The Anatomy Of A Traditional Wedding Invitation

A traditional wedding invitation is more than just fancy stationery. It's an opportunity to showcase your wedding's style and formality while conveying essential details about the ceremony and reception. Here's a breakdown of the key elements that comprise classic wedding invitation wording.

The first line typically introduces the host(s) of the wedding, followed by an attendance request, creating a sense of anticipation for the guests. The names of the couple take centre stage, often in larger and more ornate text. The date and time are then spelled out in full, adding a touch of elegance to the invitation. The venue's name and address, including the city and state, are included, with the street address being optional.

If the ceremony and reception are held in the same location, a simple Reception to follow will suffice. However, if they are separate, the reception details can be included on a separate card. While not mandatory, dress code information can be included, especially for black-tie events, to guide guests in their attire choices.

The invitation may also include an RSVP request, a response date, and contact information. This information can be presented concisely, ensuring that guests have all the necessary details without overwhelming them with excessive text.

Who hosts the wedding?

The host line is the opening line on a wedding invitation and names the hosts of the event. Traditionally, the bride's parents are the hosts, and their names are listed first. However, nowadays, the groom's parents, the bride, the groom, or a combination of all four may contribute to the cost of the wedding. In this case, it is common to include both sets of parents' names or to write something like "Together with their families".

If one person's parents are hosting, it is customary to leave off that person's last name. However, if the person getting married has a different last name from their parents, or if the couple has the same last name, their last names should be included.

Bride's Parents Hosting

• Mr. and Mrs. John L. Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their son Jack Alexander to Mason Jacob Kim.
• Mr. & Mrs. Flores request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Talia Camila Flores to Stephen Anthony Byrne.
• Mrs Lauryn and Mr Robert Devine request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Sophia Anne Devine to Matthew Paul Johnson.

Groom's Parents Hosting

• Mr. & Mrs. Byrne request the honor of your company at the marriage of Talia Flores to their son Stephen Byrne.
• Mr. & Mrs. Tom Byrne request the honor of your presence at the marriage of Talia Camila Flores to their son Stephen Anthony Byrne.

Both Sets of Parents Hosting

• Kenzie M. Smith and Jennifer L. Smith and Mark Franklin and Mary Elizabeth Reyes request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their children Olivia Rose and John Michael.
• Kenzie and Jennifer Smith along with Mark and Sally Reyes invite you to share and celebrate the marriage of their children Olivia Rose and John Michael.
• Mr. Michael and Mrs. Angel Silcox and Mr. Robert and Mrs. Alice Duncan request the pleasure of your presence at the marriage of their children.
• Mrs Lauryn and Mr Robert Devine together with Mrs Dianna and Mr Peter Johnson request the pleasure of your company to celebrate the marriage of Sophia Anne Devine and Matthew Paul Johnson.
• Mr. & Mrs. Flores and Mr. & Mrs. Byrne request the honor of your company at the marriage of their children Talia Camila Flores & Stephen Anthony Byrne.

Couple Hosting

If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves, 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".

• The honor of your presence is requested at the marriage of Jack Alexander Smith to Mason Jacob Kim.
• Sophia Devine and Matthew Johnson invite you to join them as they exchange vows.
• Talia Flores and Stephen Byrne invite you to a celebration of their love and commitment.
• Together with their parents, Talia Flores & Stephen Byrne invite you to share in their joy as they tie the knot.
• Together with our families, we cordially invite you.
• Together with their families, request the honour of your presence at their marriage.

How to word the attendance request

The attendance request is the section of the wedding invitation that lets guests know exactly what they're being invited to. Here are some ways to word the attendance request for a traditional wedding invitation:

• "The pleasure of your company is requested"
• "The honour of your presence is requested" (the British spelling of "honour" indicates a religious ceremony)
• 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
• "At the marriage of their daughter" (if the bride's parents are hosting)
• "At the marriage of their children" (if both sets of parents are hosting)
• "At the celebration of their union" (if the couple is hosting)
• "As they say 'I do''
• "In celebration of their marriage"

The tone of the attendance request can be formal, fun, casual, creative, modern, or simple, depending on the style of the wedding. Here are some examples:

Formal Attendance Request Wording

• "Request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Talia Camila Flores to Stephen Anthony Byrne"
• "The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Talia Camila Flores and Stephen Anthony Byrne"

Fun Attendance Request Wording

• "Come party with us"
• "Come eat, drink, and be merry"

Casual Attendance Request Wording

• "Jack Alexander Smith & Mason Jacob Kim invite you to share in their joy at their wedding"
• "Jack Smith & Mason Kim together with their parents invite you to their wedding"

Creative Attendance Request Wording

• "Good food, good drinks, good friends"
• "It's a wedding!"

Modern Attendance Request Wording

• "Jack Smith & Mason Kim would love to eat wedding cake with you"
• "With much love, John and Eliza Smith invite you to celebrate their son Jack Alexander at his wedding to Mason Jacob Kim"

Simple Attendance Request Wording

• "John and Eliza Smith request your company at the wedding of Jack Alexander and Mason Jacob Kim"
• "Jack Smith & Mason Kim are getting married"

The couple's names

For formal weddings, it is customary to write out the couple's first and middle names in full, while last names are optional. For instance:

> "The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Jack Alexander Smith to Mason Jacob Kim..."

In less formal invitations, first names only are perfectly acceptable:

> "Jack Alexander Smith & Mason Jacob Kim invite you to share in their joy at their wedding..."

If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves, the invitation may begin with a warm and welcoming introduction, such as:

> "Together with full hearts..."

> "With hearts full of love and joy..."

• "The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Sophia Anne Devine to Matthew Paul Johnson..."
• "Talia Camila Flores and Stephen Anthony Byrne invite you to a celebration of their love and commitment..."
• "Together with their parents, Emma and Jax request the pleasure of your company..."
• "Together with their families, Olivia Rose Smith and John Michael Reyes request the honour of your presence at their wedding..."

Date and time

When it comes to the date and time of a wedding, traditional wedding invitation wording requires that these details are spelled out in full. For example, if your wedding is taking place on the fifteenth of September, two thousand and twenty-one, at half-past four in the afternoon, this is how it would be written:

> Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand and 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 written in lowercase. There is no "and" when spelling out the year.

The time of day can be written as “four o'clock” or “half after four o'clock”. Afternoon begins at noon and continues until four o'clock, while evening starts at five o'clock.

In more contemporary invitations, the date and time may be abbreviated or written as numerals, for example:

> Saturday, 15th of September, 2021, 4:30 pm.

If you are using numerals for the time, be sure to choose a legible font to avoid any confusion.

In Australia, the day of the week typically comes first, followed by the date and then the month, for example:

> Saturday, fourth of June, 2018.

It is also worth noting that cultural differences may apply when it comes to defining afternoon and evening. In Australia, afternoon begins at twelve o'clock, and evening starts at six o'clock.

Finally, it is important to be clear and consistent with your wording to avoid any confusion for your guests.

Location and address

The location and address are essential details to include in a wedding invitation. Here are some tips and examples to help you word this section of the invitation:

• The venue's name and full street address, including the city and state, should be included. If the wedding is taking place abroad, also provide the country.
• The street address of the venue is usually not needed unless its omission would cause confusion or if the wedding is at the host's home.
• Zip codes are typically not included.
• If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, a simple "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow" will suffice.
• If the reception is at a different location, include the full address and other relevant information on a separate details card enclosed with the invitation.
• If the reception is at a different venue, treat it as a separate event and include a separate reception card with the invitation suite.
• If the ceremony and reception are in the same venue but different spaces, it can be helpful to specify the particular space (e.g., "In the Chapel" or "On the Lawn").
• Be sure to confirm the correct spelling and wording of the venue with the venue itself.

Examples:

• "The Reagan Library, Simi Valley, California. Dinner and dancing to follow."
• "Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church, Newport, California. Reception immediately following."
• "The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch, Beaver Creek, Colorado. Black tie required."
• "Santa Barbara Courthouse - Mural Room, Santa Barbara, California. Dinner and dancing to follow at Casa de la Guerra."
• "San Jose del Cabo, Mexico. Reception to follow."
• "Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1000 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, New York. Dinner and dancing to follow. Black tie invited."

Frequently asked questions