Crafting The Perfect Wedding Invitation: A Step-By-Step Guide

Wedding invitations are an important piece of the planning puzzle. They convey critical information, set the tone for the wedding, and give guests a glimpse of what to expect.

The following is a comprehensive guide to wedding invitation wording and etiquette.

What to Include in a Wedding Invitation:

- Host names

- A warm invitation sentence

- The couple's names

- The date and time of the wedding

- The location of the ceremony and reception

- A separate RSVP card or instructions for a digital RSVP

Wedding Invitation Wording Examples:

Traditional Wedding Invitation Wording Examples:

- Church Wedding: Mr & Mrs John Smith request the pleasure of [guest name/your company] at the marriage of their daughter Jessica to Mr Edward Jones [location] [date] [time] and afterwards at [reception] R.S.V.P by 30th June to [parent’s address]

- Formal Civil Ceremony: Mr & Mrs John Smith and Mr & Mrs Alan Jones request the pleasure of [guest name/your company] at the marriage of their children Jessica and Edward [location] [date] [time] followed by a reception R.S.V.P by 30th June to [parents’ address]

Modern Wedding Invitation Wording Examples:

- Couple as Hosts: Jessica and Jane are getting hitched! [location] [date] [time] followed by drinking and dancing R.S.V.P by 30th June to [couple’s address]

- Divorced Parents: Mr John Smith & Mrs Beth Smith request the pleasure of [guest name/your company] at the marriage of their daughter Jessica to Mr Edward Jones [location] [date] [time] followed by a reception R.S.V.P by 30th June to [parent’s address]

Unique Wording for Wedding Invitations:

- Personal Touch: We request the pleasure of your wee faces…”

- From Your Children: Jennifer and Jacob Jones invite you to join them for the marriage of their parents Jessica Smith & Edward Jones [location] [date] [time] followed by a reception R.S.V.P by 30th June to [couple‘s address]

Host Line: Include the names of the event hosts, usually the people paying for the wedding

The host line is the opening line on a wedding invitation and it names the hosts of the event, usually the people paying for the wedding. Here are some examples of how to write the host line:

One Set of Married Parents Hosting

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

• Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Timothy Williams (very formal; 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 separate line.

Both Sets of Parents Hosting

For different-sex couples, list the bride's parents' names at the top of the invite, then 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 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".

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

Couple Hosting Themselves

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: Let guests know they're being invited to your wedding

The attendance request is a crucial part of a wedding invitation. This is where you extend the invitation to attend your wedding and can use it to set the tone for your celebration. Here are some examples of attendance requests:

• "The honour of your presence" – traditionally used to denote a religious service.
• "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"
• "Together with full hearts"
• "With hearts full of love and joy"
• "Join us as we tie the knot"
• "Are getting married"
• "Are getting hitched"
• "Invite you to share in our joy as we get married"

You can also include the names of the couple in the attendance request, for example:

• "Amal Alamuddin and George Timothy Clooney request the pleasure of your company"
• "Jessica and Jane are getting hitched!"
• "Join us to celebrate the marriage of Jennifer and Jacob Jones"

The tone of the attendance request can be adjusted to match the style and formality of the wedding. For a formal wedding, the request is usually more traditional and elegant, while for a casual or modern wedding, the language can be more relaxed and playful.

• If the bride's parents are hosting, the request can be worded as "Mr. and Mrs. [Father's Name] [Mother's Name] request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter [Bride's Name] to [Groom's Name]".
• For a wedding with both sets of parents hosting, the request can be worded as " [Bride's Parents' Names] and [Groom's Parents' Names] request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their children [Bride's Name] and [Groom's Name]".
• If the couple is hosting, the request can be worded as " [Bride's Name] and [Groom's Name] invite you to join them as they exchange vows" or " [Bride's Name] and [Groom's Name] request the pleasure of your company at their wedding".
• When including the names of divorced parents, list the mother's name first, followed by the father's name on a separate line.
• To honour a deceased parent, include their name in the host line or after the bride or groom's name, preceded by the phrase "the late".

Couple's Names: Display the couple's names in larger text

The names of the couple are usually displayed in larger text and often in a fancy typeface.

For heterosexual couples, the bride's name typically comes first, followed by the groom's name. If the bride's parents' names are listed at the top, 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 his first and middle names are listed, followed by the line "Son of Mr. & Mrs. [Groom's Father's First Name] [Groom's Surname]."

For same-sex couples, you can list the names alphabetically by surname or based on what looks best with the invitation design.

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

Traditionally, the date and time should be spelled out in full. For example, if your ceremony is on the fifteenth of September 2024 at 4:30 p.m., the wording should read, "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.

Date and Time: Spell out the date and time or use numerals for a modern invite

When it comes to writing the date and time on a wedding invitation, the format you choose will depend on whether you want to go for a traditional or modern style.

Traditional Wedding Invitation Date and Time Format

If you're opting for a traditional wedding invitation, the date and time should be spelled out in full. For example, if your wedding is on the 15th of September 2024 at 4:30 p.m., the wording could be:

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

• The day of the week and the month should be capitalized.
• There should be no "and" when spelling out the year.
• The time of day is usually written as "four o'clock" or "half after four o'clock."
• Evening begins at five o'clock, and any time between noon and 4:30 p.m. is considered afternoon.
• You don't need to specify "in the morning," "in the afternoon," or "in the evening" unless the time is before 12 noon or between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., where there could be confusion.
• The time should be written in lowercase letters, and there should be no capitalization.

Modern Wedding Invitation Date and Time Format

On the other hand, if you prefer a more modern and casual style for your wedding invitation, you can use numerals and a more concise format. For the same wedding date and time, you could write:

"Saturday, 9/15/2024, 4:30 p.m."

• Use legible fonts for the numerals to avoid confusion (e.g., avoid using a "2" that looks like a "5").
• Be consistent with the date and time formatting throughout your invitation suite, including any response cards.
• If you're writing the date in a more informal way (e.g., "Saturday, June 21st, 2025"), you can also use numerals for the time, such as "4 p.m." or "5:30 p.m."

Location: Include the venue's name and full address

The location line of your wedding invitation is where you detail your wedding venue along with the starting times.

Location Line

The location line of a wedding invitation typically includes the name of the venue and its full street address, including the state and zip code. If your wedding is taking place abroad, include the country as well.

The venue's street address is traditionally not included unless the venue is a private residence or omitting it would lead to confusion. Zip codes are also not usually included.

If the reception is at the same location as the ceremony, you can simply say, "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow." If the reception is at a different location, you can list the venue on the following line or on a separate insert card, called a reception card.

• "The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch, Beaver Creek, Colorado. An evening of dinner and dancing to follow."
• "The Reagan Library, Simi Valley, California. Dinner and dancing to follow."
• "Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Randwick, Sydney. Reception to follow at six o'clock in the evening at The Argyle, The Rocks, Sydney."
• "Boone Hall, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Dinner and merriment to follow."
• "Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1000 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, New York. Dinner and dancing to follow."
• "One&Only Palmilla, San Jose del Cabo, Mexico. Reception to follow."
• "The Ritz-Carlton, Bacara Hotel, Santa Barbara, California. Reception to follow."

Frequently asked questions