Evening Wedding Invitation Wording: Etiquette And Examples

When it comes to wedding invitations, it's important to include all the essential details so that guests know what to expect and can plan accordingly. Evening wedding invitations are no exception, and while they may be a little less formal, they still require careful consideration. So, what exactly should you write in an evening wedding invitation? From dress codes to timing, there are a few key elements that will ensure your guests have all the information they need for the celebration.

The host line: This line names the hosts of the wedding and is usually placed at the top of the invitation

The host line is the opening line of a wedding invitation and names the hosts of the wedding. It is usually placed at the top of the invitation and is followed by a warm invitation sentence.

Traditionally, the bride's parents are the hosts and their names are included even for very formal affairs. However, modern wedding invitations may also include the names of both sets of parents as hosts, regardless of who is paying for the wedding. This can be done graciously in a number of ways. For example, "Together with their parents" or "Together with their families".

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

If the couple is hosting with their parents, the invitation might begin with "Together with their families, [couple's names] invite you to join them as they say 'I do!'".

If the couple's parents are divorced or one parent has passed away, the host line can be adjusted to include all parents' names, or just the surviving parent's name. For divorced parents, each parent's name is kept on a separate line. For a deceased parent, the invitation might read: " [Daughter's name], daughter of [father's name] and the late [mother's name], and [groom's name], son of [father's name] and [mother's name]".

The attendance request: This line lets guests know what they're being invited to

The attendance request line is your opportunity to set the tone for your wedding celebration. Here are some examples of attendance request lines for an evening wedding invitation:

• "Would love for you to join them"
• "Invite you to celebrate with them"
• "The pleasure of your company"
• "Are getting married and would love for you to join them in an evening of fun, drinks and dancing"
• "Invite you for an evening of drinks and dancing to celebrate their wedding"
• "Would be delighted if you could join them for an evening of drinks and dancing to celebrate their marriage"

When deciding on the attendance request line, consider the level of formality you wish to convey. For a more casual or fun tone, you might choose phrases like "Come party with us" or "Eat, drink and be merry." For a more traditional or formal wedding, you might use phrases such as "Request the honour of your presence" or "Request the pleasure of your company."

Additionally, if you are having a religious ceremony, using the British spelling of "honour" is a subtle way to indicate that the ceremony will take place in a church or another house of worship.

The couple's names: The names of the couple are usually displayed in larger text

The couple's names are a key element of a wedding invitation. Traditionally, the bride's name comes first, followed by the groom's name. However, this tradition is not set in stone, and same-sex couples may choose to arrange their names alphabetically or based on what sounds better.

For formal weddings, the couple's full names, including middle names, are typically used, and the names are often displayed in a larger and more ornate font than the rest of the text.

Traditional Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

Church Wedding

"Mr & Mrs John Smith request the pleasure of [guest name/your company] at the marriage of their daughter Jessica to Mr Edward Jones."

Formal Civil Ceremony

"Mr & Mrs John Smith and Mr & Mrs Alan Jones request the pleasure of [guest name/your company] at the marriage of their children Jessica and Edward."

Informal Civil Ceremony

"Together with their parents, [couple] invite you to celebrate their wedding!"

Modern Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

Couple as Hosts

• "Jessica and Jane are getting hitched!"
• "Join us to celebrate our wedding."
• " [Couple] invite you to join them as they say 'I do!'"

Divorced Parents Wedding Invitation Wording

"Mr John Smith & Mrs Beth Smith request the pleasure of [guest name/your company] at the marriage of their daughter Jessica to Mr Edward Jones."

Remarried Parents Wedding Invitation Wording

"Mr John Smith & Mrs Beth Howard request the pleasure of [guest name/your company] at the marriage of their daughter Jessica to Mr Edward Jones."

Widowed Parent Wedding Invitation Wording

"Mrs Beth Smith requests the pleasure of [guest name/your company] at the marriage of her daughter Jessica Smith to Mr Edward Jones."

Formal Both Families Wedding Invitation Wording

"Mr and Mrs John Smith & Mr and Mrs James Jones invite you to celebrate the marriage of their children Jessica and Edward."

Informal Both Families Wedding Invitation Wording

"Together with their families, Jessica Smith & Edward Jones invite you to join them as they say 'I do!'"

Date and time: The date and time are typically spelled out in full for formal invitations

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, the date and time are typically spelled out in full for formal invitations. This means writing out the date, day of the week, and month in full, and avoiding the use of numerals. For example, if your wedding is on the fifteenth of September 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 capitalised, and the year should be written in lowercase letters. There is no "and" when spelling out the year. The time of day should also be written out in words, such as "four o'clock" or "half after four o'clock." It is considered evening from five o'clock onwards, and afternoon until four o'clock.

> "Saturday, the twenty-first of October, two thousand and twenty-three, at two thirty in the afternoon."

> "Saturday, July 9, 2016, at two thirty in the afternoon."

> "Saturday, the twenty-fourth of July, two thousand twenty-one, at half past four in the afternoon."

> "Saturday, the twenty-first of May, two thousand twenty-two, at half after six o'clock."

> "Saturday, the ninth of October, two thousand twenty-one, at five o'clock in the evening."

If you prefer a more modern or casual style, it is also acceptable to use numerals for the date and time. For example:

> "Saturday 21/10/2023, 2:30 p.m."

> "Saturday, 9th July 2016, 2.30 p.m."

> "Saturday 24/07/2021, 4:30 p.m."

Location: Include the name and full address of the venue, including the state and zip code

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, it's important to include all the essential details, such as the couple's full names, the hosts of the event, the date and time, and the location. Here are some instructive and focused paragraphs specifically about including the location in your evening wedding invitations:

The location line of your wedding invitation should include the name and full street address of your wedding venue. This means providing the full address, including the venue name, street address, city, state, and zip code. For example:

"The Ritz-Carlton, 1000 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, NY 11201"

If your wedding is taking place abroad, be sure to include the country as well. It is also acceptable to write out the state name in full for more formal weddings.

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

However, if the reception is at a different location, you'll need to provide the full address for that venue as well. This can be included on a separate line or on a separate insert card, known as a reception card.

Here's an example of how to word it:

"The Ritz-Carlton, 1000 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, NY 11201

Reception at: The Grand Hotel, 123 Grand Street, Brooklyn, New York, NY 11202"

If you're having an evening wedding, it's crucial to specify the time, especially if only some guests are invited for the evening portion. You can include a line such as:

"Doors open at 7:00 pm" or "Evening reception from 7:00 pm to 2:00 am"

This ensures that guests are clear about the timing and don't accidentally arrive too early or too late.

In addition to the location, don't forget to include other important details such as the dress code, RSVP information, and any other relevant instructions for your guests. Proofread your invitations carefully and consider having someone else review them as well to ensure nothing is missed!

Frequently asked questions