Writing Wedding Invites For An Intimate Ceremony

Writing wedding invitation cards can be a tricky task, especially for an intimate wedding ceremony. The key to writing a good wedding invitation is to include all the essential details without making the card look cluttered. Here are some tips on how to write a wedding invitation card for an intimate wedding ceremony:

- Host Line: Traditionally, the bride's parents are the hosts and their names come first. However, listing the names of both sets of parents is a gracious option. If the couple and their parents are contributing, you can write Together with their parents or Together with their families.

- Request Line: This is where you invite people to your wedding and set the tone for the celebration. Examples include request the honour of your presence for a religious ceremony and request the pleasure of your company for a non-religious ceremony.

- Couple's Names: For different-sex couples, the bride's name typically goes first, followed by the groom. For same-sex couples, you can list names alphabetically or based on design preference.

- Date and Time: Traditionally, the date and time are spelled out in full. For a formal invitation, write out the day of the week, the date, and the year in full, e.g., Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-one, at half after four in the afternoon.

- Location: List the ceremony venue by writing the venue name and city on separate lines. The street address is usually not included unless the venue is a private residence.

- Reception Information: If the reception is at the same location, simply write Reception to follow. If it's at a different venue, include the details on a separate line or a reception card.

- Dress Code: Including dress code information is optional but helpful for guests. If your wedding is black-tie, it must be included on the invitation.

- RSVP and Website: Include a separate RSVP card with a deadline for responses, usually about three to four weeks before the wedding. You can also provide your wedding website for additional information.

Who to Include as Hosts

The host line is the opening line on a wedding invitation and it names the hosts of the event. Traditionally, the bride's parents are the hosts of the wedding and are named at the top of the invitation. However, nowadays, it is not uncommon for multiple sets of parents or the couple themselves to be the hosts.

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

> Mr. and Mrs. John L. Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their son Jack Alexander to Mason Jacob Kim

If both sets of parents are hosting, you could write:

> Kenzie M. Smith and Jennifer L. Smith Mark Franklin and Mary Elizabeth Reyes request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their children Olivia Rose and John Michael

If the couple is hosting, the invitation could start with:

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

If the couple is hosting together with their families, the invitation might look like this:

> 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 honor of your presence at their wedding

If you want to include the name of a parent who has passed away, you can rearrange the invitation to say:

> Julia French, daughter of Mr. Adam French and the late Iris French, and Austin Mahoney, son of Mr. Camden and Elizabeth Mahoney, request the honor of your presence at their wedding

If the couple's parents are divorced and you want to include both as hosts, you can include them all, keeping each parent on a separate line. If you're including the name of a stepparent, keep it on the same line as their partner. Here is an example of how a bride with divorced (and remarried) parents worded the invitation:

> Dr. Vance and Elizabeth Gregory and 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

How to Request Attendance

The request to attend is a crucial part of your wedding invitation. It lets your guests know exactly what they are being invited to and is the cue for their happy dance!

• "The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of [Bride] and [Groom]"
• "Together with their families, [Bride] and [Groom] invite you to join them as they say "I do"
• "The pleasure of your company is requested at the marriage of [Bride] and [Groom]"
• "We would love for you to join us at the wedding of [Bride] and [Groom]"
• "Join us to celebrate our wedding"
• "Please come and celebrate with us as we tie the knot"
• "We invite you to share in our joy as we get married"

If you are having a religious ceremony, you may want to use "honour" instead of "honor" to indicate that the ceremony will be held in a church or another house of worship.

The request to attend can be more or less formal depending on the style of your wedding. For a formal wedding, you may want to include the full names of the couple and the hosts. For a less formal wedding, you can use first names only.

If you are having an intimate wedding, it is important to be clear about who is invited. You can state this directly on the invitation or on the envelope. For example, you can write "Adults only" or "Unfortunately, children are not invited".

Couple's Names and Details

Couples' Names and Details

The most important rule of all is to create a beautiful wedding invitation that represents you, your love, and the big day to come. The invitation should also communicate the vital details of the wedding.

• "Together with their parents, Emma and Jax request the pleasure of your company..."
• "Together with their families, [Couple's names] invite you to join them in the celebration of their love."
• "The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of [Couple's names]..."
• "[Couple's names] invite you to celebrate with them."
• "Join us at the wedding of [Couple's names]."
• "Join us to celebrate our wedding."
• "The wedding of [Couple's names]."
• "Join us as we tie the knot!"
• "Join us as we say 'I do'!"
• "Are getting married."
• "Are getting hitched!"

Traditionally, the bride's name comes first, but same-sex couples can choose whichever order they prefer or what looks best with the invitation design. If the bride's parents are hosting, her name can just be her first and middle name, without the last name.

If the couple is hosting, you can skip the host line or start with a warm and welcoming introduction, such as:

• "Together with full hearts"
• "With hearts full of love and joy"

Date and Time

Traditionally, the date and time are spelled out in full. For example:

"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 capitalized, and the year should be lowercase. There is no "and" when spelling out the year.

The time of day should be spelled out as "four o'clock" or "half after four o'clock." Evening begins at five o'clock. From noon until four o'clock is considered afternoon.

• "Saturday, the twenty-first of October, two thousand and twenty-three, at two thirty in the afternoon."
• " [Date] [time] followed by drinking and dancing."
• " [Date and time] followed by a reception."

Location

List the ceremony venue as follows: "Venue Name" on one line, "City, State" on the following line. For formal weddings, the state name is usually spelled out.

The venue's street address is traditionally not included unless the venue is a private residence. Zip codes are not usually included.

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

Date, Time and Location

The date and time of your wedding are arguably the most important details to include on your invitation. 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-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.

The time of day should be spelled out as "four o'clock" or "half after four o'clock." Evening begins at five o'clock. From noon until four o'clock is considered afternoon.

If you are having a less formal wedding, you may opt to use numerals for the date and time. For example, "4:00 p.m." can be written as:

• Four o'clock (traditional)
• Four o'clock in the afternoon (also acceptable)
• 4:00 p.m. (informal)
• 4:00 p.m. in the afternoon (informal)

Similarly, "4:30 p.m." can be written as:

• Half after four o'clock (traditional)
• Half past four o'clock (also acceptable)
• Four-thirty in the afternoon (also acceptable)
• 4:30 p.m. (informal)

The location of your wedding is another crucial detail to include on your invitation. List the venue's name on one line, followed by the city and state on the next line. For formal weddings, the state name is usually spelled out. The venue's street address is traditionally not included unless the venue is a private residence. Zip codes are also typically omitted.

If the reception will be held at the same location as the ceremony, you can simply state, "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow." If the reception is at a different location, you can list it on a separate line or include a separate reception card with the event details. If you're not serving a full meal, you can indicate this by saying something like, "Join us after the ceremony for cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and dancing."

Reception Information

The reception is a key part of your wedding day and the invitation should include all the essential details. If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, 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 and other pertinent information on a separate details card tucked in with your main invitation.

If the reception is not immediately following the ceremony, include the time. For example, "Reception at 7 pm". If the reception is at the same venue but will not immediately follow the ceremony, include the location within the venue, for example, "Reception in the Grand Hall to follow".

If you are not serving a full meal, you might want to include this information on the invitation. For example, "Join us after the ceremony for cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and dancing".

If the reception is at a different venue, you can include the following information on a separate reception card:

• The name of the venue
• The full address
• The time (if different from the ceremony)
• "Reception immediately following the ceremony"
• "Dinner and dancing to follow"
• "Cake, punch, and merriment to follow" (if you’re not serving a full meal)
• "Feasting and merriment to follow"
• "Dining, dancing, and happily ever after to follow"

Frequently asked questions