The Anatomy Of A Wedding Invitation: What's Inside Matters

Wedding invitations are an important piece of the planning puzzle. They set the tone for the wedding and convey critical information. The inside of a wedding invitation typically includes the following:

- A host line: The opening line on a wedding invitation names the hosts of the event, usually the people paying for the wedding.

- A request line: This is where guests are invited to join the wedding celebration.

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

- Date, time, and location: Include the wedding date, start time, and venue address.

- Reception details: If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, simply state reception to follow.

- Dress code: Including dress code information is optional but helpful.

Host Line

The host line is the opening line on a wedding invitation and names the hosts of the event. The hosts are usually the people paying for the wedding. The wording will vary depending on who is hosting: one set of parents, both sets of parents, the couple and their parents, or just the couple.

One Set of Married Parents Hosting

Include the parents' full names (with middle names for a very formal wedding). If they have different last names, write "and" to join the two names.

Examples:

• Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Timothy Williams (very formal; the 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. Do not use "and" to connect the two names; instead, give each name its own line.

Example:

Ms. Pamela Jacobsen and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Jacobsen

Both Sets of Parents Hosting

For different-sex couples, list the bride's parents' names first, then the groom's parents' names. For same-sex couples, list the names in alphabetical order or in the order that looks best with the invitation design.

Examples:

• Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Wong and Mr. and Mrs. Adam Hollis (formal)
• Aaron and Alisha Wong together with Adam and Beatrice Hollis (less formal)

Couple Hosting with Their Families

When the couple and both of their families are contributing to the cost of the wedding, you can add a line such as "Together with their families" as the host line.

Examples:

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

Couple Hosting

If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves, you can skip the host line or start the invitation wording with a warm and welcoming introduction.

Examples:

• Together with full hearts
• With hearts full of love and joy

Request Line

The request line is where you extend an invitation to your wedding guests. This is where you can set the tone for your celebration. Here are some examples of wording for the request line:

• "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"

The British spelling of "honour" is often used to denote a more formal tone and to indicate that the ceremony will be held in a church or another house of worship.

If you are planning a non-religious service or a more casual wedding ceremony, you can opt for more casual language, such as:

• "Invite you to join us"
• "Please join us to celebrate"
• "Love the pleasure of your company"

The request line can also be more creative and fun, such as:

• "Come party with us"
• "Eat, drink and be merry"
• "Eat wedding cake with you"

Couple's Names

The couple's names are a crucial element of a wedding invitation. Here are some suggestions for how to word this part of the invitation, with a focus on the couple's names:

The names of the couple are usually the main event of the invitation and are often displayed in larger text or a fancy typeface. For heterosexual couples, the bride's name typically comes before the groom's. However, this tradition is not set in stone, and you may choose to put the groom's name first if you prefer. If the bride's parents' names are listed at the top of the invitation, the bride's name can just be her first and middle name, without her last name. In this case, the groom's full name, including his last name, should be included.

For same-sex couples, the traditional rule of the woman's name first does not apply. Alphabetical order or what sounds better are both good options. For example, "Emily and Zara" or "Zara and Emily" are both acceptable. Same-sex couples can also choose to list their names based on what looks best with the invitation design.

If you are using traditional wedding invitation wording, it is customary to use both partners' full legal names. If you prefer to go by a nickname, you can use it on the save-the-date card or other less formal pieces of the invitation suite. It is also acceptable to drop the middle names if the full names become too long to fit on one line.

• "The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Jack Alexander Smith to Mason Jacob Kim"
• "Together with their families, Olivia Rose Smith and John Michael Reyes request the honour of your presence at their wedding"
• "Come party with us, Jack Alexander Smith and Mason Jacob Kim are tying the knot"
• "Good food, good drinks, good friends. Jack Smith & Mason Kim request you celebrate with them as they get hitched"
• "Jack Smith & Mason Kim and their families invite you to their wedding"
• "With much love, John and Eliza Smith invite you to celebrate their son Jack Alexander at his wedding to Mason Jacob Kim"
• "Jack Alexander Smith & Mason Jacob Kim invite you to share in their joy at their wedding"

Additional Tips

• Capitalise proper names and titles.
• Don't use punctuation, except after courtesy titles.
• Avoid abbreviations; spell everything out except courtesy titles.
• Don't spell out courtesy titles, except for "Doctor" in the case of medical doctors.
• If you are including the couple's parents' names, be sure to capitalise their titles and names and use punctuation after courtesy titles.

Date, Time and Location

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

Date and Time:

Spell out the date, day of the week, and year for formal invitations. For example, "Saturday, the seventeenth of August two thousand twenty-four". Using numerals is more common in modern invites.

For formal invitations, spell out the time of day, for example, "half after four in the afternoon". You can also indicate the part of the day, such as "in the morning", "in the afternoon", or "in the evening". Avoid using a.m. or p.m.

Location:

Include the name and full street address of the venue, especially for destination weddings or out-of-town guests. The state and zip code are also important, and don't forget to include the country if the wedding is abroad.

If the wedding is taking place at a private residence, you may want to include the street address. Otherwise, simply stating the venue's name and city/state should suffice.

Examples:

• "Saturday, the seventeenth of August two thousand twenty-four at half after four at [venue name and address]"
• "Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 in the afternoon at [venue name and address]"
• "Saturday, the fifth of November at five thirty in the evening, Grace United Methodist Church"
• "Saturday, the fourth of October, two thousand fourteen, at three o'clock in the afternoon, St. Michael's Church"
• "Saturday, the twenty-ninth of September, two thousand twelve, at six o'clock in the evening, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1000 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, New York"

Reception Details

The reception details are an important part of your wedding invitation, giving your guests all the information they need to celebrate with you. Here are some ideas for how to word this section of your invitation:

• If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, you can simply write "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow".
• If the reception is at a different location, include the full address and other pertinent information on a separate details card tucked in with your main invitation.
• Your wedding reception card wording should let your guests know what type of festivities to expect, whether it's "Dinner and dancing", a "Light luncheon", or "Cocktails and canapes".
• If the reception is not immediately following the ceremony, include the time.
• If the ceremony and reception are at different locations, include the addresses on separate cards for formal wedding invitations.
• "Reception immediately following the ceremony"
• "Dinner and dancing to follow"
• "Cake, punch, and merriment to follow" (if you're not serving a full meal)
• "Feasting and merriment to follow"
• "Dining, dancing, and happily ever after to follow"
• "Join us after the ceremony for cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and dancing"
• "An evening of dinner and dancing to follow"
• "Merriment to follow"
• "Festivities to follow"

Frequently asked questions