Evening Wedding Invites: What To Include And Why

Wedding invitation wording can be daunting, with many couples unsure of the etiquette and how to address their invites. The style of the wedding will set the tone for the wording: formal language is best for traditional affairs, while a more casual day gives scope for a cheeky or inventive approach. The invitation should include the specific part of the day covered by the invite, the names and addresses of the ceremony and reception venues, the date and time of the wedding, and RSVP information. It may also include gift registry details, dress code information, the URL of the wedding website, a prompt for dietary requirements, and a line to specify if it's an adult-only wedding.

Include the date and time

Evening wedding invites should include the date and time of the event. This information is crucial for guests to know when and where to show up. The date and time can be written in various ways, depending on the formality of the event and the invitation style. Here are some examples and guidelines to help you with the wording:

Formal Evening Wedding Invitation Wording

For a formal evening wedding invitation, the date and time are usually written out in full, using traditional language. Here's an example:

> Saturday, the twenty-sixth of October two thousand twenty-four, at half after seven o'clock in the evening

In this example, the day of the week is capitalised, and there is a comma between the day and the date. The month is also capitalised and written out in full. The year is on a separate line, with no comma between the month and year. The time is written as "half after seven o'clock", indicating 7:30 pm. The phrase "in the evening" clarifies that the event will take place after 5 pm.

Informal Evening Wedding Invitation Wording

For a more informal evening wedding invitation, you can use a more relaxed style. Here's an example:

> Saturday, 26 October 2024, 7:30 pm

In this example, the date is written using numerals, and the time is written as "7:30 pm". This style is more concise and contemporary. However, it's important to ensure that the level of formality in the date and time matches the overall tone of the invitation.

Consistency in Wording

It is essential to maintain consistency in the formatting of the date and time throughout the invitation suite, including any response cards. For example, if you use traditional wording for the invitation, you might write the RSVP deadline as:

> Kindly respond by the seventeenth of April

For a more informal approach, you could use language such as:

> Please reply by 17 April

Additional Time-Related Details

If your evening wedding reception starts several hours after the ceremony or is at a different location, it is advisable to include a separate reception card with the invitation suite. This card can provide details such as the reception start time, venue address, and any other relevant information.

For instance:

> Please join us for a reception at six o'clock in the evening. JW Marriott Houston Downtown, 806 Main Street, Houston, Texas

Adult-Only Events

If your evening wedding is an adult-only event, it is essential to specify this on the invitation to avoid any confusion. You can add a line such as:

> Unfortunately, children are not invited – we hope you understand.

Proofreading and Clarity

Before finalising your evening wedding invitations, it is crucial to proofread the content thoroughly. Pay close attention to details such as names, dates, and times to ensure accuracy. It is also advisable to have a fresh pair of eyes review the invitations to catch any potential errors.

Additionally, be clear and specific about the timing to avoid any misunderstandings. Avoid using phrases like "in the evening" without specifying the exact time, as this may cause confusion.

Specify the venue

The venue address is an essential detail to include in your wedding invitation. The street address is usually not needed unless omitting it would lead to confusion or if the wedding is taking place at the host's home. In such cases, it is customary to include the street address, city, and state of the venue.

If the ceremony and reception are held at the same location, you can simply state, "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow." If the reception is at a different location, list it on a separate line or include a reception card with the event details in your invitation suite.

• "The Ritz-Carlton, 71555 Jaguar Way, Palm Desert, CA 92260. Reception to follow."
• "Ceremony at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church, Newport, California, followed by a reception at Cortelyou Commons, DePaul University."
• "Join us at The West Palm, 825 Oceanside Ave, St. Petersburg, for the wedding ceremony and reception."
• "Gulf Beach Resort Motel, Sarasota, FL, will be the venue for both the ceremony and the reception."
• "The wedding ceremony will be held at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1000 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, followed by a reception at a separate location."

State the hosts' names

The hosts' names are an important part of a wedding invitation. Traditionally, the bride's parents are the hosts of the wedding and are named at the top of the invitation. However, including the names of both sets of parents as hosts is a gracious option, no matter who is paying for the wedding.

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

• "Together with full hearts"
• "With hearts full of love and joy"
• "Together with our families"

If both sets of parents are contributing towards the wedding, the invitation can include both their names:

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

If one set of parents is paying for the wedding, then etiquette dictates their names will go first, but otherwise, it is your choice how you list the names. Alphabetically might solve any potential issues!

"Together with their parents, Edward Jones & Jack Andrew request the pleasure of your company at their wedding"

For divorced or remarried parents, or if both families are contributing towards the wedding, the invitation can include both parents' full names:

"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"

If the parents have the same surname, you can also write:

• "Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Timothy Williams" (very formal, middle name 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)

If the parents are divorced and remarried, and you want to include both as hosts, you can include them all, keeping each parent on a separate line. If you are including the name of a stepparent, keep it on the same line as their partner.

"Dr. Vance and Elizabeth Gregory and Mr. James Abner and Lydia Abner and Mr. Harold and Jane Hyland invite you to the wedding of their children Amy Abner and Charles Hyland"

For a widowed parent, it is traditional to just use the name of the parent who is requesting the company of the guest, if they are hosting alone or haven't remarried. If they've remarried and you're happy to have both names on the invitation, follow the step-parent format above.

Add RSVP details

When it comes to RSVP details, there are a few key things to keep in mind. Firstly, it's important to set a clear RSVP deadline, usually about three to four weeks before the wedding date. This will give you enough time to finalise numbers with your caterer and create a seating chart.

The RSVP card should also include a line for guests to write their names and checkboxes for accepting or declining the invitation. For more formal weddings, the "M" line can be used to indicate where guests should write their names, with the "M" designating the first letter of the formal salutation (Mr., Mrs., Miss, or Ms.). For less formal weddings, a simple "Name(s)" will suffice.

You may also want to include additional information such as meal choices, with checkboxes or illustrated icons, and a song request line, such as "We promise to dance if you play __________."

"Kindly respond by [date]"

"Please reply by [date]"

"RSVP by [date] to [phone number/email address]"

"The favour of a reply is requested by [date]"

"Please RSVP by [date]"

"Please RSVP by [date] to [phone number/email address]"

Make it clear if it's an adult-only event

If you're planning on having an adult-only wedding, it's important to specify this on your invitations. Some people may assume their children are invited, even if they haven't been named.

The best way to make this clear is to address your invitations only to the adults invited. You can list the names of the adults on both the outer mailing envelope and the inner envelope. If you're sending outer envelopes only, list only the names of the invited adults. You can also write the names of each invited guest on the response card.

It's best to avoid writing "adults only" on the wedding invitation itself. Instead, encourage family members, wedding party members, and friends to spread the word to other guests. You can also include this information on your wedding website.

• "Please note that this invitation is extended to adults only."
• "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 are still able to share our big day and will enjoy having the evening off!"
• "Our wedding will be a child-free occasion. We hope you can still come and enjoy a night off."
• "Unfortunately, children are not invited – we hope you understand."

Frequently asked questions