Writing Wedding Invitations In French: A Guide

Writing a wedding invitation in French can be tricky, especially when it comes to finding the right words and ensuring your grammar is correct. The good news is that the rules of wedding invitation etiquette are not too complicated, and there are some simple guidelines to follow. Here are some tips to help you create a beautiful wedding invitation in French that represents you, your love, and includes all the vital details of your big day.

Greeting and tone

When writing a wedding invitation in French, the greeting you choose will depend on whether you're writing a friendly or professional invitation.

For a professional letter, use the following greetings:

• Cher Monsieur
• Chère Madame

For a friendly letter, use the following greetings:

• Cher
• Chère
• Salut
• Bonjour

If you're writing a formal invitation, you'll want to use the very polite conditional mood in the main clause. The polite 'vous' of the main verb is preferred, and the language is more elevated and complex throughout.

• "Vous nous feriez très plaisir si vous pouviez nous consacrer une soirée." ("We would be delighted if you could spend an evening with us.")
• "Nous serions très heureux de vous accueillir chez nous." ("We would be very happy to welcome you to our home.")

On the other hand, if you're writing an informal invitation, the simple present tense in any part of the sentence or phrase is adequate to convey the intended message. The main verb uses the informal 'tu' form, and the language is light and often breezy. Sentences or phrases tend to be short and to the point.

• "Ça te dit de...?" ("How does... sound?")
• "Et si on (mange, voit un film) ?" ("How about (eating, seeing a movie)?")

No matter the tone, be sure to include the following information in your wedding invitation:

• A request to come to the wedding
• The names of the couple
• Reception information

The request to come to the wedding

When writing a wedding invitation in French, there are some standard elements that should be included. Here are four paragraphs focusing on "The request to come to the wedding", with an additional paragraph at the end providing a sample invitation:

There are many ways to extend an invitation, depending on the level of formality desired. In more formal invitations, the language is very polite, using the conditional mood and the polite "vous" form of the verb. For example: "Nous serions très heureux de vous accueillir chez nous." (We would be very happy to welcome you to our home.) In contrast, informal invitations are more casual and use the simple present tense, with short and direct sentences. An example of this would be: "Ça te dit de fêter notre mariage avec nous ?" (How about celebrating our wedding with us?)

Regardless of the tone, it is important to include a clear request for the guest's presence. This can be done in a variety of ways, such as "Nous vous invitons à célébrer avec nous" (We invite you to celebrate with us) or "Nous vous prions de nous honorer de votre présence" (We request the honour of your presence). The specific wording can be adapted to match the desired level of formality.

When writing the invitation, it is customary to include the names of the couple getting married. For same-sex couples, there is no traditional order for the names, so feel free to choose what sounds best. It is also common to include the names of the hosts, especially if they are the parents of the couple. If the wedding is hosted by both sets of parents, a collaborative phrase can be used, such as "Ensemble avec leurs parents" (Together with their parents).

The date and time of the wedding should also be mentioned. For formal invitations, the date is usually written out in full, and the time is spelled out using phrases like "à quinze heures" (at three o'clock). For informal invitations, numerals and abbreviations are acceptable.

Sample Invitation

"Emma et Jax, avec leurs parents, ont le plaisir de vous inviter à célébrer leur mariage. Veuillez rejoindre la cérémonie le samedi 9 juillet 2023 à quinze heures à l'adresse suivante : Hôtel de Ville, 1 Rue de la Mairie, 75000 Paris. La réception aura lieu immédiatement après la cérémonie au même endroit. Votre présence nous honorera."

Emma and Jax, together with their parents, are pleased to invite you to celebrate their wedding. Please join the ceremony on Saturday, July 9, 2023, at 3 p.m. at the following address: City Hall, 1 City Hall Street, 75000 Paris. The reception will take place immediately after the ceremony at the same location. Your presence will honour us.)

The names of the couple

If the wedding is hosted and paid for by the couple and both sets of parents, you can use: "Together with their parents, [name of couple] request the pleasure of your company..."

If you want to include the name of a deceased parent, you'll need to rearrange the wording, as someone who has passed cannot serve as a host. Here's an example:

> Julia French, daughter of Mr. Adam French and the late Iris French, and Austin Mahoney, son of Mr. Camden and Elizabeth Mahoney, request the honour of your presence at their wedding on the fifth of May, two thousand and seventeen, at one o'clock in the afternoon. The Reagan Library, Simi Valley, California. Dinner and dancing to follow. Black tie required.

If the couple's parents are divorced and you want to include all of them as hosts, include them all, keeping each parent on a separate line. If you include a stepparent, keep them on the same line as their partner. Here's an example:

> Dr. Vance and Elizabeth Gregory, Mr. James Abner and Lydia Abner, and Mr. Harold and Jane Hyland invite you to the wedding of their children, Amy Abner and Charles Hyland, 01.06.18 | 4 p.m. Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church, Newport, California. Reception immediately after.

In French, the formula for announcing a wedding is: " [Names of the couple] ont l'honneur de vous faire part du mariage de [names of the couple]."

Reception information

The reception information can be included on a separate card if the invitations are very formal. Otherwise, it can be printed on the wedding invitation itself if there is room. If the ceremony and reception are in the same location, you can print "and afterward at the reception" or "reception immediately following." If the reception is held elsewhere, it should be on a different line.

The time should be included if the wedding reception is not immediately following the ceremony. The dress code is usually included in the lower right-hand corner of the invitation. If no dress code is specified, the invitation itself will indicate the formality of the event.

You can include a separate response card for guests to fill out and return, or you can have them RSVP via your wedding website. If you opt for the latter, include the website address on a separate card.

RSVP details

When it comes to the RSVP details of a wedding invitation in French, there are a few key elements to include. Here are some paragraphs to help you craft this section of the invitation:

Response Deadline

It is important to set a deadline for guests to respond to the invitation. This will help you plan the wedding reception, including catering and seating arrangements. You can phrase this as "Répondez s'il vous plaît avant [date]." Alternatively, you can use the abbreviation "RSVP" followed by the date, such as "RSVP le [date]."

Response Options

Provide guests with clear instructions on how to respond to the invitation. You can include your contact information, such as your phone number or email address. For example, you can write, "Merci de confirmer votre présence avant le [date] au [your phone number] ou à [your email address]." This translates to "Please confirm your attendance before [date] by contacting us at [phone number] or [email address]."

Number of Guests

If guests are allowed to bring companions or children, be sure to specify this in the RSVP details. You can write, "Nous serions ravis que vous veniez accompagné(e)." This means, "We would be delighted if you bring a guest." If children are also invited, you can add, "Les enfants sont les bienvenus."

Regrets Only

If you prefer to only hear back from guests who cannot attend, you can include a "regrets only" request. This means that guests only need to respond if they are unable to come. You can write, "Merci de nous informer uniquement en cas d'empêchement."

Meal Choices

If you are offering meal choices at the wedding, be sure to include this information in the RSVP details. List the available options and provide a space for guests to indicate their preference. For instance, you can write, "Veuillez indiquer votre choix de plat: ____." This translates to, "Please indicate your meal choice: ____."

By including these paragraphs in your wedding invitation, you will provide your guests with clear instructions on how to respond and help ensure a smooth planning process for your special day.

Frequently asked questions