Wedding Invitation Wording: No Host, No Problem

Wedding invitation wording can be tricky, but it's an important piece of the planning puzzle. The wording you choose will convey the tone and formality of your wedding, so it's worth taking the time to get it right. Here are some tips on how to word wedding invitations when there are no hosts:

- The Couple's Names: The names of the couple are usually displayed prominently and in larger text. For heterosexual couples, the bride's name traditionally comes first, followed by the groom's full name and title. For same-sex couples, the wording of the invitation may dictate the order, or you can choose based on alphabetical order or what sounds better.

- Date, Time, and Location: Include the date, start time, and location of the ceremony. For formal invitations, spell out the date, time, and address in full. For modern or casual invitations, you can use numerical figures and abbreviations.

- Reception Details: If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, simply state reception to follow. If the reception is elsewhere, include the full address on a separate details card or your wedding website.

- Request Line: This is where you invite your guests to join your celebration. For a formal, religious ceremony, you might use request the honour of your presence. For a non-religious or more casual wedding, try something like invite you to join us or request the pleasure of your company.

- Host Line: If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves, you can omit the host line or start with a warm and welcoming introduction, such as Together with full hearts or With hearts full of love and joy.

Host Line: Include the names of those hosting the wedding

Host Line: The Names of Those Hosting the Wedding

The host line is the opening line of a wedding invitation and is where the name(s) of the event host(s) appear. The hosts are usually the people who are paying for the wedding. The wording of the host line will vary depending on who is hosting. Here are some examples of how to word the host line for different scenarios:

One Set of Married Parents Hosting

For one set of married parents hosting the wedding, include their full names with middle names for a very formal wedding. If they have different last names, write "and" to join the two names.

• 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

For divorced parents hosting the wedding, include the mother's name first, followed by the father's name on a separate line. Do not use "and" to connect the two names. If you want to include a stepparent, keep their name on the same line as their partner.

Both Sets of Parents Hosting

For different-sex couples, list the bride's parents' names first, 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.

• 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 Hosting with Their Families

When the couple and both of their families are contributing to the wedding, you can add a line such as "Together with their families" as the host line.

• 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 or start the invitation with a warm and welcoming introduction, such as:

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

Request Line: Invite your guests to join your wedding celebration

The request line is where you invite your guests to join your wedding celebration. Traditionally, couples used formal wording in the request line to indicate a formal religious ceremony, while 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" denotes formality)
• "Request the pleasure of your company"
• "Would love for you to join them"
• "Invite you to celebrate with them"
• "Together with their parents, Emma and Jax request the pleasure of your company ..."
• "The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Talia Camila Flores and Stephen Anthony Byrne ..."
• "Mr. & Mrs. Jon Flores request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Talia Camila Flores to Stephen Anthony Byrne ..."

Couple's Names: Display the couple's names prominently

Couples' Names: Display the Couples' Names Prominently

The names of the happy couple should be the main event and displayed in larger text. For heterosexual couples, the bride's name typically comes before the groom's. However, this tradition is not set in stone, and you may decide to put the groom's name first. For same-sex couples, the host line may dictate the order, or you can simply choose the option that sounds better.

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

• Capitalise proper names and titles.
• Don't use punctuation, except after courtesy titles.
• Avoid abbreviations; in general, 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.

For a more informal feel, you may opt to list first names only.

Examples

• Formal: "The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Talia Camila Flores and Stephen Anthony Byrne..."
• Formal: "Talia Camila Flores & Stephen Anthony Byrne request the honour of your company at the celebration of their union..."
• Casual: "Talia Flores and Stephen Byrne invite you to a celebration of their love and commitment..."
• Casual: "Together with their parents, Talia Flores & Stephen Byrne invite you to share in their joy as they tie the knot..."

Date, Time and Location: Include the wedding date, start time and venue address

The date, time and location are essential elements of a wedding invitation. Here are some tips and examples to help you word this section of the invitation.

Spelling Out the Details

Traditionally, wedding invitations spell out the date, time and time of day in full. For example:

> Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-one, at half after four in the afternoon.

The day of the week and the month should be capitalised, and the year should be in lowercase. There is no "and" when spelling out the year.

The time of day is also typically spelled out, for instance, "four o'clock" or "half after four o'clock".

Numerical Figures

More modern invitations may use numerical figures for the date and time, but be sure to choose a legible font to avoid confusion. For example, a "2" that looks like a "5" could be problematic.

Addressing the Venue

For the location, include the name and full street address of the venue, including the city, state and zip code. If the wedding is taking place abroad, include the country as well.

The street address is usually only necessary for destination weddings or out-of-town guests, or if omitting it would lead to confusion.

If the ceremony and reception are 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, include the full address on a separate card or insert.

Dress Code

Including dress code information is optional, but it can be helpful for guests. If you include it, place it in the lower right-hand corner of the invitation, or on a separate card or your wedding website.

Examples

> Saturday, July 9, 2016, at two thirty in the afternoon

> Santa Barbara Courthouse - Mural Room

> Santa Barbara, California

> Dinner and dancing to follow at Casa de la Guerra

Or:

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

> Arctic Club Hotel

> 700 Third Avenue

> Seattle, Washington

> Reception to follow

For a more casual, informal invitation, you could say:

> June 11, 2024, 12:00 pm

> Arctic Club Hotel

> 700 Third Avenue

> Seattle, Washington

> Dinner and dancing to follow

Reception Details: Notify guests of the post-ceremony plans

The reception details are an important part of your wedding invitation, letting guests know what to expect after the ceremony. Here are some tips and examples to help you word your reception details, especially when there is no host specified.

Location and Time

If your reception is at the same location as the ceremony, you can simply state "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow". This lets guests know that the celebration will be held at the same venue, and they don't need to travel to a different location.

However, if your reception is at a different venue, be sure to include the location on a separate line. You may also include the time, especially if there is a gap between the ceremony and reception. Here's an example:

"Join us after the ceremony for cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and dancing at [Reception Venue Name], [Address], at [Time]."

Dress Code

Including the dress code on your invitation is optional, but it can be helpful for your guests to know what to wear. If you are having a black-tie event, it is important to specify this on the invitation.

For more casual weddings, you may opt for a dress code like "cocktail attire" or "beach casual". The level of formality of the invitation itself can also give guests a sense of the expected dress code.

RSVP Details

It is standard to include RSVP details on a separate card within your invitation suite. This card should include the deadline for guests to respond, typically three to four weeks before the wedding. You may also include meal choices or a song request line on the RSVP card.

• "Kindly reply by [Date]"
• "Please respond by [Date]"
• "The favour of a reply is requested by [Date]"

Additional Information

If you have a wedding website, it is a good idea to include the URL on a separate card within the invitation suite. This allows guests to easily access more detailed information about the wedding, travel arrangements, accommodation suggestions, and any other relevant details.

Additionally, if your ceremony and reception are held at the same venue, you can include the line "Reception to follow" at the bottom of the invitation. For more complex wedding weekends with multiple events, consider including an activity card that lists all the festivities and their respective times and locations.

• "Reception immediately following the ceremony"
• "Dinner and dancing to follow at [Venue Name], [Address]"
• "Cake, punch, and merriment to follow"
• "Feasting and merriment to follow"

Frequently asked questions