Crafting Wedding Invitations: A Guide To Diy Elegance

Writing your own wedding invitations can be a daunting task, but it's a great opportunity to express your style and capture the vibe of your wedding. The wording of your invitations will depend on the formality of your wedding, but there are some essential elements that you should include. These are: who is hosting the wedding, a request to come to the wedding, the names of the couple, the location of the wedding, and the date and time. You may also want to include reception details, an RSVP date, and dress code information.

Who's hosting and how to word it

The host line is the opening line on a wedding invitation and names the hosts of the event. If multiple parties are hosting, you only need to include names if you want a formal feel. If you are hosting the wedding yourselves, this line can be omitted.

Traditionally, the bride's parents are the hosts and their names come first. However, including the names of both sets of parents is a gracious option, no matter who is footing the bill. If the couple and their parents are contributing, you can opt for something like "Together with their parents" or "Together with their families".

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" as the host line.

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

Couple Is Hosting

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

How to request guests' attendance

The wording of your wedding invitation is important as it sets the tone for your wedding. The request line is where you invite your guests to join your wedding celebration. Traditionally, couples use formal wording to denote a formal, religious ceremony, while modern celebrations tend to use more casual language.

• "Request the honour of your presence"
• "Request the pleasure of your company"
• "Invite you to join"
• "Please join us to celebrate"
• "Love the pleasure of your company"

If you are having a religious ceremony, you may want to use the phrase "request the honour of your presence". For a non-religious ceremony, you could use "request the pleasure of your company" or "invite you to join us as we celebrate".

If you are having a more casual or informal wedding, you could use phrases such as:

• "Join us to celebrate"
• "We're getting married"
• "Join us for our wedding"
• "We'd love for you to celebrate with us"

If you are having a particularly fun or quirky wedding, you could get creative with your request line. For example:

• "Come party with us"
• "Eat, drink and be merry"
• "Come eat cake with us"
• "Good food, good drinks, good friends"

Once you have decided on the tone and style of your request line, you can start thinking about the specific wording. Here are some examples to inspire you:

• "Mr. and Mrs. John Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter, Jane Smith, to Mr. John Doe"
• "Together with their families, Jane Smith and John Doe request the honour of your presence at their wedding"
• "You are cordially invited to celebrate the marriage of Jane Smith and John Doe"
• "Jane Smith and John Doe invite you to share in their joy as they tie the knot"

Couple's names: order and style

The couple's names are a crucial part of the wedding invitation and are usually displayed in larger text and sometimes in a fancy typeface.

Order of Names

For heterosexual couples, the bride's name typically comes before the groom's. For same-sex couples, the wording of the host line may dictate whose name comes first. If one set of parents is hosting, their names will come first, followed by their child. If you are hosting the wedding yourselves, it's up to you to decide whose name comes first.

If you are using traditional wedding invitation wording, follow these rules to format names:

• 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 card or other, less formal pieces of the invitation suite.
• Drop the bride's and/or groom's middle names if they are too long to fit on one line.

Style of Names

Names on wedding invitations can be arranged alphabetically or in whichever order has the best ring to it.

If you are opting for formal or casual invitations, this will determine how you display your names. Sometimes, it's good to know the etiquette rules for wedding stationery, just so you can break them with confidence!

Date, time and location

The date, time, and location of the wedding are essential pieces of information for your guests. Here are some tips and examples to help you include this information in your wedding invitations:

Date and Time

For formal invitations, it is customary to spell out the date, time, and year in full. For example, if your wedding is on September 15, 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 capitalised, and the year should be in lowercase. There is no "and" when spelling out the year.

For modern or informal invitations, you may choose to use numerical figures for the date and time. If you do so, be sure to use a legible font to avoid confusion (e.g., between "2" and "5").

When writing out the time in full, specify whether the event will take place in the morning, afternoon, or evening. For formal invitations, avoid using "a.m." or "p.m.". Instead, use phrases such as "in the morning," "in the afternoon," or "in the evening."

Location

Include the name and full address of your wedding venue, especially if your wedding is a destination wedding or if you have many out-of-town guests. For formal invitations, include the city, state, and zip code. If your wedding is taking place abroad, be sure to mention the country as well.

If your wedding venue is well-known or easy to find, you may choose to simply list the venue name and city, leaving out the street address.

If your wedding ceremony and reception are in different locations, provide separate cards for each address or include the reception address on a details card tucked into the invitation.

Examples

Formal Invitation Example:

> 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 Example:

> Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Simon Peter Blunt invite you to the marriage of Emily Olivia Leah and John Burke on July 10, 2010, at half past six in the evening at Via Regina Teodolinda, 35 Como, Italy. Food, wine, and merriment to follow.

Together with Their Families Example:

> Jack Smith & Mason Kim and their joyful parents hope you will attend their wedding on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 in the afternoon at [venue name and address]. Reception to follow.

Two Venues Example:

> Join us for the wedding of [groom/bride first name] & [groom/bride first name] at [first location] on [date and time]. And afterwards at [second location].

Reception details

The reception details are an important part of your wedding invitation, as they let your guests know what to expect after the ceremony. This section should include the location of the reception, as well as the time it will begin. If the reception is at the same venue as the ceremony, you can simply write "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow". If the reception is at a different location, include the full address or tuck a separate details card into the invitation.

• "Reception immediately following the ceremony"
• "Dinner and dancing to follow"
• "Cake, punch, and merriment to follow"
• "Feasting and merriment to follow"
• "Dining, dancing, and happily ever after to follow"

If there will be specific activities at the reception, such as a cocktail hour or dancing, you can include those details as well. For example:

• "Cocktails, dinner, and dancing to follow"
• "Join us for dinner, drinks, and dancing after the ceremony"

If the reception is at a different location, you can include the address on a separate card or insert. Here is an example of what the wording might look like:

"Reception to follow at [reception venue name and address]"

If the reception will be held at a later time or on a different date, be sure to include that information as well. For example:

• "Reception to follow at 7 pm"
• "Reception to be held the following day at noon"

In addition to the location and time, you may also want to include other pertinent details such as the dress code, especially if it is a formal affair or if there is a specific theme. You can include this information on the reception card or on a separate details card.

Some examples of dress code wording include:

• "Black-tie"
• "Formal attire"
• "Cocktail attire"
• "Beach casual"

If there are any other activities or events that will be taking place during the reception, such as a first dance or cake cutting, you may also want to include those details. This will give your guests a clear picture of what to expect during the reception.

Remember to keep the reception details clear and concise, and include only the most important information. You can always include additional details on your wedding website or on a separate details card.

Frequently asked questions