Wedding Invitation Wording When Multiple People Are Paying

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 can reveal who is hosting (and therefore paying for) the wedding. If the wedding is a group effort or you don't want to play into traditional wedding rules, you can choose to word your invite however you like.

If you would like to follow a more traditional format, the invitation should include the following:

- A host line: This is where you introduce the hosts of the event (those who are paying). This can be one set of parents, both sets of parents, the couple, or the couple and their parents.

- A request line: This is where you invite your guests to join your wedding celebration. This can be formal or casual depending on the type of wedding.

- The couple's names: The names of the couple should be front and centre. For heterosexual couples, the bride's name traditionally comes first, while same-sex couples can choose whichever name comes first.

- Date, time, and location: Include the date, start time, and venue of the wedding ceremony.

- Reception details: If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, you can simply write reception to follow. If the reception is at a different location, include the full address on a separate card.

- Dress code: This is optional but can be helpful for guests.

Who's Hosting

The host line is the first line of a wedding invitation and introduces the hosts of the event, or the people who are paying. This is a great way to thank those who are covering the cost of the wedding. If you and your partner are paying for the wedding yourselves, you can skip the host line or start with a celebratory note, such as "with great joy".

One Set of Parents Paying (Formal)

Mr. and Mrs. Brad Jones

One Set of Parents Paying (Casual)

Barry and Lisa Jones

Both Sets of Parents Paying (Formal)

Mr. and Mrs. Brad Jones and Mr. and Mrs. Barry Smith

Both Sets of Parents Paying (Casual)

John and Elise Smith and Barry and Lisa Jones

Couple Sharing the Cost and Hosting Duties with Parents

Together with their families or together with their parents

Couple Paying

Simply start with a request like "please join us" or with the couple's names. You could also begin with a celebratory note, such as "with great joy".

Couple Paying (Formal)

Amal Alamuddin and George Timothy Clooney request the pleasure of your company at the celebration of their marriage...

Couple Paying (Casual)

Miss Beyonce Knowles and Shawn "Jay Z" Carter are getting married...

Request Line

The request line is where you invite your guests to join your wedding celebration. The tone of the request line should match the tone of the wedding. For example, if you're planning a formal religious ceremony, you might use the traditional wording "request the honour of your presence". For a non-religious ceremony or a more casual wedding, you might opt for more casual language such as "invite you to celebrate with them" or "joyfully invite you".

• "Request the pleasure of your company"
• "Invite you to share in their joy"
• "Would love for you to join them"
• "Cordially invite you"
• "Invite you to share in our happiness"
• "Invite you to be with us"
• "Invite you to share this happy day"
• "Invite you to celebrate with us"

Couple's Names

The couple's names are a crucial element of wedding invitations. For heterosexual couples, the bride's name typically comes before the groom's name. For same-sex couples, the wording of the host line may dictate whose name comes first (for example, if one set of parents is hosting, their names will come first and their child's name will follow). If the couple is hosting themselves, it's up to them to decide whose name to put first.

For formal invitations issued by the bride's parents, the bride is referred to by her first and middle names, and the groom by his full name and title. If the couple is hosting by themselves, their titles are optional.

For same-sex couples, the traditional rule of the woman's name first and the man's second is not applicable. Whether it's "Emily and Zara" or "Zara and Emily," it's going to be lovely either way. When writing their own names, same-sex couples can choose to go in alphabetical order or simply with what sounds better.

If you want to include the name of a deceased parent on your invitations, you'll need to rearrange the wording a bit, as someone who has passed can't actually serve as a host. Here's an example:

> Julia French, daughter of Mr. Adam French and the late Iris French, and Austin Mahoney, son of Mr. Camden and Elizabeth Mahoney, request the honour of your presence at their wedding on the fifth of May, two thousand seventeen at one o'clock in the afternoon The Reagan Library Simi Valley, California Dinner & dancing to follow Black tie required

If the couple's parents are divorced and you want to include both as hosts, you can include them all, just keep each parent on a separate line. If you're going to include the name of a stepparent, keep it on the same line as their partner. Here's an example of how a bride with divorced (and remarried) parents worded the wedding invitation:

> Dr. Vance and Elizabeth Gregory and Mr. James Abner and Lydia Abner and Mr. Harold and Jane Hyland invite you to the wedding of their children Amy Abner and Charles Hyland 01.06.18 | 4 p.m. Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church Newport, California Reception immediately after

If your wedding is hosted by both sets of parents, list the bride's parents' names first if you are a different-sex couple. List parents' names in alphabetical order if you are a same-sex 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 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 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 (casual)

> 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

Date, Time, and Location

When it comes to wedding invitations, the date, time, and location are essential details that require careful consideration. Here are some tips and guidelines to help you craft this section of your wedding invitations:

Date and Day of the Week:

• For formal invitations, it is customary to spell out the date and day of the week in full. For example, "Saturday, the seventeenth of August two thousand twenty-four".
• For informal or casual invitations, you can use a combination of words and numerals. For instance, "Saturday, August 17, 2024".
• If you opt for a more modern approach, you can use numerals only, such as "08-17-2024".

Time:

• For formal invitations, specify the time using words like "half after four o'clock" or "six-thirty in the evening".
• For informal invitations, you can use numerals and abbreviations, such as "4:30 p.m." or "6:30 p.m.".
• If your event starts on the hour, you can simply state "six o'clock" or "four o'clock".
• Specify the time of day, such as "in the morning", "in the afternoon", or "in the evening", especially for formal invitations.

Location and Address:

• Provide the name of the venue and its location, including the city and state. For formal weddings, spell out the state name.
• For a destination wedding or out-of-town guests, include the full address to ensure convenience.
• If the wedding is held at a private residence, it is customary to include the street address.
• Omit the zip code unless it is necessary to avoid confusion.

Additional Details:

• If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, you can simply state "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow".
• For separate locations, include the reception details on a separate card or insert.
• If there are multiple events during the wedding weekend, consider including an activity card with chronological information.
• For a destination wedding, provide travel and accommodation details on a separate card or your wedding website.

Formal Invitation Example:

"Saturday, the seventeenth of August two thousand twenty-four at half after four o'clock

The Grand Ballroom

123 Main Street

Springfield, Illinois

Reception to follow"

Informal Invitation Example:

"Saturday, August 17, 2024, 4:30 p.m.

The Grand Ballroom

123 Main Street

Springfield, IL

Dinner, dancing, and celebrations to follow"

Remember, these are just guidelines, and you can adjust them to fit your wedding's tone and style. Feel free to add your personal touches while ensuring that your guests receive the necessary information.

Reception Details

The reception details are an important part of your wedding invitation, as they give your guests the information they need to celebrate with you after the ceremony. Here are some tips and suggestions for wording your reception details elegantly and effectively:

Location and Time

If your reception is held at the same location as the ceremony, you can simply write "Reception to follow" or "Festivities to follow" at the bottom of your invitation. This concisely lets your guests know that they can move directly from the ceremony to the reception.

However, if your reception is at a different location, include the address on a separate line or on a separate insert card. You don't need to include the full street address unless omitting it would cause confusion or if the reception is at a private residence. Write the city and state in full, but you can use the abbreviation for the state (e.g., CA for California) if you prefer.

If your reception is not immediately after the ceremony or is at a different time, be sure to include this information. For example, you can write, "Reception at 6:00 pm at The West Palm, 825 Oceanside Ave, St. Petersburg."

Nature of the Reception

Give your guests an idea of what to expect at the reception by including a line about the nature of the festivities. This is especially important if you're not serving a full meal. Some examples include:

• "Dinner and dancing to follow"
• "Cocktails and canapes to follow"
• "Cake, punch, and merriment to follow"
• "Feasting and merrymaking to follow"

Dress Code

Including the dress code on the invitation is optional, but it can be helpful for your guests. If you're having a black-tie wedding, it's customary to include this information on the invitation. Otherwise, the formality of your invitation will give your guests a sense of the expected attire. For a very formal invitation, guests will likely anticipate a black-tie affair, while a simpler invitation suggests more casual dress.

You can include the dress code in the lower right corner of the invitation or on a separate insert card. Some examples of dress code wording include:

• "Black-tie (tuxedos and floor-length gowns)"
• "Formal attire (suits and dresses)"
• "Cocktail attire (suits or dress shirts with ties and cocktail dresses)"
• "Beach casual (shirts and pants or shorts, sundresses, and sandals)"

Additional Information

If there are other important details about the reception that you'd like to convey, you can include them on a separate insert card. For example, if you're having a destination wedding, you might want to provide accommodation suggestions or transportation information. You can also use this space to honour a deceased parent or give a memorable quote or poem that reflects the spirit of your celebration.

Remember, the reception details are an essential part of your wedding invitation, ensuring your guests know exactly how and where to celebrate with you after the ceremony.

Frequently asked questions