Announcing Your Wedding: Champagne Arrival Edition

Wedding invitations are an important piece of the planning puzzle. They are often the first thing your guests will see, touch, and feel when it comes to your wedding. The wording of your wedding invitation will convey the tone and formality of your wedding, including the dress code. It is also important to include critical information about the wedding, such as the date, time, and location. If you are serving champagne at your wedding, you may want to include this information on the invitation to let your guests know what to expect. Here is an example of how you can word your wedding invitation to include champagne:

You are cordially invited to celebrate the marriage of [bride] and [groom]

[date] at [time]

[address]

Champagne reception to follow

Who is hosting

The first line of a wedding invitation typically indicates who is hosting the event. This is usually the party that is providing the largest financial contribution.

Bride's Parents as Hosts

If the bride's parents are married, you can use their first names for a more informal approach:

> Martin & Liz

Using first and last names is more formal:

> Martin & Elizabeth Baker

For the most formal approach, use titles and surnames:

> Mr & Mrs M. Baker

If the bride's parents are no longer married, you can use their first and last names:

> Martin Baker & Elizabeth Baker

Or, if they have different surnames, list their names separately:

> Martin Baker & Elizabeth Pratt

Groom's Parents as Hosts

The same rules apply for the groom's parents as hosts.

Couple as Hosts

For a fairly informal approach, use first names only:

> Mark and Joanna

For a more formal approach, use first and last names:

> Mark Stratfull & Joanna Baker

For the most formal approach, use full names:

> Mark James Stratfull & Joanna Elizabeth Baker

Couple as Hosts with Acknowledgement of Financial Contributions from Other Family Members

To acknowledge the financial contributions of other family members, you can use:

> Together with their parents, Mark and Joanna

Or:

> Together with their families, Mark and Joanna

Both Sets of Parents as Hosts

If both sets of parents are hosting, the bride's parents are usually listed first.

If both couples are married, you can use:

> Mr & Mrs M. Baker and Mr & Mrs S. Stratfull

Or:

> Martin & Elizabeth Baker and Stevan & Beverley Stratfull

If one set of parents is divorced, you can list the parents separately:

> Mr & Mrs M. Baker and Mr S. Stratfull & Mrs B. Else

> Martin & Elizabeth Baker and Stevan Stratfull & Beverley Else

If divorced parents share the same surname, they should be listed separately, and the surname should be repeated:

> Stevan Stratfull & Beverley Stratfull

No Host

If no one is explicitly hosting the wedding, you can simply list the couple's names without any introductory line.

Requesting attendance

The request to attend is a crucial part of your wedding invitation. It lets your guests know that they are invited and what they are being invited to. Here are some examples of wording for this section, from formal to casual:

• "Request the honour of your presence" (traditionally used for religious ceremonies)
• "Request the pleasure of your company"
• "Would love for you to join them"
• "Invite you to celebrate with them"

If you are having a reception-only wedding, the wording might look something like this:

• " [Names of the couple] request the pleasure of your company for a reception in celebration of their new marriage"
• "The newlyweds [names of the couple] invite you to a reception in honour of their recent marriage"

If you are having a small ceremony followed by a larger reception, you will need two different invitations: one for the ceremony and reception, and one for the reception only. The invitation for the reception-only guests might say something like:

• "Come celebrate with us at our wedding reception following the ceremony"
• "Join us for hors d'oeuvres, drinks, dessert, and dancing at [reception venue] at [time] on [date]"

The Couple's Names

The names of the happy couple are usually displayed in larger text and sometimes in a fancy typeface. For formal invitations, include first and middle names. If the bride's parents are hosting and their surname has been included, you do not need to repeat the bride's surname here.

The Date and Time

Traditionally, the date and time on wedding invitations are spelled out in full rather than using numerical figures. For example, "Saturday, the seventeenth of August two thousand twenty-four at half after four in the afternoon". However, for modern or casual invitations, it is also acceptable to use numbers, e.g. "Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 p.m.".

The Location

Include the name and full street address of your wedding venue, including the state and zip code. If your wedding is taking place abroad, include the country as well. If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, you can simply say "reception to follow". If they are at different venues, include the full address of the reception venue as well.

The Reception

If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, you can include a line such as "followed by a wedding breakfast and evening reception" or "followed by dinner, drinks, and dancing". If the reception is at a different venue, you can include the full address and other pertinent information on a separate details card.

Dress Code

Including dress code information is not compulsory, but it can be helpful for your guests. This can be mentioned in the lower corner or bottom centre of the invite, or on a separate details card.

Couple's names

The following examples demonstrate how to word wedding invitations with a champagne arrival for different couples and scenarios:

Couple Hosting, Both with Same Last Name

Jack Alexander Smith and Mason Jacob Smith invite you to raise a glass of champagne and join them on their wedding day.

Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 in the afternoon

[venue name and address]

Dinner, drinks, and dancing to follow

Couple Hosting, Both with Different Last Names

Jack Alexander Smith and Mason Jacob Kim would be delighted if you could join them for a glass of champagne to celebrate their wedding.

Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 in the afternoon

[venue name and address]

Reception to follow

Couple Hosting with Acknowledgement of Financial Contributions from Family

Together with their parents, Jack Alexander Smith and Mason Jacob Kim invite you to a champagne reception to celebrate their wedding.

Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 in the afternoon

[venue name and address]

Couple Hosting with Both Sets of Parents

Jack Alexander Smith, son of John and Betty Smith, and Mason Jacob Kim, son of Kenzie and Jennifer Smith, invite you to a champagne toast to celebrate their wedding.

Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 in the afternoon

[venue name and address]

Reception to follow

Date and time

The date and time of the wedding are essential details to include in the invitation. Traditionally, the date and time are written out in full, with the time specified as "in the morning", "in the afternoon", or "in the evening". For example, "Saturday, the ninth of September two-thousand twelve at noon".

However, modern invitations may use numerical figures for the date and time, such as "Saturday, 9/9/2012, 12:00 pm". If using numerical figures, it is important to choose a legible font to avoid confusion.

If there is limited space on the invitation, the date and time information may be spread across one or two lines. It is also acceptable to include the arrival time for guests and the ceremony start time on separate lines, for example:

> at 12:30 pm (ceremony to start promptly at 1:00 pm)

For evening invitations, it is customary to state the time guests are expected to arrive and the time of iconic events such as the first dance and cake-cutting.

If the ceremony and reception are held at the same venue, you may simply state "reception to follow" or "and afterward at the reception". If the reception is held at a different venue, include the full address and other pertinent information on a separate card.

Location and address

The location and address are essential details to include in your wedding invitation. Here are some tips and examples to help you word this section effectively:

Venue Name and Address: Provide the full name and street address of your wedding venue. This is crucial information for your guests, ensuring they know exactly where to go. Include the city, state, and zip code. If your wedding is taking place abroad, don't forget to mention the country as well.

Examples:

• "The Ritz-Carlton, 1234 Main Street, Anytown, CA 12345, USA"
• "Glochester Catholic Church, 56 Dublin Lane, Dublin, Ireland"
• Ceremony and Reception at the Same Venue: If your ceremony and reception are held in the same location, you can simply state "Ceremony and reception at [venue name and address]." Alternatively, you can use phrases such as "followed by a wedding breakfast and evening reception" or "reception to follow."

Examples:

• "Ceremony and reception at The West Palm, 825 Oceanside Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33701"
• "The Pavilion at Whittlebury Park, Whittlebury, Northamptonshire, NN11 8WP. Followed by a wedding breakfast and evening reception"
• Different Ceremony and Reception Venues: When the ceremony and reception venues are different, provide the full address for each. You can use separate cards for formal invitations or include both addresses on the same invitation if space allows.

Examples:

• "Ceremony at The Orangery, Whittlebury Park, Whittlebury, Northamptonshire, NN11 8WP. Reception at The Atrium, Whittlebury Park, Whittlebury, NN12 7XY"
• "Ceremony: Hotel Boca Chica, Acapulco, Mexico. Dinner and merriment to follow at a reception venue nearby"
• Timing Details: If your reception is not immediately following the ceremony, be sure to include the time for the reception. This is especially important if you want your guests to arrive at a specific time, such as for the cutting of the cake or the first dance.

Examples:

• "Reception at 6:30 p.m. at Brooklyn Winery, Brooklyn, NY"
• "Join us for hors d'oeuvres, drinks, dessert, and dancing at 4 p.m. at Calamigos Ranch, Malibu, CA"
• Address Format: For formal invitations, write out the full address, including the street name and number. Use abbreviations for the state and zip code if needed. For casual invitations, you can use numerals and a more concise format.

Examples:

• Formal: "The Reagan Library, 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley, California, CA 93065"
• Casual: "Panorama Hills, 10.11.2014 at 5:30 p.m."

Remember, the location and address section is crucial for providing your guests with clear and accurate information about the wedding venues. Choose a wording style that aligns with the tone of your invitation, and consider including additional details for events like the cake cutting or first dance if they occur after a gap between the ceremony and reception.

Frequently asked questions