The Wedding Invitation: What To Include And Why

Wedding invitations are a chance to showcase your personality as a couple, but they also need to be informative. The key details to include are the names of the couple, the hosts, the date, time and location of the ceremony, and the location of the reception if it is elsewhere. It is also useful to include an RSVP card or instructions for a digital RSVP, and you may wish to include a separate card with finer details such as travel and accommodation. If you have a wedding website, be sure to include the URL, and if you are adhering to tradition, avoid including a gift registry on your printed stationery.

Who's Hosting and Who's Getting Married?

The host line is an important part of the wedding invitation, as it establishes who is hosting the wedding. Traditionally, the bride's parents are the hosts, and so their names come first. However, it has become increasingly common to list the names of both sets of parents, which is a gracious gesture, regardless of who is paying. If the couple and their parents are all contributing, the host line might read: "Together with their parents" or "Together with their families".

If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves, the host line can be skipped altogether, or replaced with a warm and welcoming introduction, such as: "Together with full hearts" or "With hearts full of love and joy".

The host line is usually followed by a request line, such as: "Request the pleasure of your company", "Invite you to celebrate with them" or "Would love for you to join them".

When it comes to the couple's names, for heterosexual couples, the woman's name typically goes first, but the order can be changed to whatever feels right. LGBTQIA+ couples may choose to list their names alphabetically, by age, or however else they prefer. First and middle names, first and last names, or full legal names can be used, depending on the formality of the wedding.

If the bride's parents' names are mentioned, the couple will usually use their first and middle names. However, the level of formality of the wedding can be used as a guide: a black-tie ballroom event might call for full names, while a casual beach ceremony might be better suited to just first names.

One Set of Married Parents Hosting

• Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Timothy Williams (very formal; 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 on a separate line, without using "and" to connect the two names

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 according to preference or what looks best with the invitation design

Couple Hosting With Their Families

• "Together with their families"
• "Together with our families"
• "Together with their parents"

Couple Hosting Themselves

Skip the host line or start with a warm and welcoming introduction, such as: "Together with full hearts"

Date, Time and Location

The date, time and location of your wedding are essential details to include in your invitations. Here are some tips and suggestions on how to include them:

Date and Time

• Confirming the date and time of your wedding is crucial. Avoid latecomers by clearly stating the start time, providing the hour and time of day (a.m. or p.m.).
• For formal invitations, write out the time rather than using numerals (e.g. "four o'clock in the afternoon" instead of "4:00 p.m.").
• If your wedding is in the afternoon, specify whether it begins at noon or after.
• Traditionally, the date and time should be spelled out in full. For example: "Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-one, at half after four in the afternoon."
• If your wedding has multiple events throughout the day or weekend, consider including an itinerary or timeline for your guests.

Location

• Include the name and full address of the ceremony and reception venues.
• If the ceremony and reception are at the same location, you can simply state: "Reception to follow," "Celebration to follow," or "Dinner and dancing to follow."
• If the reception is at a different location, include a separate reception card with the start time and address.
• If your venue is in a remote area or has limited parking, consider providing directions or a custom map.
• If your venue has specific policies, such as being cashless or having restricted parking, inform your guests about these details.

RSVP Details

RSVP cards are essential to include in your wedding invitation suite. They are a way to confirm your final headcount with your venue and caterer. You can include them on the actual invite or on a separate reply card. If you opt for the latter, be sure to include a specific date by which you would like your guests to respond, ideally three to four weeks before the wedding date.

It is also important to include a place for your guests to write their names and, if you're offering a plated dinner, their entrée preference. If you're providing transport for your guests, you can include a checkbox on the RSVP cards for them to indicate whether they will be utilising this.

If you're collecting RSVPs online, you can direct your guests to your wedding website to respond. However, it is worth considering that older guests may not be comfortable with this, so you may want to send them a physical RSVP card.

When it comes to the envelope for your RSVP cards, ensure that it is pre-addressed and stamped for your guests' convenience.

Dress Code

The dress code is an important aspect of your wedding invitation, as it gives your guests an idea of what to wear and sets the tone for your celebration. Here are some tips and examples to help you choose the right dress code for your wedding:

• Black-tie attire: This is the most formal dress code, indicating that the event is a black-tie affair. Guests are expected to wear tuxedos and floor-length gowns.
• Formal attire: Formal attire is a step down from black-tie and usually entails suits and dresses.
• Cocktail attire: Cocktail attire is more relaxed than formal attire, with guests wearing suits or dress shirts with ties, and cocktail dresses.
• Beach-casual attire: For a beach wedding, guests can wear long- or short-sleeve shirts with pants or shorts, sundresses, and sandals.
• Other specific requests: If you have a specific colour scheme or theme, feel free to include it. For example, "The wedding party will be in pink, we'd love you to coordinate!" or "The reception will be in a barn on a working farm, please choose your footwear accordingly."

Remember, it's your wedding, so choose a dress code that reflects your style and the atmosphere you want to create. You can also choose to leave out the dress code if you prefer, as guests can usually infer the attire based on the formality of the invitation.

Additional Information

RSVP

It is important to include an RSVP card with a pre-addressed and stamped envelope to make it easy for your guests to respond. You can also direct guests to your wedding website or provide an email address for digital RSVPs.

Dress Code

If you are having a black-tie wedding, this must be included on the invitation. Otherwise, guests will infer the dress code based on the formality of the invitation. You can also include a line that indicates the expectation, e.g. "Casual Attire", "Semi-Formal Attire", or "Black Tie".

Directions and Accommodation

If your wedding is in a unique venue or somewhere your guests may not be familiar with, it is useful to include an insert with extra information, such as parking instructions or a custom map. If you have guests coming in from out of town, it is also helpful to include a separate card with hotel options and any special rates available.

Timing

Your invitation should always state the ceremony time, but it is also helpful to include the time you want guests to arrive. For example, if you are having arrival drinks before the ceremony, let your guests know with a line such as "Please arrive from 12:30 pm to be seated for the ceremony to begin at 1:00 pm prompt."

Website and Registry

It is not advisable to include your wedding website or registry information on the main invitation card. Instead, include this information on a separate insert card.

Dietary Requirements

Even if you are not including a menu, it is important to ask for dietary requirements when your guests reply, either via an RSVP card, website, phone, or email.

Children

If you are choosing not to have children at your wedding, you can make this clear on your wedding information card. For example, "Respectfully, an adult occasion" or "While we love to see children laugh and play, our wedding will be an adult-only kind of day."

Frequently asked questions