line: The opening line on a wedding invitation states who is hosting the event

The host line is the opening line on a wedding invitation and names the hosts of the event. This is usually the party covering the wedding expenses, traditionally the bride's parents, but this is increasingly likely to be the groom's parents, the couple themselves, or a combination of all three.

There is no official order or requirement to list the names of the hosts. It's all up to personal preference. If your family has a non-traditional structure, don't let the host name part of the invitation trip you up. It's easy to accommodate situations such as step-parents or deceased parents. Here are some examples of how to do this:

Including step-parents in your wedding invitation:

> 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

Honoring deceased parents in your wedding invitation:

> Mr. & Mrs. Jon Flores and Mr. Tom Byrne & the late Mrs. Nancy Byrne request the honor of your company at the marriage of their children Talia Flores & Stephen Byrne

If you're hosting the wedding yourselves, you can omit the host line.

For a more informal wedding invitation, the opening line can be playful and fun, for example, "Let's do this wedding thing!" or "Join us for the wedding of [names]".

Attendance request: The guests are invited to attend the wedding

Attendance Request

The attendance request lets guests know exactly what they're being invited to. This is your chance to be creative and add a personal touch. Here are some examples:

• "Join us for the wedding of [Couple's Names]"
• "Kindly join us at the wedding of [Couple's Names]"
• "Please join us for our wedding"
• "You are invited to attend the wedding of [Couple's Names]"
• "We invite you to share in our joy and request your presence at the wedding of [Couple's Names]"
• "Together with their families, [Couple's Names] invite you to their wedding"
• "We'd be honoured to have you present when we exchange vows"
• "We invite you to celebrate our love"
• "We invite you to share in our joy as we become husband and wife"
• "We're getting married, please join us"

Other Key Information

While the wording of your invitations should reflect the tone and theme of your wedding, there are some essential details that you should include:

• Who is hosting (traditionally, this is the person or people paying)
• The couple's full names (the bride's name typically comes first, but this is up to personal preference)
• The date and time (spelled out for formal invitations, or numerical for informal)
• The location and full address of the ceremony and reception (if different)
• Any dress code
• How to RSVP

Couple's names: The names of the couple are usually displayed in larger text

The names of the couple are usually the most prominent feature of a wedding invitation. Here are some ideas for how to word the invitations with a focus on the couple's names:

Couple's Names with Host Line

If you want to include a host line, the couple's names can be written in a similar style. For example:

• "Together with their families, [Couple's Names] invite you to their wedding"
• "The honour of your presence is requested by [Couple's Names] at their wedding"
• "[Couple's Names] together with their parents invite you to share in their joy"

Couple's Names Without Host Line

If you don't want to include a host line, the couple's names can be written as a simple introduction:

• "[Couple's Names] invite you to share in their joy"
• "With hearts full of love, [Couple's Names] request the pleasure of your company"
• Join us as we celebrate our wedding, [Couple's Names]"

Couple's Names with a Fun Twist

For a less formal wedding, you can get creative with the wording:

• "Good food, good drinks, good friends. [Couple's Names] request you celebrate with them as they get hitched"
• "Love is in the air. [Couple's Names] have the honour of announcing their marriage"
• "We're getting married! [Couple's Names] Please join us"

Couple's Names and Parents' Names

If you want to include the names of the couple's parents, you can do so in a variety of ways:

• "Mr. and Mrs. [Father's Name] and Mr. and Mrs. [Mother's Name] request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their children, [Couple's Names]"
• "Together with our families, [Couple's Names] and [Parents' Names] invite you to celebrate"
• "With their parents, [Couple's Names] request the pleasure of your company"

Date and time: Dates are more casually worded in informal invites

When it comes to the date and time on your wedding invitations, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, the level of formality of your wedding will dictate the style of the wording. For instance, formal invitations tend to include traditional language, while casual invites are more relaxed and informal.

Writing the Date

For formal invites, it is customary to write out the date in full, rather than using numerals. For example:

> Saturday, the twenty-sixth of October, two thousand and twenty-four

However, for casual invites, you can be more flexible. You could write the date as:

> Saturday, October 17th, 2025

Or, if you prefer numerals, simply write:

> Saturday, 8/15/2026

Writing the Time

Similarly, the time can be written out in full for formal invites, such as:

> At half after three o'clock

Or, for a casual invite, you might write the time as:

> 4:30 pm

It's important to ensure that the style of the date and time matches the overall tone of your invitation. For instance, if you write out the date in full, it may look out of place to then use numerals for the time.

Additional Tips

• Be consistent with the date formatting on any enclosures, such as RSVP cards.
• If your wedding is taking place between 8 am and 10 am, or between noon and 5 pm, it's a good idea to include "in the morning" or "in the afternoon" to avoid confusion.
• If your wedding starts at noon, simply write "noon" instead of 12 pm.
• If your reception is at the same venue and follows the ceremony immediately, you can simply write "reception to follow".

Remember, the most important thing is to provide your guests with clear information so they know when and where to show up for your big day!

Location: The name and address of the venue are included

When it comes to wedding invitations, there are a few basic elements that should always be included. These are: the request to come to the wedding, the names of the couple, and reception information.

The location and full address of the venue are usually included in the reception information section of the invitation. This section can be printed on the wedding invitation itself if there is room, or on a separate card included with the invitation.

• "at [venue name and address]"
• " [venue name and address], [city], [state]"
• "at [venue name], [city], [state]"
• "at [venue name], [city], [state], [zip code]"

If the ceremony and reception are held at the same venue, you can simply say, "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow." If the reception is at a different location, you can list the venue on the following line or on a separate insert card.

For very formal invitations, the reception information is included on a separate card. The street address of the venue is usually not included unless omitting it would lead to confusion or the wedding is taking place at the host's home. The city and state should always be included and written out in full.

• "The Ritz-Carlton, 1234 Main Street, Anytown, Ohio" (formal)
• "The Ritz-Carlton, Anytown, Ohio" (less formal)
• "The Ritz-Carlton, Anytown, OH" (informal)

Remember to include the time of the reception if it is not immediately following the ceremony.

Frequently asked questions