Wedding Invitation Essentials For Uk Couples

Wedding invitations are a minefield, but they're also a chance to get creative and set the tone for your big day. The good news is that the rules of wedding invitation etiquette are actually much simpler and more straightforward than you might think. The primary tenet is that you create a beautiful invitation that represents you, your love, and the day to come, while also communicating vital details about the wedding.

The key details to include are the request to come to the wedding, the names of the couple, and reception information. You'll also need to include a way for your guests to RSVP, such as a separate RSVP card or instructions for a digital RSVP, and your wedding website address.

Traditionally, the bride's parents are the hosts and are named at the top of the invitation, but nowadays, it's becoming more common to see the names of both sets of parents or for the couple to host themselves. If you're hosting, you can skip the host line and go straight in with a warm and welcoming introduction, such as Together with full hearts.

The date and time of the ceremony, the ceremony and reception location, and extra information about the venue are also essential. You can include this on the invitation itself or on a separate card.

Host names

The host names are the first thing to include in a wedding invitation. Traditionally, the bride's parents are the hosts, but nowadays, the couple may host themselves, or the bride's and groom's parents may host together. If the couple is hosting, you can skip the host line altogether or start with a warm invitation sentence, such as "Together with full hearts" or "With hearts full of love and joy".

If the bride's parents are hosting, the invitation might begin with "Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Timothy Williams request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Jessica to Mr. Edward Jones". If the couple's parents are divorced, you can include them all, keeping each parent on a separate line. For example: "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".

If both sets of parents are hosting, list the bride's parents' names at the top, followed by the groom's parents' names. For example: "Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Wong and Mr. and Mrs. Adam Hollis request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their children Jessica Wong and Edward Hollis".

If the couple is hosting with their families, you can include a line such as "Together with their families" or "Together with our families". For example: "Together with their families, Jessica Smith and Edward Jones invite you to join them as they say 'I do!'".

If you want to include the name of a deceased parent, you'll need to rearrange the phrasing. 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".

Invitation sentence

The invitation sentence is a crucial part of your wedding invitation, setting the tone and extending a warm welcome to your guests. Here are some ideas for your invitation sentence, following traditional and modern styles:

Traditional Invitation Sentences

• "Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Timothy Williams request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Jessica to Mr. Edward Jones."
• "Together with their parents, Emma and Jax request the pleasure of your company at their wedding."
• "Mr. and Mrs. John Smith invite you to celebrate the marriage of their daughter Jessica to Mr. Edward Jones."
• "Mr. and Mrs. John Smith and Mr. and Mrs. Alan Jones request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their children Jessica and Edward."
• "Together with their families, Lydia Harrison and William Jones invite you to join them at the celebration of their marriage."

Modern Invitation Sentences

• "Jessica and Jane are getting hitched! Join us for a night of celebration."
• "Join us to celebrate the wedding of Samantha Maxx and Andrew Isaac."
• "Love is in the air! Chloe Marie Sinclair and Matthew James Denton are delighted to invite you to their wedding."
• "With hearts full of love, Grace and Russell invite you to share in their special day."
• "We're getting married! Please join Ben and Pilar as we exchange our vows."

Remember, these are just examples, and you can personalise the invitation sentence to match your style and tone. Feel free to include a touch of humour or a heartfelt message to make it unique and memorable.

Couple's names

The names of the couple getting married are a crucial element of any wedding invitation. Traditionally, the bride's name would come first, followed by the groom's, but same-sex couples may choose to go in alphabetical order or simply what sounds better. For heterosexual couples, the bride's first and middle names are usually included, with the groom's full name and title. However, you can order the names however you like.

If the couple's parents are divorced and you want to include both as hosts, give each parent their own line. If you're including a step-parent, keep them on the same line as their partner.

• "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"
• "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!"
• "Chase Mattson & Kelianne Stankus"
• "Jennifer and Andrew"
• "Grace and Russell Fitzpatrick are gettin' hitched!"
• "With family and friends, we invite you to celebrate our wedding day. Isaac + Allison"
• "Together with their families, Agee Gretta Taylor and Alexander Charles Leinberry Invite you to join them in the celebration of their love"

If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves, you 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"

Date and time

The date and time of your wedding are essential details to include in your invitation. Here are some tips and guidelines on how to present this information:

Date

When stating the date, it is customary to write out the month in full, rather than using numerals. For example, "Saturday, the fifteenth of September". The day of the week and the month should be capitalised, and the year should be in lowercase. There is no "and" when spelling out the year.

Time

The time of day should be written out in full, for example, "four o'clock" or "half after four o'clock". From noon until four o'clock is considered the afternoon, and evening begins at five o'clock. For a less formal wedding, it is acceptable to use numerals, for example, "4:00 p.m." or "4:30 p.m.".

Combining Date and Time

When combining the date and time in a sentence, you might say: "Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-one, at half after four in the afternoon."

Additional Considerations

If your wedding has a religious element, you might use the phrase "the honour of your presence", whereas "the pleasure of your company" is used to denote a non-religious ceremony.

It is also worth noting that the British spelling of "honour" is often used to indicate a more formal and traditional wedding. This can be matched with "favour" on the RSVP card, as in "favour of your reply".

Examples

• "Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-one, at half after four in the afternoon."
• "Saturday, July 9, 2016 at two thirty in the afternoon."
• "Friday | 07 Sep 12 | 3:30 p.m."
• "August 4th 2016 at 5 o'clock."
• "Saturday, the twenty-first of May, two thousand twenty-two, at half after six o'clock."

Location

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 include this information:

Provide the name of the venue(s) and the full address, including the postcode, for both the ceremony and reception venues. If your venue is in a remote location or is off the beaten track, such as a marquee on a farm, consider including brief directions or a custom map of the area. You can also provide the website links of the venues if they offer useful information like maps and directions.

Parking Arrangements

It is helpful to inform your guests about parking options, especially if parking is limited or tricky to find. Let them know if there are any restrictions or if overnight parking is allowed. For example: "Cars may be left at the venue overnight, but must be collected by 10 am the following morning."

Transport Arrangements

If you are providing transport for your guests, include a brief detail about the pick-up and return times and locations. You can also add a tick box on the reply cards to get an idea of numbers for any transport arrangements.

Timing Details

Your invitation should always state the ceremony time, but you may also want to include the time you want your guests to arrive and be seated. For example: "Please arrive from 12.30 pm to be seated for the ceremony to begin at 1.00 pm prompt." If your reception is at a different location or starts at a different time, include this information as well.

Accommodation Options

If there is accommodation available at or near your venue, provide your guests with the details, including any special rates and booking instructions. You can also suggest some alternative options, considering various price points.

Venue Payment Options

If your venue is cashless, let your guests know that only card or contactless payments are accepted.

Frequently asked questions