Formal Wedding Invitation Etiquette: What To Include

Wedding invitations are an important piece of the planning puzzle. They set the tone for the wedding and convey critical information. The wording of a wedding invitation should provide all the essential details, such as the couple's full names, who's hosting the nuptials, the ceremony location, and the reception venue. Here are some tips on what to include in a formal wedding invitation:

- Host Line: The opening line names the hosts of the event, usually the couple's parents or the couple themselves. It can be omitted if the couple is hosting the wedding.

- Attendance Request: This line invites guests to the wedding and sets the tone for the celebration. Examples include request the honour of your presence for a formal, religious ceremony, and invite you to celebrate with them for a more casual event.

- Couple's Names: The names of the couple are typically displayed in larger text. For heterosexual couples, the bride's name traditionally comes first, while same-sex couples can choose the order based on preference or design.

- Date and Time: Formal invitations typically spell out the date and time in full, while modern invites may use numerical figures.

- Location: Include the name and full address of the wedding venue, especially for destination weddings or out-of-town guests.

- Reception Details: If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, simply state reception to follow. Otherwise, include the full address and other pertinent information on a separate card.

- Dress Code: Including dress code information is optional but helpful for guests. It is usually mentioned in the lower corner or centre of the invite.

Host Line: The opening line names the hosts of the wedding

The host line is the opening line of a wedding invitation and names the hosts of the event. The hosts are usually the people who are paying for the wedding. Here are some examples of how to word the host line, depending on who is hosting:

One Set of Married Parents Hosting

Include the parents' full names, with middle names included for very formal weddings. If they have different last names, use "and" to join the names.

• 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 on a separate line. Do not use "and" to connect the two names.

Both Sets of Parents Hosting

For different-sex couples, list the bride's parents' names first, followed by the groom's parents' names. For same-sex couples, list the names according to preference or in the order that looks best with the invitation design.

• 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 Is Hosting With Their Families

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

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

Couple is Hosting

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

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

Attendance Request: Let guests know they're being invited

The attendance request line is where you extend the invitation to attend your wedding, and you can use it to set the tone for your celebration. Here are some examples of attendance request lines:

• "The honour of your presence" is traditionally used to denote a religious service.
• "The pleasure of your company" (or variations on this) is used to denote a non-religious ceremony locale.
• "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"
• "Together with their families, [couple's names] happily invite you to share in the celebration of their marriage"
• "You are invited to a celebration of [groom's name] and [bride's name] as they unite in marriage"
• "Join us as we celebrate our wedding"
• "We would like to invite you to our wedding"
• "Your presence has been requested at the marriage of [bride's name] & [groom's name]"
• "We request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of [bride's name] and [groom's name]"
• "We invite you to share in our joy at the marriage of [bride's name] and [groom's name]"
• "We invite you to share in our happiness at the marriage of [bride's name] and [groom's name]"
• "We invite you to share in our celebration of love as we exchange wedding vows"
• "We invite you to witness the exchanging of rings"
• "We invite you to join us as we exchange our marriage vows"
• "We invite you to be with us when [bride's name] and [groom's name] are married"

Couple's Names: The main event—the couple's names

The couple's names are the most important part of the invitation and should be displayed in larger text and perhaps a fancy typeface.

For heterosexual couples, the bride's name typically comes first, followed by the groom's name. However, this tradition is not compulsory, and couples can decide to put the groom's name first if they prefer. If the bride's parents' names are listed at the top, the bride's name can just be her first and middle name, without her last name. In that case, the groom's name is either listed in full or his first and middle names are listed, followed by the line "Son of Mr. & Mrs. [Father's Name]".

For same-sex couples, the traditional rule of the woman's name first does not apply, and alphabetical order or what sounds better can be used instead.

For formal invitations, it is traditional to include both the first and middle names of the couple. However, it is also acceptable to omit the middle and/or last names.

• "The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of [Bride's Name] and [Groom's Name]"
• "[Bride's Name] and [Groom's Name] invite you to share in their joy at their wedding"
• "Together with their families, [Bride's Name] and [Groom's Name] request the honour of your company at their wedding"
• "With great pleasure, [Bride's Name] and [Groom's Name] invite you to celebrate with them at their wedding"
• "Join us as we celebrate the wedding of [Bride's Name] and [Groom's Name]"

Date and Time: Spell out the date and time or use numerals

When it comes to dates and times on a wedding invitation, there are a few different ways to format them, depending on how formal your wedding will be.

Formal Wedding Invitations

For formal wedding invitations, it is customary to write out the date and time in full. For example, if your wedding is taking place on September 15, 2024, at 4:30 p.m., the wording on the invitation should read: "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. 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". It is also acceptable to write "four o'clock in the afternoon" or "half after four o'clock in the afternoon".

Informal Wedding Invitations

For informal or casual wedding invitations, it is acceptable to use numerals when writing the date and time. Using the same example as above, an informal invitation could read: "Saturday, 9/15/2024, 4:30 p.m." or "Saturday, September 15, 2024, 4:30 p.m.".

Other Considerations

When writing out the time of day, it is generally preferable to use a colon to separate the hours and minutes (e.g. 4:30 p.m.). However, some style guides may recommend using a full stop or no punctuation at all.

It is also worth noting that the use of "a.m." or "p.m." is optional. If you choose to include them, they can be written in lowercase letters (a.m./p.m.), with or without a space between the number and the letters (4:30 a.m. or 4:30am).

Finally, it is important to be consistent with the format you choose throughout your invitation, and to use clear and concise language to avoid confusing your guests.

Location: Include the venue's name and full address

The location line of a wedding invitation is crucial, providing guests with the information they need to arrive at the right place at the right time. Here are some tips and examples to ensure your invitations are clear and effective:

Location Line Basics

The location line typically includes the name and full street address of the wedding venue, including the city, state, and zip code. If your wedding is taking place abroad, be sure to include the country as well. The venue's street address is usually included unless the wedding is held at the host's home or there is no risk of confusion.

Formatting and Wording

For formal invitations, it is customary to write out the date, time, and location in full. For example, "Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-one, at half after four in the afternoon, [Venue Name], [Address], [City], [State], [Zip Code]."

If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, a simple "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow" will suffice. However, if the reception is at a different location, include the full address on a separate line or a separate details card tucked into the invitation.

Examples

• "at [venue name and address]"
• "at [venue name], [address], [city], [state]"
• "at [venue name], [address], [city], [state], [zip code]"
• "at [venue name], [address], [city], [state] [zip code]"
• "at [venue name and address], [city], [state]"
• "at [venue name], [address], [city], [state], [country]"

Remember to include all the relevant details and present them clearly and concisely. This will ensure your guests have a smooth and stress-free experience joining you on your special day.

Frequently asked questions