Crafting The Perfect Wedding Invitation: Sample Guide

Wedding invitation wording can be tricky, but it's an exciting step in the wedding planning process. The wording you choose will depend on the tone and style of your wedding. If you're going for a formal affair, you'll want to use traditional and formal language in your invitations. On the other hand, if you're having a more casual or informal wedding, you can use modern and playful phrasing.

Regardless of the tone, there are some essential elements that should be included in your wedding invitations. These include:

- The host line: The opening line of the invitation, naming the hosts of the event (usually the people paying for the wedding).

- The attendance request: Letting guests know they're invited to your wedding.

- The couple's names: The main event! The names of the couple are usually displayed in larger, fancy text.

- Date and time: Traditionally, the date and time are spelled out in full, but numerical figures are often used for modern invites.

- Location: The name and address of your wedding venue, including the state and zip code (or country if it's abroad).

- Reception details: If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, simply say reception to follow. Otherwise, include the full address and other details on a separate card.

- Dress code: Including dress code information is optional but can be helpful for guests.

Formal invitation example:

> Mr. and Mrs. Ernie Lively invite you to share in the joy of marriage uniting their daughter Blake Ellender to Ryan Rodney Saturday, the ninth of September two-thousand twelve at noon Boone Hall Mount Pleasant, South Carolina Dinner and merriment to follow

Casual invitation example:

> Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Simon Peter Blunt invite you to the marriage of Emily Olivia Leah and John Burke July 10, 2010 at half past six in the evening Via Regina Teodolinda, 35 Como, Italy Food, wine, and merriment to follow

Remember, these are just examples, and you can get creative with your wedding invitation wording to match your unique style and personality.

The host line

One Set of Married Parents Hosting

Include the parents' full names, with middle names for very formal weddings. If they have different last names, use "and" to join them.

• Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Timothy Williams (very formal; the middle name is 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)

One Set of Divorced Parents Hosting

List the mother's name first, followed by the father's name on a separate line. Do not use "and" to connect the names.

• Ms. Pamela Jacobsen
• Mr. and Mrs. Fred Jacobsen

Both Sets of Parents Hosting

For different-sex couples, list the bride's parents' names first, followed by the groom's parents' names. For same-sex couples, list the names in alphabetical order or in the order that looks best with the invitation design.

• Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Wong and Mr. and Mrs. Adam Hollis (formal)
• Aaron and Alisha Wong together with Adam and Beatrice Hollis (less formal)
• Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Adams and Mr. and Mrs. David Beckham (formal)
• Kenzie M. Smith and Jennifer L. Smith Mark Franklin and Mary Elizabeth Reyes (formal)

Couple Is Hosting With Their Families

When the couple and both of their families are contributing to the cost of the wedding, you can add a line such as:

• Together with their families
• Together with our families
• Together with their parents

Couple Hosting Themselves

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
• With hearts full of love and joy
• With much love
• The honour of your presence is requested
• Come party with us
• Join us for the wedding of

Honouring Deceased Parents

To honour a deceased parent, you can include them in the host line or after the bride or groom's name. Use the phrase “the late” before their name.

• Mr. & Mrs. Jon Flores and Mr. Tom Byrne & the late Mrs. Nancy Byrne
• Mrs. and Mr. Michael Francis Middleton

The request line

• "Request the honour of your presence"
• "Request the pleasure of your company"
• "Invite you to celebrate with them"
• "Would love for you to join them"

The British spelling of "honour" is traditionally used to indicate that the ceremony will be held in a church or another house of worship. For a non-religious ceremony locale, you can use "the pleasure of your company" or variations of this phrase.

• "Together with their parents, Emma and Jax request the pleasure of your company..."
• "The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Jack Alexander Smith to Mason Jacob Kim..."
• "Come party with us, Jack Alexander Smith and Mason Jacob Kim are tying the knot..."
• "Talia Flores and Stephen Byrne invite you to a celebration of their love and commitment..."
• "Mr. & Mrs. Flores would love your company at the marriage of their daughter Talia Flores to Stephen Byrne..."

The couple's names

For formal invitations, it is customary to use the couple's full legal names, although middle names can be omitted if space is limited. Nicknames are generally avoided, and titles such as "Mr." and "Mrs." are used. For informal invitations, first names only are also acceptable.

Hosted by One Set of Parents

• Formal: "Mr. and Mrs. Ernie Lively invite you to share in the joy of the marriage uniting their daughter Blake Ellender to Ryan Rodney."
• Casual: "Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Simon Peter Blunt invite you to the marriage of Emily Olivia Leah and John Burke."

Hosted by Both Sets of Parents

• Formal: "Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Adams and Mr. and Mrs. David Beckham request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their children Victoria Caroline and David Robert Joseph."
• Casual: "With great pleasure, Kimberly and Jonathan Biel, and Lynn Bomar Harless and Randall Timberlake invite you to celebrate the marriage of their children Jessica and Justin."

Hosted by the Couple

• Formal: "Amal Alamuddin and George Timothy Clooney request the pleasure of your company at the celebration of their marriage."
• Casual: "Miss Beyonce Knowles and Shawn 'Jay Z' Carter are getting married. Join us for dinner and drinks."

Hosted by Divorced Parents

• Formal: "Mr. Angiolo Guiseppe and Ms. Elettra Rossellini invite you to share in the joy of the marriage uniting their son Roberto Rossellini to Ingrid Bergman."
• Casual: "Ms. Pamela Jacobsen, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Jacobsen invite you to share in their wedding festivities at the marriage of their daughter Jordan to Paige."

Hosted by Parent, Including Deceased Parent

• Formal: "Mrs. and Mr. Michael Francis Middleton request the honour of your company at the marriage of their daughter Catherine Elizabeth Middleton to Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, son of Charles, Prince of Wales, and the late Diana, Princess of Wales."
• Casual: "Together with their families, Malaak Compton, daughter of Gerald and Louisa Compton, and Christopher Rock, son of the late Julius Rock and Rosalie Rock, invite you to share in their wedding festivities."

Hosted by Same-Sex Parents

• Formal: "Mr. Michael and Mr. Sean Flannigan request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Julie Marie to Stephen Anthony."
• Casual: "Ms. Jane and Ms. Courtney Lowe invite you to attend the marriage of their daughter Madison to Colton."

Date, time and location

The date, time, and location are essential details to include in your wedding invitation. Here are some examples of how to word this information, depending on the hosting arrangement:

Couple & Parents Hosting

"Saturday, the eleventh of June two thousand and twenty-three at twelve o'clock in the afternoon

Arctic Club Hotel

700 Third Avenue

Seattle, Washington

Reception to follow"

Couple Hosting

"June 11, 2024, 12:00 pm

Arctic Club Hotel

700 Third Avenue

Seattle, Washington

Dinner and dancing to follow"

Bride's Parents Hosting

"Saturday, the eleventh of June two thousand and twenty-three at twelve o'clock in the afternoon

Arctic Club Hotel

700 Third Avenue

Seattle, Washington

Reception to follow"

Groom's Parents Hosting

"Saturday, the eleventh of June two thousand and twenty-three at twelve o'clock in the afternoon

Arctic Club Hotel

700 Third Avenue

Seattle, Washington

Reception to follow"

Couple's Parents Hosting

"Saturday, the eleventh of June two thousand and twenty-three at twelve o'clock in the afternoon

Arctic Club Hotel

700 Third Avenue

Seattle, Washington

Reception to follow"

Formal Wording Examples

"Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-one, at half after four in the afternoon"

"Saturday, the twenty-ninth of September

Two thousand twelve at six o'clock in the evening

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

1000 Washington Avenue

Brooklyn, New York

Dinner and dancing to follow

Black tie invited"

Informal Wording Examples

"Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 in the afternoon

[venue name and address]

Reception to follow"

"June 11, 2024, 12:00 pm

Arctic Club Hotel

700 Third Avenue

Seattle, Washington

Dinner and dancing to follow"

Post-ceremony details

The post-ceremony details are an important part of your wedding invitation, giving your guests a clear idea of what to expect after the ceremony. Here are some tips and examples to help you craft this section effectively:

Reception Information

It is essential to provide clear and concise information about the reception venue and timing. If the reception is held at the same location as the ceremony, you can simply state "Reception immediately following the ceremony" or "Dinner and dancing to follow." If the reception is at a different venue, include the full address and timing on a separate line or on an additional insert card.

For example:

> Reception immediately following the ceremony at The West Palm, 825 Oceanside Ave, St. Petersburg.

Or

> Dinner and dancing to follow at Casa de la Guerra, Santa Barbara, California.

Dress Code

Indicating the dress code on the invitation is helpful for your guests. If you opt for a formal invitation, guests will likely anticipate a black-tie event. On the other hand, a simpler, more casual invitation suggests a relaxed dress code. If you wish to include the dress code, it is typically placed in the lower right corner of the invitation.

For example, for a formal event:

> Black tie required

Or

> Black tie invited

For a more casual event:

> Beach-casual attire

Additional Details

If there are multiple events during the wedding weekend, consider including an activity card with your invitation. This card can list all the festivities open to guests in chronological order. Alternatively, you can provide this information on your wedding website.

Other additional details to consider:

• Directions and transportation information: Include these on an information card enclosed with the invitation or on your wedding website.
• Accommodation suggestions: This is especially helpful for destination weddings or if many guests are travelling.
• Wedding website: Include the URL or a QR code on a separate insert card or at the bottom of another insert card.

Frequently asked questions