Crafting The Perfect Wedding Write-Up: A Guide To Elegant And Meaningful Wording

When it comes to wedding write-ups, there are a few key elements that should be included. Firstly, the host line, which names the hosts of the event, usually the parents of the bride or groom, or a combination of both. This is followed by the attendance request, a simple phrase such as request the honour of your presence or invite you to share in our joy. The couple's names are listed next, traditionally with the bride's name first, although this can be adapted for same-sex couples or if the couple prefers a different order. The date, time and location of the wedding should also be included, with formal invitations spelling out these details in full, while numerical figures are often used on modern invites. If the ceremony and reception are at different venues, the reception details should be included, otherwise, a simple reception to follow will suffice. Finally, the dress code can be included, although this is not compulsory and can also be communicated on a separate card or the wedding website.

How to word the host line

The host line is the first line of your wedding invitation and is dedicated to the host of the wedding, or the party covering the expenses. Traditionally, the bride's parents pay for the wedding, but nowadays, the groom's parents, the bride, the groom, or a combination of all three can contribute. There is no official order or requirement to list the names, and it's all up to personal preference. If your family has a non-traditional structure, don't let the host name part of the invitation trip you up. It's easy to accommodate situations such as step-parents or deceased parents. Here are some examples:

Including Step-Parents

Mr. & Mrs. Flores, Mr. & Mrs. Hill, Mr. & Mrs. Byrne and Mr. & Mrs. Lin request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of Talia Flores & Stephen Byrne

Honouring Deceased Parents

Mr. & Mrs. Jon Flores and Mr. Tom Byrne & the late Mrs. Nancy Byrne request the honor of your company at the marriage of their children Talia Flores & Stephen Byrne

Couple and Parents Hosting

Talia Camila Flores & Stephen Anthony Byrne request the honor of your company at the celebration of their union Saturday, the eleventh of June two thousand and twenty-three at twelve o'clock in the afternoon Arctic Club Hotel 700 Third Avenue Seattle, Washington Reception to follow

Couple Hosting

The honor of your presence is requested at the marriage of Talia Camila Flores and Stephen Anthony Byrne Saturday, the eleventh of June two thousand and twenty-three at twelve o'clock in the afternoon Arctic Club Hotel 700 Third Avenue Seattle, Washington Reception to follow

Bride's Parents Hosting

Mr. & Mrs. Jon Flores request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Talia Camila Flores to Stephen Anthony Byrne Saturday, the eleventh of June two thousand and twenty-three at twelve o'clock in the afternoon Arctic Club Hotel 700 Third Avenue Seattle, Washington Reception to follow

Groom's Parents Hosting

Mr. & Mrs. Tom Byrne request the honor of your presence at the marriage of Talia Camila Flores to their son Stephen Anthony Byrne Saturday, the eleventh of June two thousand and twenty-three at twelve o'clock in the afternoon Arctic Club Hotel 700 Third Avenue Seattle, Washington Reception to follow

Couple's Parents Hosting

Mr. & Mrs. Flores and Mr. & Mrs. Byrne request the honor of your company at the marriage of their children Talia Camila Flores & Stephen Anthony Byrne Saturday, the eleventh of June two thousand and twenty-three at twelve o'clock in the afternoon Arctic Club Hotel 700 Third Avenue Seattle, Washington Reception to follow

More Casual Wording

Talia Flores and Stephen Byrne invite you to a celebration of their love and commitment June 11, 2024, 12:00 pm Arctic Club Hotel 700 Third Avenue Seattle, Washington Dinner and dancing to follow

Including Both Parents and the Couple

Together with their parents Talia Flores & Stephen Byrne invite you to share in their joy as they tie the knot June 11, 2024, 12:00 pm Arctic Club Hotel 700 Third Avenue Seattle, Washington Dinner and dancing to follow

How to word the attendance request

The attendance request is a crucial part of your wedding invitation, as it lets your guests know exactly what they are being invited to. Here are some tips and examples to help you word the attendance request for your wedding invitation:

Formal Wording

If you are having a formal wedding, the wording of your attendance request should be formal and traditional. Here are some examples:

• "Request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter/their children [Bride's name] and [Groom's name]."
• "Request the honour/honor of your presence at the marriage of [Bride's name] and [Groom's name]."
• "Cordially invite you to attend the marriage of [Bride's name] and [Groom's name]."

Informal Wording

If your wedding is more informal or casual, you can use less formal language in your attendance request. Here are some examples:

• "Would love for you to join us at the wedding of [Bride's name] and [Groom's name]."
• "[Bride's name] and [Groom's name] are getting married and would like to invite you to their wedding."
• "Come celebrate with us as we tie the knot!"

Modern Wording

For a modern twist, you can change up the order of the details and add a fun twist to your attendance request:

• "With much love, [Names of couple's parents] invite you to celebrate the wedding of their son/daughter [Groom's name/Bride's name] to [Bride's name/Groom's name]."
• "[Bride's name] and [Groom's name] would love to eat wedding cake with you on [Date and time]."
• "Good food, good drinks, good friends. [Bride's name] & [Groom's name] request you celebrate with them as they get hitched."

Additional Tips

• Be concise: Avoid overloading your invitations with too much text, as it can take away from the design and cause confusion. Only include the essential details.
• Consider the host: Traditionally, the host line includes the name of the person(s) hosting or paying for the wedding. Nowadays, this may not always be the parents of the bride, so you can include something like "together with their families" if multiple people are contributing.
• Consider formality: The wording of your attendance request should match the overall vibe and level of formality of your wedding.
• Include an insert card: Provide guests with additional information, such as dress code, on a separate insert card or your wedding website.

How to word the couple's names

When it comes to wedding invites, the couple's names are one of the most important parts of the invitation. Traditionally, the bride's name precedes the groom's name, with the bride's first and middle names used, and the groom's first and last names. However, this is all up to personal preference and style. Here are some examples of how to word the couple's names for both formal and casual weddings:

Formal Wedding Invitation Wording Examples:

• The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Talia Camila Flores and Stephen Anthony Byrne
• Talia Camila Flores & Stephen Anthony Byrne request the honour of your company at the celebration of their union
• Mr. & Mrs. Jon Flores request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Talia Camila Flores to Stephen Anthony Byrne
• Mr. & Mrs. Tom Byrne request the honour of your presence at the marriage of Talia Camila Flores to their son Stephen Anthony Byrne
• Mr. & Mrs. Flores and Mr. & Mrs. Byrne request the honour of your company at the marriage of their children Talia Camila Flores & Stephen Anthony Byrne

Casual Wedding Invitation Wording Examples:

• Talia Flores and Stephen Byrne invite you to a celebration of their love and commitment
• Together with their parents, Talia Flores & Stephen Byrne invite you to share in their joy as they tie the knot
• Mr. & Mrs. Flores would love your company at the marriage of their daughter Talia Flores to Stephen Byrne
• Mr & Mrs. Byrne joyfully invite you to the marriage of Talia Flores to their son Stephen Byrne
• The Flores and Byrne families joyfully invite you to the marriage of Talia Flores & Stephen Byrne

Other Considerations:

• For same-sex couples, there is no traditional rule for the order of names, so go with what sounds better or is more convenient.
• For formal weddings, write out everything in full (no numerals).
• If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves, it is simple to word the invitation, e.g., "Stephen Michael Anderson invites you to witness the beginning of our new life together".

How to word the date and time

When it comes to wedding invitations, the date and time are crucial elements that require careful consideration. Here are some detailed guidelines to help you word the date and time effectively:

Paragraph 1: Formality and Consistency

Firstly, consider the formality of your wedding. If you're having a formal or traditional wedding, opt for more classic and elegant wording. On the other hand, if your wedding is more casual or modern, you can be more relaxed and creative with your phrasing. Whatever style you choose, maintain consistency throughout your invitation suite, including any enclosures or response cards.

Paragraph 2: Writing the Date

When writing the date, it is generally recommended to spell out the numbers instead of using numerals. For example, write "four" instead of "4". Begin with the day of the week, followed by a comma, then the date, and the word "of" before the month. Here's an example: "Saturday, the tenth of May". Compound numbers, such as "May 28th", should have a hyphen: "Saturday, the TWENTY-EIGHTH of May". While it's less traditional, you could also write "Saturday, May twenty-eighth". Capitalize the day of the week and the month, but keep the number of the month in lower-case. Always write out the year in full, such as "two thousand sixteen".

Paragraph 3: Time Indications

When indicating the time, there are a few rules to keep in mind. Firstly, avoid using "a.m." or "p.m." and instead, opt for phrases like "in the morning", "in the afternoon", or "in the evening". Any time after 5:00 pm is considered the evening, and between noon and 4:30 pm is the afternoon. You can refer to 12:00 pm as "noon". For formal invitations, write out the time in full, justifying it as the placement of hands on a clock. For example, instead of "4:30 pm", write "half after four o'clock". It is also considered more traditional to use "half after" instead of "half past".

Paragraph 4: Combining Date and Time

When combining the date and time on your invitations, ensure they match in formality. For instance, if you've written out the date in full, avoid using numerals for the time. Here's an example of a formal invitation: "Saturday, the twenty-sixth of October two thousand twenty-four at half after three o'clock". For a more casual invitation, you could write: "Saturday, May 17th, 2025 at 4pm".

Paragraph 5: Ceremony and Reception Times

Typically, the main invitation only includes the date and time of the ceremony. If your reception follows immediately in the same location, you can simply add "reception to follow" or "dinner and dancing to follow". However, if the reception is at a different time or location, include a separate reception card with these details.

Paragraph 6: Additional Tips

Although it's not traditional to include the end time of the wedding on the invitation, you can include this information on your wedding website if you wish. Additionally, to avoid late arrivals, some couples opt to print an earlier start time on their invitations, usually no more than 15 minutes earlier.

Remember, these guidelines are flexible, and you can adapt them to fit your unique wedding style. The most important thing is to provide clear and concise information to your guests so they can share in your special day without confusion.

How to word the location

When it comes to wedding invites, the location and venue details are essential. Here are some tips and examples to help you word the location details effectively:

Provide Clear and Concise Details:

Be sure to include the specific location and venue information in your invitation. Mention the name of the venue, such as the hotel, restaurant, or park, followed by the address. For example:

> The Arctic Club Hotel

> 700 Third Avenue

> Seattle, Washington

Include the Date and Time:

Along with the location, specify the date and time of the wedding ceremony. You can spell out the details or use numerals for a more casual invitation. For instance:

> Saturday, the eleventh of June, two thousand and twenty-three at twelve o'clock in the afternoon

>

> Or

>

> June 11, 2024, at 12:00 pm

Consider Including Dress Code Information:

If you wish for your guests to adhere to a specific dress code, include this information in your invitation. It can be added to the same line as the location or the next line. For example:

> The Arctic Club Hotel, 700 Third Avenue, Seattle, Washington

> Black-tie attire

Mention Any Post-Ceremony Plans:

If you are hosting a reception or other celebrations after the ceremony, provide clear details. You can include a simple phrase such as:

> Dinner and dancing to follow at the same location.

Or, if the reception is at a different venue, specify the address or direct guests to your wedding website for more information.

> Reception to follow at The Residence, 1234 Oak Street

Be Creative and Personal:

Feel free to add a touch of your personality and creativity when mentioning the location. You can use phrases such as:

> Join us as we exchange our vows in the beautiful gardens of...

>

> Or

>

> Celebrate with us at sunset on the beach...

Example Wording for the Location:

> We invite you to share our joy as we exchange vows on the beach.

>

> Beachside Hotel, 123 Coastal Avenue, Seaside Town

>

> July 16, 2024, at 5:00 pm

>

> Cocktail attire

>

> Dinner and dancing to follow at the Beachside Ballroom

> The honor of your presence is requested at the marriage of Emma and Jax.

>

> Historic Manor, 456 Manor Lane, Countryville

>

> Saturday, September 1, 2024, at half past six in the evening

>

> Black-tie optional

>

> Reception to follow in the Grand Ballroom

Remember to include all the necessary details while also making the invitation a reflection of your style and personality.

Frequently asked questions