The Wedding Invitation: What Does It Mean?

A wedding invitation is a formal letter asking the recipient to attend a wedding. It is typically sent out 6-8 weeks before the wedding date and includes details such as the couple's full names, the hosts of the event, the ceremony location, and the reception venue. The invitation may also include dress code information and is often accompanied by a response card for guests to confirm their attendance.

What to include on a wedding invitation

A wedding invitation is a letter asking the recipient to attend a wedding. It is typically written in formal, third-person language and mailed five to eight weeks before the wedding date.

The Host Line

The host line is where you 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 for the couple to host the wedding themselves. Here are some examples of wording for different scenarios:

• "Together with their parents/families": Used when the couple and their parents are contributing to the cost of the wedding.
• "Together with full hearts": A warm and welcoming introduction when the couple is hosting the wedding themselves.
• "Mr. and Mrs. John A Smith": When the bride's parents are hosting, their names are included as they are used in formal social contexts, e.g., "Dr. Mary Jones and Mr. John Smith".

The Request Line

This is where you extend an invitation to attend the wedding and can be used to set the tone for the celebration. Here are some examples:

• "Request the honour of your presence": Traditionally used to denote a religious service, often in a church or another house of worship.
• "Request the pleasure of your company": Used to denote a non-religious ceremony locale.
• "Invite you to celebrate with them": A more informal option.

The Couple's Names

The couple's names are, of course, essential. For heterosexual couples, the bride's name typically comes first, but you can order the names however you prefer. For LGBTQIA+ couples, names can be listed alphabetically, by age, or however you choose. You can include first and middle names, first and last names, or full legal names.

The Date and Time

The date and time of the ceremony should be included, with the day of the week and the month written out in full and the year in numerals. The time of day should be spelled out, e.g., "four o'clock in the afternoon" or "half after four o'clock".

The Location

The name and location of the ceremony venue should be included. If the reception is at the same location, you can simply say, "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow". If the reception is elsewhere, include the location on a separate line or on a separate reception card.

Dress Code

Including the dress code on the invitation is optional, but it can be helpful for guests. If you don't include attire information, guests will usually infer it from the formality of the invitation. For example, a formal invitation suggests a black-tie affair, while a simpler invite indicates a more casual dress code.

RSVP Information

Whether you are collecting RSVPs online or via post, it is helpful to include an RSVP card with a deadline for responses, typically about three to four weeks before the wedding date. You can also include the wedding website address on this card.

Additional Information

You may also want to include extra details about the venue, such as parking instructions or a custom map, especially if the wedding is in a unique location. This information can be included on an insert or on your wedding website.

Envelope Information

Finally, don't forget to include the necessary information on the envelope, such as the guests' names and addresses, your return address, and the appropriate postage for the weight of the envelope.

Who should be listed as the host

The host line on a wedding invitation traditionally indicates who is hosting—and, by extension, financing—the wedding. This is usually the set of parents of the bride, the groom, or both. However, modern weddings can be hosted and financed by a variety of people, including the couple themselves. Here are some examples of how to indicate the host on a wedding invitation:

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...
• Mr. and Mrs. John L. Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their son Jack Alexander to Mason Jacob Kim...
• John and Betty Smith invite you to raise a glass at the marriage of their son Jack Alexander to Mason Jacob Kim...
• John and Eliza Smith invite you to share in their joy at the marriage of their son Jack Alexander to Mason Kim...

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...
• Kenzie M. Smith and Jennifer L. Smith, Mark Franklin and Mary Elizabeth Reyes request the honour 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...

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...
• Olivia Rose Smith and John Michael Reyes, together with their parents, Kenzie M. Smith and Jennifer L. Smith, and Mark Franklin and Mary Elizabeth Reyes, request the honour of your presence at their wedding...
• Jack Smith and Mason Kim, together with their families, invite you to their wedding...

Bride and Groom Hosting

• Miss Jane Marie Smith and Mr. Jeffrey James Johnson invite you to share in the celebration of their wedding...
• Come party with us, Jack Alexander Smith and Mason Jacob Kim, are tying the knot...
• Jack Smith and Mason Kim would love to eat wedding cake with you...

Honouring a Deceased Parent

Julia French, daughter of Mr. Adam French and the late Iris French, and Austin Mahoney, son of Mr. Camden and Elizabeth Mahoney, request the honour of your presence at their wedding...

Bride and Groom's Divorced Parents Hosting

Dr. Vance and Elizabeth Gregory, Mr. James Abner and Lydia Abner, and Mr. Harold and Jane Hyland invite you to the wedding of their children Amy Abner and Charles Hyland...

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...

How to word the request to attend

The request to attend a wedding is the crux of the wedding invitation and there are many ways to word this. Here are some examples:

• "The honour of your presence is requested" (traditionally used to denote a religious ceremony)
• "The pleasure of your company" (traditionally used to denote a non-religious ceremony)
• "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, language and level of formality of the request to attend can be used to set the tone for the wedding celebration. For instance, "Come party with us" indicates a more casual, fun affair, whereas "The honour of your presence is requested" is more formal and traditional.

The request to attend can also be used to indicate the level of formality of the dress code. A very formal request to attend will likely indicate a formal, black-tie affair, whereas a more casual, playful phrasing will suggest a more relaxed dress code.

The request to attend can be made more personal by including the names of the couple and/or the hosts. For example:

• "Together with their families, [couple's names] request the honour of your presence"
• "With much love, [hosts' names] invite you to celebrate their son [groom's name] at his wedding to [bride's name]"
• "[Hosts' names] request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter [bride's name] to [groom's name]"

How to list the couple's names

When planning a wedding, one of the most important aspects is extending invitations to your guests. Wedding invitations are a formal request for guests to attend your wedding and are typically sent out 6-8 weeks before the big day. Listing the couple's names on the invitation is a crucial element, and here are some guidelines on how to do this:

For a Traditional Wedding:

If you are the parents of the bride and you are hosting the wedding, a traditional invitation would read "Mr. and Mrs. John Smith request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter, Jane Smith, to Mr. John Doe." This format emphasizes the role of the bride's parents in hosting the event and formally introduces the couple by first and last names.

If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves, the invitation can simply state "Jane Smith and John Doe request the honor of your presence at their marriage." This format equally represents both partners and indicates that they are the hosts of the wedding.

For a Modern Wedding:

In modern times, wedding invitations often reflect the unique personalities and dynamics of the couple. Here are some options for listing couples' names in a more contemporary way:

• "Together with their families, Jane Smith and John Doe invite you to celebrate their union." This phrasing includes both sets of parents without specifically naming them and creates a sense of collective celebration.
• "In celebration of their love, Jane and John request the pleasure of your company." This version uses a more intimate tone and focuses on the couple's happiness and excitement.
• "You are cordially invited to join Jane and John as they exchange vows." This phrasing is simple and direct, emphasizing the ceremony and the couple's names.

When listing couples' names, it is essential to consider the formality of your wedding, the role of the hosts or sponsors, and the overall tone you wish to set. Wedding invitations should represent your style as a couple while providing clear and essential information to your guests.

Remember, these are just guidelines, and you can always add your own creative touch to make your wedding invitations unique and memorable.

How to format the date and time

When formatting the date and time on a wedding invitation, it's important to consider the formality of the event and the invitation style. Here are some guidelines to follow:

Writing the Date:

• Traditional Weddings: For formal weddings, it is customary to spell out the date completely, rather than using numerals. For example, "Saturday, the twenty-sixth of October, two thousand twenty-four". The day of the week is capitalized, and there is a comma between the day and the date. The year is usually on a separate line and is written as "two thousand twenty-four" (without the "and"). Compound dates, such as "May 28th," are hyphenated: "Saturday, the TWENTY-EIGHTH of May".
• Casual Weddings: For informal weddings, you can be more relaxed with the wording. For instance, "Saturday, May 17th, 2025". Alternatively, you may choose to use numerals as a design choice: "Saturday, 8/15/2026".

Writing the Time:

• Traditional Weddings: In formal invitations, the time is also written out in full without numerals. For example, "at half after three o'clock" or "four o'clock". The time of day is specified as "morning" (up to noon), "afternoon" (from noon to 4:30 pm or 5 pm), or "evening" (from 5 pm onwards). The time is written in lowercase letters, and "o'clock" is included.
• Casual Weddings: For informal events, you can use numerals for the time, such as "4pm" or "5:30 pm". Ensure that the format matches the tone of the invitation.

Additional Tips:

• Consistency: Maintain consistency in the date and time formatting throughout the invitation suite, including any enclosures or response cards.
• Reception Timing: The main invitation typically includes only the ceremony details. If the reception follows immediately in the same location, add "reception to follow". For receptions at a different time or venue, include a separate reception card with the timing and location.
• Avoid Ambiguity: To prevent confusion, specify "morning," "afternoon," or "evening" for events scheduled at 8, 9, or 10 o'clock.
• Early Start Times: To ensure guests' punctuality, some couples opt to print an earlier start time on the invitations, usually no more than 15 minutes earlier.

Frequently asked questions