Invitation Wording Guide For Your Parent's Wedding

When it comes to wedding invitations, there are a few standard elements that should be included. These are: a host line, an attendance request, the names of the couple, the date and time, the location, and reception details. The wording can be formal, fun, casual, creative, modern, or simple, and it's important to consider the level of formality you want to convey.

If the bride's parents are hosting, their names typically come first in the host line, followed by the groom's parents' names. However, listing both sets of parents is also acceptable and gracious. When the couple and their parents are contributing financially, you can use phrases such as Together with their parents or Together with their families.

The request line is where you invite guests to share in the celebration of the couple's union. This can be formal, such as request the honour of your presence, or more casual, like would love for you to join them.

The couple's names are usually displayed in larger text and sometimes in a fancy typeface. For different-sex couples, the bride's name typically comes first, followed by the groom. Same-sex couples can list their names alphabetically or based on what looks best with the invitation design.

The date and time should be spelled out in full for formal invitations, while numerical figures are often used for modern invites. The location should include the venue name, road, and state, with the street address included if the venue is a private residence.

If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, a simple Reception to follow will suffice. Otherwise, include the full address and other details on a separate card.

Including a dress code on the invitation is optional but helpful for guests. If you don't specify a dress code, guests will usually infer it from the formality of the invitation itself.

Including both sets of parents

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, the good news is that the rules of wedding invitation etiquette aren't that complicated. The primary rule is to create a beautiful wedding invitation that represents you, your love, and the big day to come—while also communicating the vital details of the wedding.

Host Line

The opening line on a wedding invitation usually names the hosts of the event. If both sets of parents are hosting, you can include their names in the following formats:

• "Kenzie M. Smith and Jennifer L. Smith, Mark Franklin and Mary Elizabeth Reyes request the honour of your presence..."
• "Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Wong and Mr. and Mrs. Adam Hollis request the pleasure of your company..."
• "Aaron and Alisha Wong, together with Adam and Beatrice Hollis, invite you to share in their joy..."
• "Together with their parents/families: Olivia Rose Smith and John Michael Reyes, together with Kenzie M. Smith and Jennifer L. Smith, and Mark Franklin and Mary Elizabeth Reyes, request the honour of your presence...

Request Line

This is where you extend an invitation to your guests and set the tone for your celebration. Here are some examples:

• "Request the honour of your presence..."
• "Request the pleasure of your company..."
• "Invite you to celebrate with them..."
• "Would love for you to join them..."

Couple's Names

Traditionally, the bride's name is listed before the groom's name. However, for same-sex couples, you can list the names alphabetically or based on what looks best with the invitation design. You may also opt for first names only or include full names with middle names.

Date and Time

For formal invitations, write out the full date and time, including "o'clock." For example, "Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-one, at half after four in the afternoon."

Location

Include the name and full address of your wedding venue, including the city and state. If your wedding is abroad, add the country as well. If the reception is at the same location, simply say, "Reception to follow." Otherwise, include the full address and other details on a separate card.

Reception Details

If the reception is at a different location, you can include a line such as "Dinner and dancing to follow" or "Drinks and dancing to follow." If it's at a different venue, provide the full address and other pertinent information.

Dress Code

Including dress code information is optional but helpful for guests. If your wedding is black-tie, it's essential to include this on the invitation. Otherwise, guests will infer the dress code based on the formality of the invitation.

Honouring a deceased parent

Wording Ideas

If you want to include your deceased parent in the wording of your wedding invitation, there are a few ways to do this. For example:

• "Lauren Martinez, daughter of Robert Martinez and the late Marta Martinez, and Jackson Brown, son of Mr. and Mrs. Brown, request the honour of your presence at their wedding..."
• "Mrs Sharon Henderson and the late Mr Nathan Henderson request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Preston John Brackman..."
• "Fatima and the late Arjun Sharma, together with their families, invite you to the celebration of their marriage..."
• "Moira and Alistair Schiller request the honour of your presence at the marriage of her and the late Porter Blackman's daughter..."

Other Ways to Honour a Deceased Parent

If you don't want to include your deceased parent in the wording of the invitation, there are other ways to honour them. For example, you could:

• Wear a piece of jewellery or watch that belonged to them
• Wear their favourite scent
• Include their favourite flowers in your bouquet or boutonniere
• Add a photo charm to your bouquet
• Wear a photo of them in a locket or small frame
• Include a patch of fabric from one of their items of clothing in your outfit
• Have something embroidered into the lining of your outfit

The host line

• "Together with their families"
• "It is with joy that, together with their families"
• "With the support of our families, we are excited to"
• "Together with Mr & Mrs Bride, Bride & Groom would like to invite you to their wedding"
• "Together with our families, Bride & Groom invite you to their wedding"
• "Together with their parents, Bride & Groom would like to invite you to their wedding"
• "Together with full hearts"
• "With hearts full of love and joy"

If you have space on your invitation, you can also choose to include your parents' or stepparents' names. Mention them in a line below your host line to keep your invite streamlined.

If the bride's parents are hosting, it is customary to leave off the bride's last name. However, if the bride has a different last name from her parents, include it. The bride's last name should also be included if the groom's parents are involved in hosting.

If you are honouring a deceased parent, you can include their name alongside the name of the couple's. For example: "Lauren Martinez, daughter of Robert Martinez and the late Marta Martinez".

If the couple's parents are divorced and you want to include both as hosts, include them all, keeping each parent on a separate line. If you are including the name of a stepparent, keep it on the same line as their partner.

The attendance request

Formal Request

• "Request the pleasure of your company"
• "Invite you to celebrate with them"
• "Request the honour of your presence"
• "Would love for you to join them"

Fun Request

• "Come party with us"
• "Come eat, drink, and be merry"
• "Let's raise a glass"
• "Join us for dinner and dancing"

Casual Request

• "Invite you to share in their joy"
• "Are delighted to invite you"
• "Request your company"
• "Are getting married"

Creative Request

• "It's a wedding!"
• "Good food, good drinks, good friends"
• "Let's celebrate!"
• "With hearts full of love and joy"

Remember, the wording of the attendance request can be tailored to match the tone and style of the wedding. Feel free to add a personal touch to make it unique and special.

The wedding date and time

Date and Time Wording

Traditionally, the date and time on wedding invitations are spelled out in full. For example, if the wedding is on September 15, 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." Here are some other ways to word the time:

• 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)
• Half after four o'clock (traditional)
• Half past four o'clock (also acceptable)
• Four-thirty in the afternoon (also acceptable)

For modern invitations, it is also acceptable to use numerical figures for the date and time, such as "Saturday, 9/15/2024, 4:30 p.m." However, ensure that the font is legible to avoid confusion.

Day and Time of the Week

Be sure to include the day of the week and capitalize it, for example, "Saturday." The month should also be spelled out in full and capitalized, like "September." The year can be written in numerical form, but omit "and" when spelling it out, for instance, "two thousand twenty-four."

Time of Day

Specify whether the time you indicated is in the morning or afternoon by adding "a.m." or "p.m." However, if the time indicates a time in the afternoon or evening, you may omit this specification. For instance, noon until four o'clock is considered afternoon, and anything from five o'clock onwards is considered evening.

Formal vs. Informal Wording

The wording you choose for the date and time can depend on the formality of the wedding. Formal wedding invitations usually spell out the date and time in full, while numerical figures are often used on modern or informal invites.

Additional Tips

• Be concise: Avoid overloading the invitation with text, as it may detract from the design and essential details.
• Include an insert card: Provide guests with extra information, such as the wedding website or dress code, on a separate insert card.
• Consider the host: Traditionally, the host is the person or couple whose names appear on the invitation. Nowadays, it may also be those contributing financially to the wedding.

Examples

• "Saturday, the twelfth of September, two thousand twenty-seven, at six o'clock in the evening"
• "Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-four, at half after four in the afternoon"
• "Saturday 20th May 2023, Dinner and dancing to follow"
• "Saturday, the twenty-fourth of June, two thousand twenty-three, at three o'clock in the afternoon"

Frequently asked questions