Best Man's Role: Wedding Invite Wording Etiquette

Wedding invitations are one of the first things your guests will see, touch, and feel when it comes to your wedding. They set the tone for the event and convey critical information. The wording of your wedding invitation should provide all the essential details, including the couple's full names, who's hosting the nuptials, the ceremony location, and the reception venue. Here's a guide to help you craft the perfect invitation.

Host Line: Names the hosts of the wedding, usually those paying

The host line is the opening line on a wedding invitation and names the hosts of the event. The hosts are usually the people paying for the wedding. Here are some examples of how to word the host line in different scenarios:

One Set of Married Parents Hosting

Include the parents' full names, with middle names included for very formal weddings. If they have different last names, write "and" to join the two names.

Examples:

• Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Timothy Williams (very formal; the middle name is included)
• 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

Include the mother's name first, followed by the father's name. Do not use "and" to connect the two names; instead, give each name its own line.

Both Sets of Parents Hosting

For different-sex couples, list the bride's parents' names at the top of the invite, followed by the groom's parents' names. For same-sex couples, list the names according to preference or in the order that looks best with the invitation design.

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

When the couple and both of their families are contributing to the cost of the wedding, many choose to add a line such as "Together with their families" or "Together with our families" as the host line.

Examples:

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

Couple Hosting

If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves, you can skip the host line altogether or start the invitation wording with a warm and welcoming introduction, such as:

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

Attendance Request: Lets guests know what they're being invited to

Attendance Request: Let's Guests Know What They're Being Invited To

The attendance request line is where you extend the invitation to attend your wedding and can be used to set the tone for your celebration. Here are some examples of attendance request lines:

• "The honour of your presence" is traditionally used to denote a religious service.
• "The pleasure of your company" is used to denote a non-religious ceremony.
• "Invite you to celebrate with them"
• "Would love for you to join them"
• "Request the honour of your presence"
• "Request the pleasure of your company"
• "Invite you to share in our joy and request your presence at the wedding of..."
• "Request your presence on the day of their marriage"
• "Together with our families, we joyfully invite you to the wedding of..."
• "Join us for the wedding of..."
• "Kindly join us at the wedding of..."
• "Please come help us celebrate our love"

The tone of the attendance request line can also be adjusted to match the level of formality of the wedding. For a formal wedding, the request line might be more traditional and elegant, while a casual or informal wedding might call for a more lighthearted and whimsical request line.

In addition to the attendance request line, the other elements of the wedding invitation, such as the wording, font, and design, can also help to convey the tone and style of the wedding.

Examples of Attendance Request Lines for Different Wedding Styles

Formal Wedding

• "The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Talia Camila Flores and Stephen Anthony Byrne..."
• "Mr. and Mrs. John L. Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their son Jack Alexander to Mason Jacob Kim..."

Casual Wedding

• "Talia Flores and Stephen Byrne invite you to a celebration of their love and commitment..."
• "Together with their parents, Talia Flores and Stephen Byrne invite you to share in their joy as they tie the knot..."

Creative or Whimsical Wedding

• "Good food, good drinks, good friends. Jack Smith and Mason Kim request you celebrate with them as they get hitched..."
• "We're getting married! Ben and Pilar. Please join us..."

Couple's Names: The main event, usually in larger text

Couples' Names: The Main Event, Usually in Larger Text

The names of the couple are usually the largest text on the invitation and are often in a fancy typeface. For heterosexual couples, the bride's name typically comes first, followed by the groom's name. For same-sex couples, there is no traditional rule, so go with what feels right or what looks best with the invitation design. You may choose to list the names in alphabetical order by last name or first name.

If the bride's parents' names are listed at the top of the invitation, the bride's name can just be her first and middle name, without her last name. In that case, the groom's name is either listed in full or with his first and middle names followed by "Son of Mr. & Mrs." and his father's name.

Traditionally, you should use 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. For a less formal feel, you may opt to list first names only.

Examples

• "The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Talia Camila Flores and Stephen Anthony Byrne"
• "Talia Camila Flores and Stephen Anthony Byrne request the honour of your company at the celebration of their union"
• "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. Angiolo Guiseppe and Ms. Elettra Rossellini invite you to share in the joy of the marriage uniting their son Roberto Rossellini to Ingrid Bergman"
• "Ms. Pamela Jacobsen and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Jacobsen invite you to share in their wedding festivities at the marriage of their daughter Jordan to Paige"
• "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"

Date and Time: Should be spelled out in full for formal invites

When it comes to wedding invitations, the date and time are crucial elements that should be conveyed clearly and formally. Here are some guidelines and examples to ensure your invitations are both elegant and informative:

Spelling Out the Date and Time

For a truly formal invitation, it is customary to spell out the date and time in full. For example, if your wedding is on the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-four, at four-thirty in the afternoon, the wording could be: "Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-four, at half after four in the afternoon." Here, the day of the week and the month are capitalised, and the year is written in numerals without an "and".

Time of Day

The time of day should also be given in words. For instance, you could write "four o'clock" or "half after four o'clock". The use of "a.m." or "p.m." is optional. However, if you wish to specify further, you could add "in the morning", "in the afternoon", or "in the evening" after the time.

Afternoon vs Evening

It is worth noting that in formal invitations, "afternoon" is typically used for times from noon to four o'clock, while "evening" begins at five o'clock. So, for a time like 4:30 p.m., you could choose between "half after four o'clock in the afternoon" or "four-thirty in the afternoon".

Numerical Figures for Modern Invites

While traditional invitations favour the written-out format, modern invites often use numerical figures for the date and time. If you opt for this style, be sure to choose a legible font to avoid any confusion. For instance, a "2" that looks like a "5" could cause some misunderstanding.

Additional Tips

To ensure your guests have all the necessary details, include the full names of the couple, the hosts, and the venue. Also, specify any post-ceremony plans, like "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow". Finally, if you wish to indicate a dress code, this can be included at the bottom of the invitation or on a separate insert card.

Examples

• "Saturday, the eleventh of June two thousand and twenty-three at twelve o'clock in the afternoon"
• "Saturday, the seventeenth of August two thousand twenty-four at half after four"
• "Saturday, the fourth of July Nineteen ninety-nine at half past seven in the evening"
• "Saturday, the twenty-fourth of May nineteen fifty at noon"

Location: Include the full address for destination weddings

When it comes to addressing wedding invitations, it's important to get the details right, especially if you're having a destination wedding. Here are some tips and examples to help you with the task:

Location and Full Address

For destination weddings, it's essential to include the full address of the wedding venue on the invitation. This ensures that your guests can easily find the location and plan their travel accordingly. Here are some examples of how to format the address:

Formal Address Example:

Mr. John Corner and Mrs. Jennifer Corner

16 Faux Road

Fremont, California 94539

Casual Address Example:

Mr. John Corner and Mrs. Jennifer Corner

16 Faux Rd

Fremont, CA 94539

Note that in the formal example, the full state name ("California") is spelled out, while in the casual example, the abbreviation ("CA") is used. Also, avoid using abbreviations for street types, such as "St." or "Rd." unless it's for the casual version.

Inner and Outer Envelopes

Traditionally, wedding invitations include an inner and outer envelope. The outer envelope is for mailing and includes the guests' names and address. The inner envelope contains the invitation itself and may also include the names of the invitees. However, using only an outer envelope is becoming increasingly popular to reduce expenses and paper waste.

Timing and Planning

Give yourself enough time to gather all the necessary addresses and proofread your invitations before sending them out. It's recommended to send invitations 2-4 months before the wedding.

Format and Etiquette

The format for addressing invitations varies depending on the marital status and gender of the invitees, as well as the formality of the wedding. Here are some examples for different scenarios:

Married Couple with Same Last Name:

Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Clarke

Or

Mr. Jackson Clarke and Mrs. Mary Clarke

Married Couple with Different Last Names:

Mrs. Gwyneth Brookes and Mr. Cyan Matthews

Or

Mr. Cyan Matthews and Mrs. Gwyneth Brookes

Unmarried Couple Living Together:

Ms. Alysson Schulz and Mr. Ricardo Gonzales

Or

Ms. Schulz and Mr. Gonzales

Single Person with a Plus One:

Mr. Tyler Morris & Guest

Family with Children:

Mr. Max Carter, Mrs. Natasha Carter, and Children

Or

The Carter Family

Remember to use appropriate titles ("Mr.," "Mrs.," "Ms.," etc.) and spell out full names, including middle names if known. Avoid using initials or abbreviations. For same-sex couples, indicate the appropriate prefixes accordingly.

Frequently asked questions