Wedding Invitation Etiquette: Your Presence Requested

When it comes to wedding invitations, there are many ways to request the attendance of your guests. While the specific wording may vary, the key details to include are the same. These include the request to come to the wedding, the names of the couple, and reception information. Here are some examples of how to word the request for your guests' presence:

- Your presence is requested at the wedding of [couple's names]

- We invite you to share in our joy and request your presence at the wedding of [couple's names]

- Together with our families, we joyfully invite you to the wedding of [couple's names]

- We are thrilled to invite you to join us at the celebration of our marriage

- We request the honour of your presence at the marriage of [couple's names]

Honouring the hosts

Host Line Wording

The host line is the opening line of the invitation and traditionally includes the names of those hosting the wedding, such as the bride's parents. However, it is becoming increasingly common to include the names of both sets of parents or even the couple themselves, especially if they are contributing financially. Here are some options for host line wording:

• "Together with their parents, [Couple's names] request the pleasure of your company..."
• "Together with our families, we invite you to share in our joy as we..."
• "[Couple's names] together with their families invite you to celebrate..."
• "The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of [Couple's names]"

Honouring Deceased or Divorced Parents

If you want to include a deceased parent in the invitation, you might want to rearrange the wording. For example:

"[Bride's name], daughter of Mr. [Father's name] and the late [Mother's name], and [Groom's name], son of Mr. and Mrs. [Groom's parents' names], request the honour of your presence at their wedding..."

When including divorced parents, keep each parent on a separate line. If you are including a step-parent, keep their name on the same line as their partner. For example:

"Dr. [Mother and step-father's names] and Mr. [Father's name] and [Stepmother's name] invite you to the wedding of their children [Couple's names]"

Creative Ways to Honour the Hosts

You can also get creative with the wording to honour the hosts while still conveying the essential information. Here are some ideas:

• "With pride and joy, we invite you to share a special day in our lives as we..."
• "We ask those dearest to our hearts to join us in celebrating..."
• "We decided on forever, and forever begins [date] when we exchange vows..."
• "We invite you to witness our marriage vows as we begin our joyful journey together..."

Remember, these are just some suggestions, and you can personalise the wording to reflect your style and the tone of your wedding.

The request to attend

• "The honour of your presence is requested"
• "We request the honour of your presence"
• "We request the pleasure of your company"
• "Together with our parents, we invite you"
• "We ask you to be present with us at the ceremony uniting..."
• "We invite you to share with us a celebration of love"
• "We ask you to join us at the marriage of..."
• "We are thrilled to invite you to celebrate the union of..."
• "Our joy will be more complete if you will join us to celebrate"
• "Please be our guest as we celebrate"
• "With pride and joy, we invite you to share a special day in our lives as we..."
• "With joyous hearts, we invite you to attend the wedding of..."
• "We joyfully invite you to share in our happiness at our wedding celebration. Please join [name] and [name] on [date]"
• "It is with joy that we invite you to be with us as we begin our new life together"
• "We ask those dearest in our hearts to join with us in celebrating"
• "You are invited to a celebration of the beginning of our new life together as we are united as husband and wife"
• "We invite you to be with us as we celebrate our new life together"
• "We invite you to share our celebration of lifelong love and commitment as we exchange vows of marriage on..."
• "Please join us to share our joy and support our love as we exchange vows and are united in the commitment of marriage"
• "Please join us as we celebrate new beginnings, new dreams, and most importantly, new love at the marriage of..."
• "Because your love and friendship have guided and inspired us, we invite you to join us as we exchange our wedding vows"
• "Because your love and friendship have helped us become who we are, we joyfully invite you to share in our celebration of love and commitment"
• "Because you have shared in our lives by your friendship and love, we [names] invite you to share the beginning of our new life together when we exchange marriage vows"
• " [Names] have chosen to exchange vows of love and marriage surrounded by their circle of family and friends who fill their lives with a sense of joy and community"
• "We have experienced love in our parents, families, and friends, and now a new love in each other... We invite you..."
• " [Names] have chosen the first day of their new life together as [date]. The pleasure of your company is requested"
• "We decided on forever and forever begins [date, etc.] when we exchange vows"
• " [Names] have invited you to help us celebrate the beginning of our happily ever after when we..."
• " [Names] invite you to witness our marriage vows as we begin our joyful journey together on..."
• "You are invited to share a day of happy beginnings when [names] pledge vows of love and faith"
• " [Names] invite you to be with us as we begin a lifetime of dreaming and sharing [or any other verbs that may be appropriate] on ..."

The couple's names

There are many ways to announce the couple's names, depending on the tone and style of the wedding. Here are some examples:

• "The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of [Couple's Names]."
• "[Couple's Names] request the honour of your presence at their marriage."
• "Together with their families, [Couple's Names] request the honour of your company at their wedding."
• "With joyful hearts, [Couple's Names] request your presence at their wedding."
• "Join us for the wedding of [Couple's Names]."
• "Kindly join us at the wedding of [Couple's Names]."
• "We're getting married! Please join us to celebrate the marriage of [Couple's Names]."
• "Together with our families, [Couple's Names] invite you to share in their joy as they tie the knot."
• "With much love, [Couple's Names] invite you to celebrate their union."
• "Good food, good drinks, good friends. [Couple's Names] request you celebrate with them as they get hitched."
• "Together with their families, [Couple's Names] and their joyful parents hope you will attend their wedding."
• "We are thrilled to invite you to join us at the celebration of our marriage."
• "With pride and joy, we invite you to share a special day in our lives as we exchange our wedding vows."
• "We joyfully invite you to share in our happiness at our wedding celebration. Please join [Couple's Names] on [Date]."

The Request to Attend

The request to attend the wedding can be formal or informal, depending on the style of the wedding. Here are some examples:

• "The honour of your presence is requested."
• "We request the pleasure of your company."
• "We invite you to share with us a celebration of love."
• "We ask you to join us at the marriage of [Couple's Names]."
• "We are thrilled to invite you to celebrate the union of [Couple's Names]."
• "Your presence is requested at the wedding of [Couple's Names]."
• "We invite you to celebrate the marriage of [Couple's Names]."
• "We joyfully invite you to share in our happiness at our wedding celebration."
• "We ask those dearest to our hearts to join us in celebrating."
• "You are invited to a celebration of the beginning of our new life together as we are united as husband and wife."
• "We invite you to share our celebration of lifelong love and commitment as we exchange vows."
• "Please join us to share our joy and support our love as we exchange vows."
• "We invite you to be with us as we celebrate our new life together."

Date, Time, and Location

For formal invitations, the date and time are usually written out in full. For informal invitations, numerals are also acceptable. The street address of the venue is usually included unless the ceremony is held at the host's home. The city and state are always included, and the country if the wedding is abroad.

Reception Information

If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, you can simply write "Reception to follow." If the reception is at a different location, include the full address on a separate card or provide the details on your wedding website.

Dress Code

Including dress code information is optional but can be helpful for guests. This information can be included on the invitation, a separate card, or the wedding website.

Date, time and location

The date, time and location of the wedding are essential elements of a wedding invitation. Here are some ideas for how to include this information in your invitations, depending on the style and tone you wish to convey.

Formal Wedding Invitation Wording

For formal invitations, it is customary to write out the date and time in full, rather than using numerals. The full venue name and address, including the city and state, should also be included. Here is an example of formal wedding invitation wording:

> The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Jack Alexander Smith and Mason Jacob Kim on Saturday, the seventeenth of August, two thousand twenty-four, at half after four o'clock in the afternoon at [venue name and address]. Reception to follow.

Casual Wedding Invitation Wording

Casual wedding invitations may use numerals to convey the date and time, and the venue address is usually not needed unless omitting it may cause confusion. Here is an example of casual wedding invitation wording:

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

Creative and Fun Wedding Invitation Wording

Feel free to get creative with your wording to reflect the tone and style of your wedding. Here is an example of a fun and creative invitation:

> Come and celebrate with us! Jack Smith and Mason Kim are tying the knot on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. at the Arctic Club Hotel, 700 Third Avenue, Seattle, Washington. Dinner, drinks and dancing to follow!

Modern Wedding Invitation Wording

Modern wedding invitations often put the couple's names front and centre and use straightforward language. Here is an example of modern wedding invitation wording:

> Jack Smith and Mason Kim. Saturday, August 17, 2024, 4:30 p.m. at the Arctic Club Hotel, 700 Third Avenue, Seattle, WA. Join us for dinner and dancing!

Simple Wedding Invitation Wording

Simple and direct wording may be the best choice if you want to focus on providing clear information to your guests. Here is an example of simple wedding invitation wording:

> You are invited to the wedding of Jack Alexander Smith and Mason Jacob Kim on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. at the Arctic Club Hotel, 700 Third Avenue, Seattle, Washington. Reception to follow.

Reception details

The reception is a chance to celebrate the newlyweds and let loose after the ceremony. The reception details should be clear and easy to read, and can be included on the same card as the ceremony details, or on a separate card.

If the reception is at the same venue as the ceremony, you can simply write "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow". If the reception is at a different location, include the full address and other pertinent information on a separate card.

• "Reception immediately following the ceremony"
• "Dinner and dancing to follow"
• "Cake, punch, and merriment to follow"
• "Cocktails, dinner and dancing to follow"
• "Join us after the ceremony for cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and dancing"
• "An evening of celebration to follow"
• "Reception to follow at [address]"
• "Dinner to follow at [address]"
• "Reception to follow at the residence of [name]"

If the reception is at a different location, you can include the address on a separate card, or list it on the same card as the ceremony details. Here are some examples:

• " [Address of venue] Reception to follow"
• "Ceremony at [ceremony address] Reception at [reception address]"
• "Join us for the ceremony at [address] and then head to [address] for dinner and dancing"

If the reception is on a different day, make sure to include the date and time. For example:

"Join us for the ceremony on [date and time] and the reception on [date and time] at [address]"

If you are having a reception-only event, the invitation wording should make it clear that guests are only being invited to the reception. Here are some examples:

• " [Names of couple] request the pleasure of your company for a reception in celebration of their new marriage"
• "Please join us in celebration at their wedding reception [date and time] at [address]"
• "The newlyweds [Names of couple] invite you to a reception in honour of their recent marriage"

Frequently asked questions