Understanding Wedding Invitation Op: Who's Invited?

Wedding invitation wording can be tricky, but it's an important part of the process. The wording you choose can indicate the level of formality of the event, and it's also how you'll communicate essential details to your guests.

The wording of a wedding invitation typically includes the names of the hosts, a request line, the names of the couple, the date and time, the location, and reception details. It's also common to include the dress code and information about how to RSVP.

Who should be listed as the host

The host line is the first line of a wedding invitation and indicates who is doing the inviting and, traditionally, paying. This is usually the bride's parents, but nowadays, it can be any combination of the bride's parent(s), groom's parent(s), the bride and groom, step-parents, or even no designated host.

If the bride's parents are hosting, the invitation might begin with:

> 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...

If the groom's parents are hosting, the invitation might look like this:

> Mr. and Mrs. Jack Johnson request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of Jane Marie Smith to Jeffrey James Johnson...

If both the bride's and groom's parents are hosting, the invitation could be:

> 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...

If the bride and groom are hosting with both families, the invitation might be:

> 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...

If the bride and groom are hosting, the invitation might simply be:

> Miss Jane Marie Smith and Mr. Jeffrey James Johnson invite you to share in the celebration of their wedding...

If the bride's parents are divorced, the invitation could be:

> 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...

If the bride and groom's parents are all divorced, the invitation could be:

> 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...

If you want to include the name of a deceased parent, you will need to rearrange the wording as someone who has passed cannot be listed as a host. For example:

> Julia French, daughter of Mr. Adam French and the late Iris French, requests the honour of your presence as she joins in marriage Mr. Jeffery James Johnson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Johnson...

If the couple is hosting with no other family members involved, the invitation can be short and sweet, giving guests the details of the who, what, when, and where without listing a host.

Multiple hosts

If multiple parties are hosting, you only need to include names if you're going for a formal feel. If you're keeping things casual, you can simply say:

> Olivia Rose Smith and John Michael Reyes with their parents Kenzie Smith and Jennifer Smith and Mark Franklin and Mary Reyes Request you to eat, drink and be merry at their wedding Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 in the afternoon at [venue name and address] Dinner and dancing to follow

However, if you are having a formal wedding, you may want to include the names of all hosts. For example:

> 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 Saturday, the seventeenth of August two thousand twenty-four at half after four in the afternoon at [venue name and address] Reception to follow

No host

If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves, the host line can be omitted. For example:

> The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Jack Alexander Smith to Mason Jacob Kim Saturday, the seventeenth of August two thousand twenty-four at half after four at [venue name and address] Reception to follow

How to word the request to attend

The request to attend a wedding is a crucial part of the invitation and can be worded in several ways to capture the tone and style of the wedding. Here are some examples of how to word the request to attend:

Formal Wording

• "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"

Fun Wording

• "Come party with us"
• "Come eat cake with you"
• "Raise a glass"
• "Dance the night away"

Casual Wording

• "Share in their joy"
• "Tie the knot"
• "Get hitched"
• "Eat, drink and be merry"

Creative Wording

• "Good food, good drinks, good friends"
• "Say 'I do'"
• "Let's celebrate"
• "It's a wedding!"

Modern Wording

• "Eat wedding cake with you"
• "With much love"
• "Would love to celebrate with you"
• "Let's get married"

Simple Wording

• "Are getting married"
• "Request your company"
• "Are tying the knot"
• "Invite you to share this special day"

Remember, the wording can be tailored to reflect the style and tone of the wedding, whether it's formal, fun, casual, creative, modern, or simple. Feel free to mix and match elements to create a unique and personalised invitation that captures the spirit of your celebration.

The couple's names

The names of the couple are a key element of a wedding invitation. Traditionally, the bride's name always comes first, followed by the groom's name. However, this tradition is not set in stone, and couples are free to order their names as they see fit. For same-sex couples, names can be listed in alphabetical order or based on what looks best with the invitation design.

For heterosexual couples, the bride's first and middle names are usually used if the bride's parents' names are listed at the top of the invitation. The groom's name, in this case, would be his full name. If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves, they can choose to use their first and last names or just their first names.

It is also important to consider the formality of the wedding when deciding on the names. A very formal invitation may call for full names, while a casual beach ceremony may only require first names.

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

Date and time of the wedding

The date and time of the wedding are essential details to include in a wedding invitation. Traditionally, the date and time should be written out in full, with the day of the week and the month capitalised, and the year in lowercase. For example, "Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-one, at half after four in the afternoon".

The time of day should also be written out in full, for instance, "four o'clock" or "half after four o'clock". Noon until four o'clock is considered afternoon, and anything from five o'clock onwards is considered evening.

Numerical figures are often used on modern invites, but if you do opt for numbers, choose a legible font to avoid confusion. For instance, a "2" that looks like a "5" could be problematic.

Formal Wedding Invitation

"Saturday, the seventeenth of August, two thousand twenty-four, at half after four in the afternoon"

Fun Wedding Invitation

"Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 in the afternoon"

Casual Wedding Invitation

"Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 p.m."

Creative Wedding Invitation

"Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 p.m."

Modern Wedding Invitation

"Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 in the afternoon"

Simple Wedding Invitation

"Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 p.m."

Location and address of the wedding

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

Providing Location and Address Details:

• Venue Name and Address: Include the full name and street address of the wedding venue. The city, state, and zip code should also be provided. If the wedding is taking place outside of the country, be sure to mention the country as well.
• Avoiding Street Addresses for Formal Venues: In formal invitations, it is customary to omit the street address of the venue if it is a well-known or easily located place. In such cases, simply providing the venue name, city, and state is sufficient.
• Private Residences: If the wedding is being held at a private residence, it is appropriate to include the street address to ensure guests can locate the venue easily.
• International Guests: If you are inviting guests from other countries, be sure to provide clear and detailed location and address information, including the country, to facilitate their travel plans.

Examples:

Traditional Formal Wording:

> The wedding ceremony will be held at The Ritz-Carlton, 1234 Main Street, San Francisco, California, 94105, United States.

Modern Informal Wording:

> Join us at The West Palm, 825 Oceanside Ave, St. Petersburg, FL, 33701, for an evening of celebration.

Omission of Street Address:

> The ceremony will take place at The Reagan Library, Simi Valley, California.

Including Country for International Guests:

> We invite you to share in our joy at The Garden Villa, 6789 Blossom Lane, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia.

Remember to include clear and accurate location and address details to ensure your guests can effortlessly find their way to your special day!

Frequently asked questions