Writing Your Wedding Invitations: A Step-By-Step Guide

Wedding invitations are an important piece of the planning puzzle. They are one of the first things your guests will see, touch, and feel when it comes to your wedding, and they also convey critical information. The good news is that the rules of wedding invitation etiquette aren't that complicated. The primary tenet is to create a beautiful wedding invitation that represents you, your love, and the big day while also communicating the vital details of the wedding.

Honoring a deceased parent: Include the phrase the late before their name

Honouring a deceased parent on a wedding invitation can be tricky, but there are ways to word the invitation so that their memory is honoured. Here are some examples of how to include a deceased parent on a wedding invitation:

Bride's Parent Has Passed Away

The traditional format for a wedding invitation issued by the parents is:

> [Parent's Name] and [Parent's Name]

> request the honour of your presence

> at the marriage of their [daughter/son]

> [Name]

> on [date]

> at [time]

> [venue]

> [city], [state]

To include a deceased parent, use the phrase "the late" before their name. Here is an example:

> Mrs Sharon Henderson

> and the late Mr Nathan Henderson

> request the honour of your presence

> at the marriage of their daughter

> Preston John Brackman

> on Saturday, the twenty-first of July

> Two thousand and twenty-six

> at six o'clock in the evening

> Dripping Springs, Texas

Groom's Parent Has Passed Away

When the bride's name is listed first, as is traditional, the invitation wording changes slightly if the groom's parent has passed away:

> Mr and Mrs Jay Courier

> Mrs Hannah Fullerton and the late Mr Andrew Fullerton

> request the honour of your presence

> at the marriage of their children

> on Saturday, the twenty-first of July

> Two thousand and twenty-six

> at six o'clock in the evening

> 912 Sixth Street South

> Minneapolis, Minnesota

Single Parent, Widow or Widower

If you prefer not to include a deceased parent on the invitation, that is also an option. Here is an example of wording from a single parent:

> Mrs Angela Eldridge

> requests the honour of your presence

> at the marriage of her daughter

> Trevor Patrick Everett

> on Saturday, the twenty-first of July

> Two thousand and twenty-six

> at six o'clock in the evening

> 1982 North Bay Avenue

Step-Parent and Deceased Parent

You can also include both a step-parent and a deceased parent on the invitation:

> Moira and Alistair Schiller

> request the honour of your presence

> at the marriage of her

> and the late Porter Blackman's daughter

> on Saturday, the twenty-first of July

> Two thousand and twenty-six

> at six o'clock in the evening

Host line: Include the names of those hosting (traditionally the bride's parents)

The host line is the opening line on a wedding invitation and traditionally names the bride's parents as the hosts of the event. Here are some examples of how to word the host line, depending on the nature of the hosting:

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.

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

Both Sets of Parents Hosting

For different-sex couples, list the bride's parents' names at the top of the invite, followed by 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 Hosting With Their Families

When the couple and both of their families are contributing to the cost of the wedding, you can opt for a line such as:

• 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

Request line: Invite your guests to attend, e.g. request the honour of your presence

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

• "Request the honour of your presence" — this is traditionally used to denote a religious ceremony held in a church, temple, or another place of worship. The British spelling of "honour" can be used to evoke a more formal and traditional feel.
• "Request the pleasure of your company" — this is typically used to denote a non-religious ceremony.
• "Invite you to celebrate with them"
• "Would love for you to join them"
• "Together with our parents, we invite you..."
• "We ask you to be present with us at the ceremony uniting..."
• "We invite you to share with us a celebration of love..."
• "We ask you to join us at the marriage of..."
• "We are thrilled to invite you to celebrate the union of..."
• "Our joy will be more complete if you will join us to celebrate..."

The request line is usually followed by an action line, which outlines what you are inviting guests to share in. For example:

• "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"

Couple's names: Traditionally, the bride's name comes first

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, the bride's name typically comes first, followed by the groom's name. This tradition has been in place for formal invitations issued by the bride's parents, where the bride is referred to by her first and middle names, and the groom by his full name and title. However, modern invitations often give couples more flexibility, allowing them to choose the order of names based on what sounds better or alphabetical order.

Hosted by One Set of Parents (Traditional)

For a traditional wedding hosted by the bride's parents, the invitation can be worded as follows:

> Mr. and Mrs. [Father's Full Name] request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Blake Ellender to Ryan Rodney on Saturday, the ninth of September two thousand twelve at noon, Boone Hall, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Dinner and merriment to follow.

Hosted by Both Sets of Parents

When both sets of parents are hosting, the invitation can be worded as:

> Mr. and Mrs. [Bride's Father's Full Name] and Mr. and Mrs. [Groom's Father's Full Name] request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their children Olivia Rose and John Michael on Saturday, the seventeenth of August two thousand twenty-four at half after four in the afternoon at [venue name and address]. Reception to follow.

Hosted by the Couple

If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves, the invitation can be more creative and casual:

> Amal Alamuddin and George Timothy Clooney request the pleasure of your company at the celebration of their marriage on Saturday, the twenty-seventh of September two thousand fourteen at noon, Aman Canal Grande Hotel in Venice, Italy. Festivities to follow.

Hosted by Divorced Parents

In the case of divorced parents, the invitation can be worded as:

> Mr. [Father's Full Name] and Ms. [Mother's Full Name] invite you to share in the joy of the marriage uniting their son Roberto Rossellini to Ingrid Bergman on Saturday, the twenty-fourth of May nineteen fifty at noon, Hotel Boca Chica, Acapulco, Mexico. Dinner and merriment to follow.

Hosted by Same-Sex Parents

For same-sex parents, the invitation can be worded as:

> Mr. [Parent 1's Full Name] and Mr. [Parent 2's Full Name] request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Julie Marie to Stephen Anthony on Saturday, the tenth of April two thousand and twenty-one at half past six in the evening, Hotel Chantelle, New York City, NY. Reception to follow.

Date, time and location: Include the full address for destination weddings

When it comes to wedding invitations, the date, time and location are essential details that need to be communicated clearly and effectively. Here are some instructive and focused guidelines on how to include this information, especially for destination weddings:

Provide Clear and Detailed Information:

• For destination weddings, it is crucial to include the full address of the venue, including the city, state, and country. This is important as your guests will be travelling to a different location.
• If your wedding is taking place abroad, be sure to mention the country as well. For example: "Join us for our wedding celebration in Paris, France, on Saturday, July 16th, 2024, at 4:00 p.m."
• If your wedding venue is a private residence, it is customary to include the street address. This ensures your guests can find the location easily.
• When it comes to timing, traditionally, the time of day is spelled out as "four o'clock" or "half-past four o'clock." However, for more informal weddings, a numerical representation like "4:00 p.m." is also acceptable.

Excite and Intrigue Your Guests:

Destination weddings offer a unique opportunity to create excitement and intrigue with your invitation wording. Here are some ideas:

• Keep it Simple: Focus on the basic information, but add a few exciting words to spark interest. For example: "Join us under the Tuscan sun as we exchange vows."
• Inspire Travel: Emphasize the destination to inspire your guests to book that flight. For example: "We're getting married in the heart of the Swiss Alps, and we want you there!"
• Provide a Clear Call to Action: Don't just use cute wording; tell your guests what to do next. For example: "RSVP via our wedding website to secure your spot."

Etiquette and Formality:

The wording of your invitations can also reflect the formality of your wedding. Here are some tips:

• Traditional Wording: Traditional wedding invitation wording is more formal and structured. It includes the hosts' names, the request to attend, the couple's names, date, time, and location. For example: "Mr. and Mrs. Smith request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Sarah to Mr. John Doe on Saturday, June 20th, 2024, at six o'clock in the evening."
• Modern Wording: Modern wording allows for more creativity and personalization. It often reflects the couple's personalities and the unique aspects of the destination. For example: "Join us for a sunset celebration on the beaches of Bali as we exchange vows. Jane Smith and John Doe, June 20th, 2024, 6 p.m."
• Dress Code: If you're having a formal event, such as black-tie, mention it on the invitation. Conversely, if it's a casual beach wedding, you can indicate that with your wording to set the tone.

Remember, your wedding invitations are a reflection of you as a couple, so feel free to get creative and make them your own!

Frequently asked questions