Designing Wedding Invitations: A Guide To Style And Etiquette

Wedding invitations are the first glimpse your guests will get of your big day, so it's important to get them right. There are a few key things to consider when designing your invitations: the tone, the information included, and the design.

The tone of your wedding invitation should reflect the style of your wedding. If you're having a formal and traditional wedding, your invitation wording should be formal and follow established etiquette. If your wedding is more casual or modern, you can be more creative with your wording and include fun or cheeky phrases.

The information included on your wedding invitation is the most important part. At a minimum, your invitation should include the specific part of the day the invitation covers (wedding ceremony, reception, or evening reception), the names of the couple, the names of the hosts (if different from the couple), the date, time, and location of the wedding, and RSVP information. You may also want to include details such as the dress code, your wedding website, dietary restrictions, and whether children are invited.

Finally, consider the design of your invitation. The standard size for a wedding invitation is 4.5 inches by 6.25 inches, but you can choose a different shape or size to reflect your style. Don't forget to consider the postage cost, as bulky or oversized invitations may cost more to send. Choose a legible font and colour scheme, and avoid crowding the card with too much information.

With these tips in mind, you're well on your way to creating the perfect wedding invitation!

Host names and request for attendance

The host line is the opening line on a wedding invitation and it names the hosts of the event. If multiple parties are hosting, you only need to include names if you're going for a formal feel. If the couple is hosting the wedding, this line can be omitted.

Traditional Church Wedding Invitation

"Mr & Mrs John Smith request the pleasure of [guest name/your company] at the marriage of their daughter Jessica to Mr Edward Jones, [location] [date] [time] and afterwards at [reception] R.S.V.P by 30th of June to [parent’s address]"

Traditional Formal Civil Ceremony Wedding Invitation

"Mr & Mrs John Smith and Mr & Mrs Alan Jones request the pleasure of [guest name/your company] at the marriage of their children Jessica and Edward, [location] [date] [time] followed by a reception R.S.V.P by 30th of June to [parents’ address]"

Traditional Informal Civil Ceremony Wedding Invitation

"Together with their parents, [couple] invite you to celebrate their wedding! [location] [date] [time] followed by a reception R.S.V.P by 30th of June to [parents’ address]"

Formal Wedding Invitation With Numbers as Words

"Together with their families, Lydia Harrison and William Jones invite you to join them at the celebration of their marriage, Saturday, the twenty-first of October, Two thousand and twenty-three, at two thirty in the afternoon, Dinner and dancing to follow at reception location"

Wedding Invitation Wording with the Couple as Hosts

"Jessica and Jane are getting hitched! [location] [date] [time] followed by drinking and dancing R.S.V.P by 30th of June to [couple’s address]"

Divorced Parents Wedding Invitation Wording

"Mr John Smith & Mrs Beth Smith request the pleasure of [guest name/your company] at the marriage of their daughter Jessica to Mr Edward Jones, [location] [date] [time] followed by a reception R.S.V.P by 30th of June to [parent’s address]"

Remarried Parents Wedding Invitation Wording

"Mr John Smith & Mrs Beth Howard request the pleasure of [guest name/your company] at the marriage of their daughter Jessica to Mr Edward Jones, [location] [date] [time] followed by a reception R.S.V.P by 30th of June to [parent’s address]"

Step-Parents Wedding Invitation Wording

"Mr & Mrs Paul Howard request the pleasure of [guest name/your company] at the marriage of her daughter Jessica Smith to Mr Edward Jones, [location] [date] [time] followed by a reception R.S.V.P by 30th of June to [parent’s address]"

Widowed Parents Wedding Invitation Wording

"Mrs Beth Smith requests the pleasure of [guest name/your company] at the marriage of her daughter Jessica Smith to Mr Edward Jones, [location] [date] [time] followed by a reception R.S.V.P by 30th of June to [parent’s address]"

Formal Both Families Wedding Invitation Wording

"Mr and Mrs John Smith & Mr and Mrs James Jones invite you to celebrate the marriage of their children Jessica and Edward, [location] [date] [time] followed by a reception R.S.V.P by 30th of June to [parents address]"

Informal Both Families Wedding Invitation Wording

"Together with their families, Jessica Smith & Edward Jones invite you to join them as they say “I do!” [location] [date] [time] followed by a reception R.S.V.P by 30th of June to [couple/parents address]"

Formal LGBTQ+ Wedding Invitation Wording

"Together with their parents, Edward Jones & Jack Andrew request the pleasure of your company at their wedding, [location] [date] [time] followed by a reception R.S.V.P by 30th of June to couple/parents address"

Informal LGBTQ+ Wedding Invitation Wording

"Invite you to party with them & celebrate their love at their wedding, followed by a reception R.S.V.P by 30th of June to couple/parents address"

Cute LGBTQ+ Wedding Invitation Wording

"The future Mrs & Mrs Brooker-Drake Invite you to celebrate with them, [location] [date] [time] followed by a reception R.S.V.P by 30th of June to couple/parents address"

Couple's names

The names of the couple are a key part of a wedding invitation. Traditionally, the bride's name comes first, followed by the groom's full name and title. However, this tradition is not set in stone, and couples are increasingly choosing to go in alphabetical order or simply with what sounds better.

For same-sex couples, the traditional rule of the woman's name first does not apply. Whether it's "Emily and Zara" or "Zara and Emily," it's a matter of personal preference.

If one set of parents is hosting and paying for the wedding, their names will usually come first on the invitation, followed by the couple's names. In the case of divorced parents, both parents' full names are included on the invite, even if they have the same surname. If one parent has remarried, the other parent's name is listed separately, followed by the new spouse's name. For widowed parents, only the surviving parent's name is included.

When both sets of parents are hosting, their names are usually listed together, followed by the couple's names. Alternatively, the invitation can be worded as "together with their parents" or "together with their families" to acknowledge everyone.

Traditional Church Wedding Invitation

"Mr & Mrs John Smith request the pleasure of [guest name/your company] at the marriage of their daughter Jessica to Mr Edward Jones

[location] [date] [time]

And afterwards at [reception]

R.S.V.P by 30th June to [parent’s address]"

Formal Wedding Invitation with Couple as Hosts

"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"

Informal Wedding Invitation from Couple

"Jessica and Jane are getting hitched!

[location] [date] [time]

Followed by drinking and dancing

R.S.V.P by 30th June to [couple’s address]"

Formal Wedding Invitation with Both Sets of Parents

"Mr and Mrs John Smith & Mr and Mrs James Jones invite you to celebrate the marriage of their children Jessica and Edward

[location] [date] [time]

Followed by a reception

R.S.V.P by 30th June to [parents’ address]"

Modern Wedding Invitation with Couple as Hosts

"Jack Smith & Mason Kim Would love to eat wedding cake with you

Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 4:30 in the afternoon at [venue name and address]

Reception to follow"

Date, time and location

The date, time and location of the wedding are essential details that must be included in the invitation. Here are some tips and examples to help you word this information effectively:

Date and Time:

The date and time of the wedding should be clearly stated, and traditionally, these are spelled out in full rather than using numerical figures. For a formal invitation, you might say "Saturday, the seventeenth of August two thousand twenty-four at half after four in the afternoon". For a more modern or casual invitation, you could use numbers and say "Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 pm". If your wedding has a strong theme, you can also get creative with the wording while still conveying the necessary information.

Location:

The name and full address of the wedding venue, including the city, state, and zip code, should be included. If your wedding is taking place abroad, be sure to add the country as well. If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, you can simply state the location once, followed by "Reception to follow". If they are at different venues, provide the full address for both locations. For example, "at [venue name and address], followed by a reception at [reception venue name and address]".

Additional Tips:

• If your wedding is a civil ceremony where the bride is not allowed to be late, it is a good idea to specify the time as "3 pm sharp".
• If the ceremony and reception are held in the same location, you can use phrases such as "and afterward at the reception" or "reception immediately following".
• If the reception is held elsewhere, you can include the location on a separate details card tucked into the invitation.
• If the reception is not immediately following the ceremony, be sure to include the time.
• For a formal invitation, the full name of the hosts and the middle names of the individuals getting married are typically included.
• For a more casual or modern invitation, you may choose to use just the couple's first names.
• If your wedding spans multiple days or includes additional events like a welcome party or brunch, consider including a full itinerary or weekend events card with your invitation.

Examples:

Traditional Formal Wedding:

> Mr. and Mrs. John L. Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their son Jack Alexander to Mason Jacob Kim, Saturday, the seventeenth of August two thousand twenty-four, at half after four in the afternoon at [venue name and address], Reception to follow.

Casual Wedding:

> Jack Alexander Smith & Mason Jacob Kim invite you to share in their joy at their wedding, Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 pm at [venue name and address], Reception to follow.

Modern Wedding:

> Jack Smith & Mason Kim would love to eat wedding cake with you, Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 pm at [venue name and address], Reception to follow.

LGBTQ+ Wedding:

> Together with their parents, Edward Jones & Jack Andrew request the pleasure of your company at their wedding, Saturday, the twenty-first of October, two thousand and twenty-three, at two thirty in the afternoon at [venue name and address], Dinner and dancing to follow at reception location.

Remember to include all the necessary details while also ensuring that your wording reflects the style and tone of your wedding.

RSVP details

Next, you'll want to include details on where to send the reply. If you are including an RSVP card, don't forget to include a pre-addressed envelope and stamp for your guests' convenience. You can also ask guests to RSVP via your wedding website, or provide an email address. Numbering the names on your guest list and writing the corresponding number on the back of each RSVP card is a good way to keep track of responses.

If you're offering a choice of meals, be sure to include checkboxes on the RSVP cards for guests to indicate their preferences. It's also a good idea to ask guests to provide any dietary requirements or restrictions—this can be included on the RSVP card or provided via your wedding website.

Finally, if you're having an adult-only wedding, it's worth including this information on the RSVP card, or at least making it very clear who is invited by name on the invitation envelope.

Optional extras: gift registry, dress code, wedding website, dietary requirements, adult-only event, monetary gifts

Optional Extras

Gift Registry

If you have a wedding gift registry, you may want to include this on your invitations. A polite way to do this is to say, "Your presence at our wedding is the greatest gift of all. However, if you wish to honour us with a gift, we have registered a list with [shop name]." For a more informal option, you could say, "We are extremely lucky to have love, laughter and a house full of furniture. So, if you'd like to help us celebrate with a gift, we have registered a list with [shop name]."

Dress Code

If you want your guests to wear something specific, it's important to include this information on the invitation. You can specify the dress code with a simple, "Dress: Formal" or "Dress: Smart Casual" at the end of the invitation.

Wedding Website

If you've created a wedding website, it's a good idea to include the URL on your invitations. This is especially helpful if you're having a destination wedding, as you can direct your guests to the website for travel information (e.g. the closest airport and a list of hotels).

Dietary Requirements

It's considerate to ask guests to provide information about any dietary requirements or restrictions. You could include a sentence such as, "Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements or restrictions."

Adult-Only Event

If your wedding is adults-only, it's important to specify this on your invitations. You could say, "Please note that this invitation is extended to adults only," or for a more informal approach, "In order to allow all guests, including parents, an evening of relaxation, we have chosen for our wedding day to be an adult-only occasion. We hope this advance notice means you're still able to share our special day and will enjoy having the evening off!"

Monetary Gifts

It can be tricky to ask for money as a gift, but it can be done politely. You could say, "Cash gifts are welcome but not expected, and will be put towards our honeymoon," or "Your presence at our wedding is the greatest gift of all. However, if you wish to honour us with a gift, a cash gift would be very welcome."

Frequently asked questions