Crafting The Perfect Wedding Invite: Tips For Wording

Wedding invitation wording can be a tricky task, but it's a chance for the happy couple to express their style and give guests a glimpse of the vibe of their wedding. The good news is that wedding invitation etiquette isn't too complicated. The primary rules are simple and straightforward, and they're there to serve as guidelines. The most important rule is to create a beautiful invitation that represents the couple, their love, and communicates the vital details of the wedding. Here are some tips on how to word wedding invites.

How to word the host line

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 tips and examples for how to word the host line in different situations:

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; middle name 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 on a separate line. Do not use "and" to connect the two names.

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 in alphabetical order by last name or based on what 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, you can add a line such as "Together with their families" or "Together with our families".

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

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

Including a Deceased Parent

To honour a deceased parent, include their name alongside the couple's. For example:

• Lauren Martinez, daughter of Marta Martinez, and the late Robert Martinez
• Lauren Martinez, daughter of Robert Martinez and the late Marta Martinez

Including Stepparents

To include stepparents, list the mother and stepfather's names first, followed by the father and stepmother's names. If the mother is divorced and not remarried, use the courtesy title "Ms." followed by her preferred last name (maiden or married).

Example:

Dr. Vance and Elizabeth Gregory, Mr. James Abner, and Lydia Abner invite you to the wedding of their children, Amy Abner and Charles Hyland

How to word the invitation line

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

• "Request the honour of your presence" – traditionally used to denote a religious service.
• "Request the pleasure of your company" – used to denote a non-religious ceremony.
• "Invite you to celebrate with them"
• "Would love for you to join them"
• "Invite you to share their joy as..."
• "Want you to come party with us when..."

If the bride's parents are hosting, the invitation line might read: "At the marriage of their daughter". If both sets of parents are hosting, you could say: "At the marriage of their children". If the couple is hosting, the line could be: "At the celebration of their union". Other options include: "As they say 'I do'!", "In celebration of their marriage", or "As they finally tie the knot".

For same-sex couples, you can list names in alphabetical order by last name or based on what looks best with the invitation design. For a less formal feel, you may opt to list first names only.

How to list the couple's names

The names of the couple are usually displayed in larger text and a fancy typeface. For heterosexual couples, the bride's name traditionally comes before the groom's name. However, this tradition is not compulsory and it is really up to the couple to decide whose name comes first. Same-sex couples can list their names alphabetically or based on what sounds better.

If the bride's parents are hosting, the bride is usually referred to by her first and middle name, while the groom is referred to by his full name and title. If the couple is hosting, their titles are optional.

Formal Wedding Invitation

"The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Jack Alexander Smith to Mason Jacob Kim..."

Casual Wedding Invitation

"Jack Alexander Smith & Mason Jacob Kim invite you to share in their joy at their wedding..."

Fun Wedding Invitation

"Come party with us! Jack Alexander Smith and Mason Jacob Kim are tying the knot..."

Modern Wedding Invitation

"Jack Smith & Mason Kim would love to eat wedding cake with you..."

How to word the action line

The action line of a wedding invitation is where you outline what you are inviting guests to share in. Here are some examples of how to word the action line:

• "At the marriage of their daughter" if the bride's parents are hosting.
• "At the marriage of their children" if both sets of parents are hosting.
• "At the celebration of their union" if the couple is hosting.
• "As they say 'I do'!"
• "In celebration of their marriage"

If the bride's parents are hosting, the action line traditionally reads something like "At the marriage of their daughter". However, if you want to include both sets of parents as hosts, the action line would change to "At the marriage of their children".

For same-sex couples, the action line can be adjusted to fit your preferences. For example, "At the marriage of their children" or "At the celebration of their marriage".

You can also get creative with the action line and use phrases like:

• "As they exchange vows of love and commitment"
• "As they finally tie the knot"
• "As they celebrate the beginning of their adventure together"
• "As they swallow their words and join in marriage"
• "Witness and celebrate their wedding reception"

Remember, the key information to include in the action line is what the guests are being invited to share in or celebrate. So feel free to choose a wording that reflects the tone and style of your wedding while conveying the necessary details.

How to include the date, time and location

The date, time, and location are essential details to include in your wedding invitation. Here are some tips and guidelines on how to include them:

Date

For formal invitations, it is customary to spell out the date in full rather than using numerals. For example, if your wedding is on Saturday, October 26, 2024, the wording would be: "Saturday, the twenty-sixth of October two thousand twenty-four". The day of the week should be capitalized, and there should be a comma after it. When writing the year, avoid using the abbreviation "and" and instead use "two thousand twenty-four".

If you're having a more casual wedding, you can be more relaxed with the wording. For instance, for a wedding on Sunday, May 17, 2025, you could simply write: "Saturday, May 17th, 2025".

Time

Like the date, the time is usually spelled out for formal weddings, using phrases like "half after three o'clock" or "three-thirty in the afternoon". The use of "a.m." or "p.m." is optional, but if you do use them, they should be written in lowercase with periods. For casual weddings, it is fine to use numerals, such as "4:00 p.m." or "5:30 p.m.".

Location

For the location, include the name of the venue and its full street address, including the city and state. If your wedding is taking place abroad, also include the country. For formal invitations, it is customary to spell out the state name in full. If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, you can simply write "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow". If the reception is at a different location, include its address on a separate card or on the invitation itself if there is room.

Formal Invitation

Mr. and Mrs. John L. Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their son Jack Alexander to Mason Jacob Kim, on Saturday, the seventeenth of August two thousand twenty-four, at half after four at [venue name and address]. Reception to follow.

Casual Invitation

Jack Alexander Smith & Mason Jacob Kim invite you to share in their joy at their wedding on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. at [venue name and address]. Reception to follow.

Frequently asked questions