Evening Wedding Invites: What To Include And Why

When it comes to evening wedding invitations, you'll want to include the same essential details as you would for a full day invitation. This includes the who, where, when, and how.

The who includes the hosts of the wedding, the couple getting married, and the guests. The where covers the venue and location of the ceremony and reception. The when is the wedding date and time, and the how explains how and when guests should reply.

You can also include additional information cards with your evening invitations. These can cover details such as accommodation options, parking arrangements, gift wishes, and transport and parking information.

Remember, there are no rules when it comes to wedding invitations. You can choose to include as much or as little information as you like, depending on what you feel your guests need to know.

Host names

The host names are the first thing to include in a wedding invitation. Traditionally, the bride's parents host the wedding, so their names would come first. However, it is becoming more common for couples to host their own weddings or to host together with their parents. In this case, you can use wording such as "Together with their parents" or "Together with their families".

If both sets of parents are contributing, you can list the bride's parents' names at the top of the invite, followed by the groom's parents' names. For same-sex couples, list the names according to preference or in an order that looks best with the invitation design.

If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves, you can skip the host line or start with a warm and welcoming introduction, such as "Together with full hearts" or "With hearts full of love and joy".

• "Together with their parents, Emma and Jax request the pleasure of your company..."
• "Together with their families"
• "Together with our families"
• "Together with full hearts"
• "With hearts full of love and joy"
• "Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Timothy Williams" (very formal)
• "Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Williams" (formal)
• "Mr. and Mrs. Christopher and Sarah Williams" (formal)
• "Christopher and Sarah Williams" (less formal)
• "Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Wong and Mr. and Mrs. Adam Hollis" (formal)
• "Aaron and Alisha Wong together with Adam and Beatrice Hollis" (less formal)

A warm invitation sentence

"Together with full hearts, we invite you to join us as we exchange our vows and begin our journey as husband and wife."

"With hearts overflowing with love and joy, we invite you to share in our special day as we unite in marriage."

"It is with great happiness that we invite you to witness our union and celebrate with us afterward."

"We would be delighted by your presence as we exchange our vows and begin our new life together."

"You are cordially invited to share in our joy as we celebrate our love and commitment to each other."

Remember, the warm invitation sentence is just one part of your wedding invitation. Be sure to include other essential details such as the host's names, the couple's names, the date, time, and location of the ceremony and reception. You may also choose to include additional information such as dress code, accommodation options, and transport arrangements on a separate details card.

Couple's names

The couple's names are a crucial element of a wedding invitation. Traditionally, the bride's name precedes the groom's, but this is not a requirement for same-sex couples, who can choose to list their names alphabetically or in an order that complements the invitation design.

If the bride's parents are hosting, the couple's names may be omitted from the host line, but they should still be featured prominently a few lines down.

• "Together with their parents, Emma and Jax request the pleasure of your company..."
• "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..."
• "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"
• "Together with their families, Agee Gretta Taylor and Alexander Charles Leinberry invite you to join them in the celebration of their love"
• "Jennifer and Andrew invite you to celebrate their wedding"
• "Chloe Marie Sinclair & Matthew James Denton have the honour of announcing their marriage"
• "Love is in the air. Chloe Marie Sinclair & Matthew James Denton are getting married!"

Date and time

When it comes to the date and time of your wedding, there are a few things to consider when including this information in your evening wedding invitation. Here are some tips and suggestions to help you communicate this effectively:

Be Clear and Specific:

• Clearly state the date and time of your wedding ceremony. You may also want to include the arrival time if you need guests to arrive earlier, such as for welcome drinks or seating arrangements.
• It is common to use full and formal wording for the date and time. For example, "Saturday, the twenty-fourth of July, two thousand and twenty-one, at half past four in the afternoon." Here, the day of the week and the month are capitalised, and the year is spelled out in full.
• If desired, you can also include the end time of the event by using phrases such as "Carriages at midnight" or "Carriages at [time]."

Consider Timing Etiquette:

• Traditionally, the time of day is spelled out using phrases like "four o'clock" or "half after four o'clock."
• The use of a.m. or p.m. is optional. However, it is important to note that evening is considered to begin at five o'clock. From noon until four o'clock is considered afternoon.

Provide Additional Timing Details:

• If you wish to provide more detailed timing information, you can include this in an additional information card that accompanies your invitation.
• This could include welcome drink timings, seating times, or any other relevant schedule details that would be helpful for your guests to know.

Be Mindful of Format and Readability:

• While traditional wording is often used for dates and times, you can also opt for a more modern or informal approach. For example, using numerals instead of spelling out numbers.
• Choose a format that aligns with the overall style and tone of your invitation, ensuring that the information is clear and easy to understand.

Include RSVP Details:

• Let your guests know how and when to respond to your invitation. You can include a printed RSVP card, provide an email or phone number, or direct them to your wedding website for responses.
• It is common to set the RSVP deadline for three to four weeks before the wedding date to allow enough time for catering and seating arrangements.

Remember, the key is to provide clear and concise information about the date and time of your wedding, while also maintaining a style that aligns with the tone and format of your evening wedding invitation.

Location of the ceremony and reception

The location of the ceremony and reception is an important element to include in your wedding invitation. Here are some tips and suggestions on how to provide this information effectively:

Providing Clear and Accurate Addresses

When mentioning the locations of the ceremony and reception, be sure to include the venue names and addresses. For formal weddings, it is customary to write out the full address, including the city and state. However, including the street address is usually unnecessary unless it is a private residence or omitting it may cause confusion. Zip codes are typically not included. Here's an example:

> The Ritz-Carlton

> Bachelor Gulch

> Beaver Creek, Colorado

Differing Ceremony and Reception Venues

If the ceremony and reception are held at the same venue, you can simply state, "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow." This can be included on the same line as the ceremony location or on a separate line. For example:

> The Ritz-Carlton

> Bachelor Gulch

> Beaver Creek, Colorado

> Reception to follow

If the reception is at a different location, list it on a separate line or include it on a separate insert card, known as a reception card. This approach treats the reception as a separate event and provides clear information for your guests.

Timing Details

In addition to the locations, be sure to include the timing details for both the ceremony and reception. Mention the time of the ceremony on the invitation itself. If you want guests to arrive earlier for welcome drinks or to be seated before the ceremony, specify this in your additional information.

If the reception is immediately following the ceremony, you can indicate this with phrases such as "Reception immediately following the ceremony" or "Dinner and dancing to follow." If the reception is at a different time, specify the hour or use phrases like "immediately following" or "at a different time."

Additional Details

To provide your guests with a comprehensive understanding of the locations and logistics, consider including these additional details:

• Transportation and Parking: Inform guests about any transportation arrangements you have made and provide a heads-up about the parking situation at the venue(s).
• Accommodations: If you have reserved a room block at a nearby hotel, include the hotel's name, address, and any relevant booking codes or deadlines.
• Directions: Especially for rural or hard-to-find venues, consider including a separate directions card or map to guide your guests to the ceremony and reception locations.
• Inner Envelope: Use an inner envelope to protect your stationery and provide an easy place to list the names of the invited guests. This can be helpful if the outer envelope is addressed more generally to a family.

Frequently asked questions