Time-Honored Traditions: Crafting The Perfect Wedding Invitation Timing

When it comes to wedding invitations, there are a few key elements that should be included to ensure guests have all the information they need. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you craft the perfect invitation:

1. Host Line: Begin by mentioning the hosts of the event, usually the couple's parents or the couple themselves. If multiple parties are hosting, include names only if you're going for a formal feel. Otherwise, this line can be omitted.

2. Attendance Request: This is where you invite your guests to the wedding and let them know what they're being invited to. Use wording that reflects the tone and formality of your wedding.

3. Couple's Names: Display the couple's names prominently and in larger text. For heterosexual couples, the bride's name traditionally comes first, while alphabetical order is typical for same-sex couples.

4. Date and Time: Provide the wedding date and time, spelling them out in full for formal invitations and using numerals for modern invites. Be sure to use legible fonts to avoid confusion.

5. Location: Include the name and full address of the wedding venue, along with the state and zip code. If the wedding is abroad, add the country as well.

6. Reception Details: If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, simply state reception to follow. Otherwise, include the full address and other details on a separate card tucked into the invitation.

7. Optional Dress Code: Including dress code information is helpful but not compulsory. Mention it in the lower corner or centre of the invite, or use a details card or wedding website to share this information.

Here's an example of how to put it all together:

Mr. and Mrs. John Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter, Olivia Rose Smith, to John Michael Reyes. Saturday, the seventeenth of August, two thousand twenty-four, at half after four in the afternoon. [venue name and address] Reception to follow.

Date and time formatting

When it comes to the date and time formatting on wedding invitations, there are a few different ways to go about it depending on the level of formality you want to convey. Here are some detailed instructions and examples to help you out:

Formal Wedding Invitation Wording:

For a formal wedding invitation, the date and time should be written out 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 capitalized.
• The year should be in lowercase and without an "and" in between the numbers.
• Use "o'clock" or "half after four o'clock" for the time of day.
• You can also include "in the afternoon" or "in the evening" for clarity, especially if your event is at 8, 9, or 10 o'clock.
• Evening begins at 5 o'clock, and anything before that is considered afternoon.

Informal/Casual Wedding Invitation Wording:

If you're having a more casual or informal wedding, you can use numerals and a more conversational tone for the date and time. For example:

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

You can also spell out the time as "four-thirty in the afternoon" if you prefer.

Modern Wedding Invitation Wording:

Modern invitations often use numerals for the date and time but feel free to get creative with the wording to match your wedding's theme or your personalities. For example:

> Join us for love, laughter, and a lifetime of happiness on 9.15.24 at 4:30 p.m.

Remember, the most important thing is to include clear information about the date and time so your guests can easily understand and plan accordingly. Feel free to choose the wording that best reflects your wedding's style and your personalities!

Hosts and how to list them

The hosts are typically the people paying for the wedding, and they are usually listed first on the invitation. Traditionally, the bride's family would host and pay for the wedding, but nowadays, there are many different possibilities, such as the groom's parents hosting, the bride and groom hosting, or a combination of the above.

If the bride's parents are hosting, the invitation might begin with:

> "Mr. and Mrs. John Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Jane Marie to Mr. Jeffrey James Johnson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Johnson..."

If the groom's parents are hosting, the invitation might look like this:

> "Mr. and Mrs. Jack Johnson request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of Jane Marie Smith to Jeffrey James Johnson..."

If both the bride's and groom's families are hosting, you could write:

> "Mr. and Mrs. John Smith and Mr. and Mrs. Jack Johnson request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their children Jane Marie and Jeffrey James..."

If the bride and groom are hosting, with both families contributing, the invitation could be worded as follows:

> "Jane Marie Smith and Jeffrey James Johnson, together with their parents Mr. and Mrs. John Smith and Mr. and Mrs. Jack Johnson, invite you to celebrate their marriage..."

If the bride and groom are hosting without their families, the invitation might simply say:

> "Miss Jane Marie Smith and Mr. Jeffrey James Johnson invite you to share in the celebration of their wedding..."

In cases of divorce, you can list both parents separately, for example:

> "Mr. John Smith and Mr. and Mrs. Sam Thompson invite you to share in the marriage of their daughter Jane Marie to Mr. Jeffrey James Johnson..."

If the bride's parents are divorced and remarried, you can include the step-parent:

> "Mr. and Mrs. John Smith and Mr. and Mrs. Sam Thompson request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Jane Marie to Mr. Jeffrey James Johnson..."

If you want to honour a deceased parent, you can write:

> "Jane Marie, daughter of Tess Smith and the late John Smith, requests the honour of your presence as she joins in marriage Mr. Jeffrey James Johnson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Johnson..."

In cases where multiple sets of parents are involved, or the couple is hosting alongside their families, you may choose to use a more general phrase such as "together with their families" to avoid a long and confusing invitation.

It is worth noting that the role of "hosts" is not always tied to financial contributions. The hosts are also the ''point persons'' who are greeting guests, receiving replies, and making arrangements for their needs. Therefore, it is important to consider who will be taking on these responsibilities when deciding how to list the hosts.

The request to come to the wedding

The request line is where you invite your guests to join your wedding celebration. The tone of the request line should match the tone of the wedding. For example, if you're having a formal, religious ceremony, you might use the phrase "request the honour of your presence". For a non-religious ceremony or a more casual wedding, you could use phrases such as "invite you to join", "the pleasure of your company", "would love for you to join them", or "invite you to celebrate with them".

> "Together with their parents, Emma and Jax request the pleasure of your company..."

> "The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Jack Alexander Smith to Mason Jacob Kim..."

> "Come party with us! Jack Alexander Smith and Mason Jacob Kim are tying the knot..."

> "Jack Alexander Smith & Mason Jacob Kim together with their parents invite you to their wedding..."

> "Good food, good drinks, good friends. Jack Smith & Mason Kim request you celebrate with them as they get hitched..."

> "Amal Alamuddin and George Timothy Clooney request the pleasure of your company at the celebration of their marriage..."

The couple's names

For formal invitations, the couple's full names, including middle names, are used. For less formal invites, first names only are fine.

• "Mr. and Mrs. John L. Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their son Jack Alexander to Mason Jacob Kim"
• "The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Jack Alexander Smith to Mason Jacob Kim"
• "Together with their families: Olivia Rose Smith and John Michael Reyes together with their parents Kenzie M. Smith and Jennifer L. Smith and Mark Franklin and Mary Elizabeth Reyes request the honour of your presence at their wedding"
• "Come party with us: Jack Alexander Smith and Mason Jacob Kim are tying the knot"
• "Jack Alexander Smith & Mason Jacob Kim together with their parents invite you to their wedding"
• "With much love: John and Eliza Smith invite you to celebrate their son Jack Alexander at his wedding to Mason Jacob Kim"
• "Jack Smith & Mason Kim: Would love to eat wedding cake with you"

Reception details

The reception is the celebration of your marriage, so it's important to include all the essential details about it on your wedding invitations. Here are some tips and examples to help you craft the perfect reception details section for your invitations:

Location

If your ceremony and reception are at the same venue, you can simply write "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow." This lets guests know that the celebration will be held in the same place as the ceremony.

If your reception is at a different location, include the full address and other pertinent information. You can include this on the same line as the location or on a separate details card tucked inside the invitation. Here's an example:

"Reception at [venue name and address]"

Time

If your reception is not immediately following the ceremony, be sure to include the time. Traditionally, the time is spelled out in full, such as "half after four o'clock" or "four-thirty in the afternoon." For more casual invitations, you can use numerals, such as "4:30 p.m."

Food and Drinks

Let your guests know what to expect in terms of food and drinks. If you're serving a full meal, you can simply say "Dinner and dancing to follow." If you're not serving a full meal, be clear about what will be provided. For example:

"Cake, punch, and merriment to follow"

"Join us after the ceremony for cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and dancing"

"A dessert reception following the ceremony"

Tone and Theme

You can also use the reception details section to set the tone and theme for your celebration. This can be done through creative wording that matches the style of your wedding. For example:

"Drinks, dancing, and shenanigans to follow"

"Dine, dance, celebrate..."

"Some dinner, some dancing, and all eternity to follow"

"Bring your dancing shoes! Dinner and music immediately following the ceremony."

Dress Code

Including dress code information on the invitation is optional but can be helpful for guests. If you have a specific dress code, such as black-tie, it's important to include this on the invitation. You can mention the dress code in the lower corner or bottom centre of the invite, or include it on a separate details card.

• "Black-tie required"
• "Cocktail attire"
• "Black-tie optional"

Additional Information

If there are other important details about the reception that you'd like to include, you can add them to the invitation or a separate details card. For example, if you're having a themed wedding, you might want to give guests a hint about the dress code or any other relevant information.

Remember, the key is to provide clear and concise information about the reception while also reflecting the overall vibe and style of your wedding. Feel free to get creative and use wording that matches your personality as a couple!

Frequently asked questions