Crafting The Perfect Outdoor Wedding Invitation

Wedding invitations are an important piece of the planning puzzle. They set the tone for the wedding and convey critical information. The primary elements to include are the request to come to the wedding, the names of the couple, and reception information. The host line is also standard, though nowadays, this isn't always the parent(s) of the bride. The host line is followed by the request line, which invites guests to join the wedding celebration. The couple's names are usually displayed in larger text, with the bride's name traditionally coming before the groom's. However, this rule doesn't apply to same-sex couples, who can choose to go in alphabetical order or simply what sounds better. The date, time, and location of the ceremony are also essential, as is the dress code and how guests should RSVP.

The host line: Who is hosting the wedding?

The host line is the opening line of a wedding invitation and traditionally names the hosts of the event, i.e., the people who are paying for the wedding. The host line is usually placed at the very top of the invitation. The wording will vary depending on who is hosting. Here are some examples of how to word the host line for different scenarios:

One Set of Married Parents Hosting

Include the parents' full names, with middle names for very formal weddings. If they have different last names, use "and" to join them.

• 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

List the mother's name first, followed by the father's name on a separate line. Do not use "and" to connect them. If the mother is not remarried, use the courtesy title "Ms." If you want to include a stepparent, keep their name on the same line as the parent they are married to.

Both Sets of Parents Hosting

For different-sex couples, list the bride's parents' names first, followed by the groom's parents' names. For same-sex couples, list the names in alphabetical order 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 wedding, you can add a line such as "Together with their families."

• 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 omit the host line or start the invitation with a warm and welcoming introduction:

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

The request line: How to invite your guests to join your wedding celebration

The request line is where you invite your guests to join your wedding celebration. This is where you can set the tone for your big day. Traditionally, couples used more formal wording to denote a religious ceremony, while modern celebrations tend to use more casual language.

• "Invite you to join"
• "Please join us to celebrate"
• "The pleasure of your company"
• "Love the pleasure of your company"
• "Request the honour of your presence" (the British spelling of "honour" traditionally indicates a more formal tone)

If you're having a non-religious ceremony or a more casual wedding, you might opt for more informal language, such as:

• "Would love for you to join them"
• "Invite you to celebrate with them"

For same-sex couples, the traditional rule of the woman's name first does not apply. Whether it's "Emily and Zara" or "Zara and Emily," it's going to be a beautiful day either way. Same-sex couples can choose to go in alphabetical order or simply choose what sounds better.

The couple's names: How to format and order the couple's names

The couple's names are the most important part of the wedding invitation. This is the moment to make them front and centre, with their names displayed in larger text and often in a fancy typeface.

For heterosexual couples, the bride's name typically comes first, followed by the groom's name. 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, and their child's name should follow. If you are hosting yourselves, it's up to you to decide whose name comes first.

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

For same-sex couples, you can list the names in alphabetical order by last name or based on what looks best with the invitation design.

For a less formal feel, you may opt to list first names only.

Traditionally, the date and time should be spelled out in full. For example, if your ceremony is on September 15, 2024, at 4:30 p.m., the wording should read, "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 capitalised, 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.

Date, time and location: How to format the date and time, and whether to include the street address

Date, Time and Location

The date and time of your wedding should be spelled out in full on the invitation. For example, if your wedding is on September 15, 2024, at 4:30 p.m., the wording should 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.

The time of day should be written 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.

When it comes to the location, list the venue's name on one line and the city and 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 or omitting it might cause confusion. Zip codes are also usually left out.

If the reception is at the same location as the ceremony, you can simply write "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow". If the reception is at a different location, you can include the full address on a separate insert card, known as a reception card. If you're not serving a full meal, you could say something like: "Join us after the ceremony for cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and dancing."

Examples

Formal Wedding

"Saturday, the seventeenth of August two thousand twenty-four at half after four at [venue name and address]. Reception to follow."

Casual Wedding

"Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 in the afternoon at [venue name and address]. Reception to follow."

Creative Wedding

"Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 in the afternoon at [venue name and address]. Party to follow."

Modern Wedding

"Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 in the afternoon at [venue name and address]. Reception to follow."

Simple Wedding

"Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 in the afternoon at [venue name and address]. Reception to follow."

Reception details: What to include if the reception is at the same venue or elsewhere

If the ceremony and reception are held at the same venue, you can simply write "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow" at the bottom of the invitation. This lets guests know that they needn't go far to continue the celebration.

If the reception is at a different location, you can include the full address and other pertinent information on a separate details card tucked in with your main invitation. Alternatively, you can list the venue on the following line or on a separate insert card, known as a reception card.

If you're not serving a full meal, this is also a great place to let guests know. You could say something like, "Join us after the ceremony for cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and dancing."

• "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"

If the reception is at a different location, you can include the address on a separate card. This is especially important if the ceremony and reception are held on different days or if there is a significant travel time between the two venues.

• "Reception to follow at [address]"
• " [Address] for cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and dancing"

Frequently asked questions