Wedding Invitation Wording: Crafting The Perfect Message

Wedding invitation cards are one of the first things guests will see when it comes to your big day. The wording on your wedding invites is important as it gives guests essential details about your wedding, including the who, what, where, and when. The wording you choose can also indicate the level of formality of your wedding.

There are many ways to word your wedding invitations, from formal to casual, creative to modern, and simple. Here are some examples to help you get started:

Formal Wedding Invitation Wording Examples:

- The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of [Couple's Names]

- [Couple's Names] request the honour of your presence at the marriage of [Their Names]

- Together with their families, [Couple's Names] request the honour of your presence at their wedding

Casual Wedding Invitation Wording Samples:

- [Couple's Names] invite you to a celebration of their love and commitment

- Together with their parents, [Couple's Names] invite you to share in their joy as they tie the knot

- Mr & Mrs [Name] joyfully invite you to the marriage of [Couple's Names]

Honoring a deceased parent

Honouring a deceased parent or loved one at a wedding can be done in many ways, from physical tributes to private, subtle acknowledgements. Here are some ideas for honouring a deceased parent through the wedding invitation card and beyond:

Wedding Invitation Card Wording

Traditionally, the bride's parents are the hosts of the wedding and are named at the top of the invitation. If you want to include the name of a parent who has passed away, you can rearrange the wording. For example:

> "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..."

Ceremony Ideas

• Have the Celebrant Say a Few Words: Ask the celebrant, priest, or officiant to say a few words on your behalf. They could mention your deceased parent at any point during the ceremony, and you could even write something for them to read.
• Reserve a Seat: Dedicate a seat at the ceremony with a special sign or a bouquet of flowers.
• Include Them in the Order of Service: Add a tribute message, poem, quote, or religious passage, along with a photo, on the inside front or back page of the ceremony programme.
• Light a Memorial Candle: Include a candle lighting ritual in your ceremony, lighting a candle at the start or at a scheduled time to signify your loved one's spirit and memory.
• Display a Portrait or Framed Photo: Hire an artist to create a portrait, or frame a favourite photo, and display it at the ceremony.

Items to Wear or Carry

• Bespoke Embroidery: Include a message, small outline picture, or copy of their handwriting embroidered onto your wedding attire, veil, dress, suit, or pocket square.
• Wear a Family Heirloom: Borrow and wear an item that has been left to you by your loved one, such as a piece of jewellery, a watch, or a handkerchief.
• Incorporate Their Favourite Flowers: Use their favourite flowers in your bouquet, the groom's boutonniere, or the ceremony decor.
• Add a Keepsake to Your Bouquet: Attach a locked or photo charm, or a symbol such as a feather or an angel wing charm, to your bouquet.
• Wear Their Favourite Scent: Wear their favourite perfume or aftershave on the day as a private tribute.

Reception Ideas

• Memory Table: Create a special table with framed photos, sentimental objects, and keepsakes. You can also include a memory box for guests to write down their favourite memories.
• Play Their Favourite Song: Play their favourite song at some point during the reception, perhaps when greeting guests or during the dancing.
• Incorporate Their Favourite Drink: Serve their favourite drink or signature cocktail, with a sign inviting guests to "share a drink" with your loved one.
• Honour Them in Speeches: Include a brief toast or extended speech to acknowledge your loved one. You could also invite a sibling or family member to join you in making the toast.
• Give a Special Toast: Raise a glass with a few personal words or a meaningful quote.
• Create a Commemorative Presentation: Share slideshows, videos, and memories of your loved one, either with your guests or in the background during the reception.

The couple's names

Formal

The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of [Couple's Names].

[Couple's Names] request the honour of your presence at the marriage of [Couple's Names].

Casual

[Couple's Names] invite you to a celebration of their love and commitment.

[Couple's Names] invite you to share in their joy as they tie the knot.

Creative

[Couple's Names] request the pleasure of your company as they exchange vows.

[Couple's Names] invite you to join them as they say "I do".

Modern

[Couple's Names] would love to eat wedding cake with you.

[Couple's Names] are getting married. Please join us.

Simple

[Couple's Names] are getting married.

[Couple's Names] invite you to their wedding.

Date and time

When it comes to the date and time of your wedding, there are a few different ways to format this information depending on the tone and style of your invitation.

Formal Wedding Invitation

For a formal wedding invitation, it is traditional to write out the full date and time. For example, if your wedding is on the fifteenth of September 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.

The day of the week and the month should be capitalised, and the year should be written in lowercase. The time of day is usually spelled out, such as "four o'clock" or "half after four o'clock". Noon until four o'clock is considered afternoon, and from five o'clock onwards is considered evening.

Modern Wedding Invitation

In contrast, modern wedding invitations often use numerical figures for the date and time. For example:

> Saturday, 15 September 2024, 4:30 p.m.

If you choose this style, be sure to use a legible font to avoid any confusion (for example, between "2" and "5").

Casual Wedding Invitation

Casual wedding invitations are more relaxed in tone and may include phrases such as "in the afternoon" or "in the evening" after the time. For example:

> Saturday, 15 September 2024, 4:30 p.m. in the afternoon

Location

The location of the wedding is an important element to include in your wedding invitation. Here are some tips and examples to help you with the location details:

Spell out the full name of the venue, including the street address, city, and state. If the wedding is taking place abroad, include the country as well. The street address is usually included unless the venue is well-known or a private residence. The zip code is typically omitted.

Reception Information:

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, provide the full address on a separate line or include it on a separate details card tucked into the invitation.

Examples:

• "The Ritz-Carlton, 1234 Ocean Boulevard, Miami, Florida. Reception to follow."
• "Gulf Beach Resort Motel, 5678 Gulf Boulevard, Sarasota, Florida. Reception immediately following the ceremony."
• "The Reagan Library, Simi Valley, California. Dinner and dancing to follow."
• "Santa Barbara Courthouse - Mural Room, Santa Barbara, California. Dinner and dancing to follow at Casa de la Guerra."
• "Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1000 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, New York. Black-tie reception to follow."

Additional Considerations:

If there are multiple events during the wedding weekend, consider including an activity card with your invitation. This card can list all the festivities and their respective locations. Alternatively, you can direct guests to your wedding website for more detailed information.

Post-ceremony plans

If you're hosting a post-ceremony celebration, it's important to include this in your wedding invitation. This ensures your guests know what to expect and can plan accordingly. Here are some ideas for how to word the post-ceremony details:

Informal Post-Ceremony Wording

• Dinner and dancing to follow
• Followed by dinner and dancing
• Drinks and dancing to follow
• Dinner, drinks and dancing to follow
• Cocktails, dinner and dancing to follow
• Adult reception to follow

Formal Post-Ceremony Wording

• An evening of celebration to follow
• Followed by an evening of celebration
• If the reception is at a different location:
• Reception immediately following at [location]
• Dinner to follow at [location]
• Reception to follow at [location]
• Reception to follow at the residence of [name]

Frequently asked questions