Crafting The Perfect Wedding Invitation: What To Write

Wedding invitations are an important part of the wedding planning process. They are one of the first things your guests will see, and they convey critical information about the event. The wording of a wedding invitation can be formal or casual, and it should include the following:

- A host line: The host is usually the person or people paying for the wedding. This could be one or both sets of parents, the couple themselves, or a combination of both.

- A request line: This is where you invite your guests to join the celebration. Formal language is often used for religious ceremonies, while casual language is more common for non-religious services.

- The couple's names: For heterosexual couples, the bride's name traditionally comes first. For same-sex couples, the wording of the host line may determine the order, or it may simply be based on personal preference.

- The date, time, and location of the ceremony: This information should be included to ensure guests can arrive at the right place at the right time.

- Reception details: If the ceremony and reception are at different locations, include the address for the reception. If they are at the same location, a simple reception to follow will suffice.

- Dress code: This is optional but can be helpful for guests. If no dress code is specified, the formality of the invitation itself will usually indicate the expected attire.

Who to name as the host

The host line is the opening line on a wedding invitation and names the host or hosts of the event. Traditionally, the bride's parents are the hosts of the wedding, but nowadays, it can be any combination of the bride's parent(s), groom's parent(s), the bride and groom, step-parents, or even no designated host. Here are some examples of how to word the host line for different scenarios:

Bride's Parents Hosting

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.

Groom's Parents Hosting

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

Bride and Groom's Families Both Hosting

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.

Bride and Groom Hosting with Both Families

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.

Bride and Groom Hosting

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

Bride's Divorced Parents Hosting

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.

Bride and Groom's Divorced Parents Hosting

Mr. and Mrs. John Smith and Mr. and Mrs. Sam Thompson, together with Mr. Jack Johnson and Mr. and Mrs. Mark Adams, request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their children, Jane Marie and Jeffrey James.

Honouring a Deceased Parent

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.

No Designated Host

You may choose to omit the host line altogether and simply provide guests with the details of the who, what, when, and where.

How to request attendance

The request to attend a wedding is a crucial part of any wedding invitation. Here are some tips and examples to help you craft the perfect attendance request:

Traditional and Formal Wording

The traditional and formal way to request attendance at a wedding is to use phrases such as:

• "Request the honour of your presence" (denoting a religious ceremony)
• "Request the pleasure of your company" (denoting a non-religious ceremony)
• "The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of"
• "You are cordially invited to celebrate the marriage of"

When using traditional and formal wording, it is customary to spell out dates and times in full. For example, "Saturday, the eleventh of June two thousand and twenty-three at twelve o'clock in the afternoon".

Creative and Fun Wording

If you're looking to add a creative or fun twist to your invitations, you could use phrases such as:

• "Come party with us"
• "Join us for dinner and drinks"
• "We're getting married, please join us"
• "Join us as we celebrate our love"
• "Kindly join us at the wedding of"

Casual Wording

For a more casual approach, you can keep the wording simple and direct:

• "You are invited to the wedding of"
• "Please come help us celebrate our love"
• "Join us for the wedding of"
• "We're getting married! Please join us"

Modern Wording

Modern wedding invitations often feature a more relaxed and conversational tone:

• "We invite you to share in our joy and request your presence at the wedding of"
• "Together with our families, we joyfully invite you to the wedding of"
• "We'd love for you to celebrate with us"
• "Let's eat, drink, and be married!"

Other Considerations

When requesting attendance, it is important to include key details such as the couple's names, the date, time, and location of the wedding. You may also want to mention the dress code and any post-ceremony plans, such as a reception or dance.

Couple's names

The couple's names are a key part of a wedding invitation. Here are some tips for how to include them:

Host Line

The host line is where you can include the names of those hosting the wedding, which is traditionally the bride's parents. However, it is becoming more common to include the names of both sets of parents or to state that the couple is hosting with their families. Here are some examples:

• "Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Timothy Williams" (very formal)
• "Christopher and Sarah Williams" (less formal)
• "Together with their families"
• "Together with our families"
• "Together with their parents"

Request Line

The request line is where you invite guests to attend the wedding. Here are some examples:

• "Request the honour of your presence" (traditionally used to denote a religious service)
• "Request the pleasure of your company" (used to denote a non-religious ceremony)
• "Invite you to celebrate with them"
• "Would love for you to join them"

The couple's names are usually displayed in larger text and can include first, middle, and last names. For different-sex couples, the bride's name typically comes first, followed by the groom's full name. For same-sex couples, you can list the names alphabetically by last name or based on what looks best with the invitation design. Here are some examples:

• "Jack Alexander Smith and Mason Jacob Kim"
• "Olivia Rose Smith and John Michael Reyes"
• "Lauren Martinez, daughter of Marta Martinez"

Date and Time

The date and time are usually spelled out in full on formal invitations. For example, "Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-one, at half after four in the afternoon."

Reception Information

If the reception is at the same location as the ceremony, you can simply say "Reception to follow." If it is at a different location, include the full address or a separate reception card.

Date, time and location

The date, time and location of the wedding are essential pieces of information that need to be included in the invitation. Here are some tips and examples to help you word this information effectively:

Date and Time:

• For formal invitations, it is customary to spell out the date, time and year in full. For example, "Saturday, the eleventh of June two thousand and twenty-three at twelve o'clock in the afternoon".
• Alternatively, for a more modern or casual invitation, you could use numerals, e.g. "Saturday, June 11, 2023 at 12:00 pm".
• Specify whether the event will take place in the morning, afternoon or evening, rather than using a.m. or p.m.
• If your wedding has a theme or a particular level of formality, consider reflecting this in your wording. For instance, for a rustic or informal wedding, you could say "Dinner and dancing to follow". For a more formal affair, you might say "An evening of celebration to follow".

Location:

• Include the name of the venue and the city, spelling these out in full.
• For a destination wedding or if you have a lot of out-of-town guests, it is helpful to include the full address.
• If the ceremony and reception are in the same place, you can simply state "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow".
• If the reception is at a different location, include the address on a separate line or card.
• Check with your venue about the correct spelling and wording of the location.
• If there are multiple spaces within the venue, you may want to specify this, e.g. "In the Chapel" or "On the Lawn".
• Including the state or postcode is optional.

Formal:

• "Saturday, the eleventh of June two thousand and twenty-three at twelve o'clock in the afternoon, Arctic Club Hotel, 700 Third Avenue, Seattle, Washington. Reception to follow."
• "Saturday, the fifteenth of January two thousand twenty-two at five o'clock in the afternoon, Kempa Villa, 71555 Jaguar Way, Palm Desert, CA. Reception to follow."
• "Friday, the twenty-ninth of April two thousand and eleven at eleven o'clock in the morning, Westminster Abbey – 20, Deans Yard, London, England. Reception to follow."

Casual:

• "June 11, 2024, 12:00 pm, Arctic Club Hotel, 700 Third Avenue, Seattle, Washington. Dinner and dancing to follow."
• "November 23, 1996, at eight o'clock in the evening, The Estate at Florentine Gardens, 97 Rivervale Road, River Vale, New Jersey. Dinner reception to follow."
• "Saturday, August 4th 2016, at 5 o'clock, The West Palm, 825 Oceanside Ave, St. Petersburg. Merriment to follow."

Dress code and RSVP details

The dress code and RSVP details are important elements of a wedding invitation. Here are four to six paragraphs with content that is detailed, direct, instructive, and focused on these aspects:

Dress Code:

The dress code is an optional element of a wedding invitation but can be helpful for guests to know what is expected of them. It is usually included in the lower right corner of the invitation. If you choose not to include it, the style and formality of the invitation itself will give guests an indication of the dress code. For instance, a very fancy invitation will likely mean a formal, black-tie affair, whereas a simpler invitation suggests more casual attire.

If you do include the dress code, some common options to consider are:

• Black-tie (tuxedos and floor-length gowns)
• Formal attire (suits and dresses)
• Cocktail attire (suits or dress shirts/ties and cocktail dresses)
• Beach casual (long or short-sleeve shirts, pants or shorts, sundresses, and sandals)

RSVP Details:

RSVP cards are a great way to get an accurate headcount for your wedding and finalise your seating plan. They should include a reply-by date, which is typically three to four weeks before the wedding, and specific instructions about the number of guests. You may also want to include meal choices and a song request line.

If you are collecting RSVPs by mail, it is courteous to include a stamped envelope. Alternatively, you can include the wedding website address or a QR code on a separate card so that guests can respond online.

Wording Ideas:

• "Kindly reply by [date]"
• "The favour of a reply is requested by [date]"
• "Please respond by [date]"
• "The pleasure of your company is requested. Kindly respond by [date]"
• "The honour of your presence is requested. Please RSVP by [date]"

RSVP Deadline:

It is standard etiquette to set your RSVP deadline for three to four weeks before the wedding date. This gives you enough time to finalise numbers with your caterer and put the finishing touches on your seating plan.

No Plus One:

If you are not allowing guests to bring a plus one, there are subtle ways to convey this. Only writing the guest's name on the envelope will indicate that the invitation is just for them. You can also specify "Adults only, please" at the bottom of the invitation if you are planning a child-free wedding.

Online RSVPs:

If you are collecting RSVPs through your wedding website, you can still include an RSVP card in the invitation suite with the website address and an indication that guests can respond online.

Other Details:

If you need to include additional details such as accommodation or transport information, a separate details card can be included with your invitation.

Frequently asked questions