Crafting The Perfect Wedding Invite: Opening Line Ideas

The first line of a wedding invitation is dedicated to the host of the wedding, also known as the party covering the expenses. Traditionally, the bride's parents are the hosts, but nowadays, the groom's parents, the couple, or a combination of all three may also contribute. There is no official order or requirement to list the names, and it's all up to personal preference. If the family has a non-traditional structure, the couple can opt for creative wording, such as Together with their families.

Honoring deceased parents

Honouring deceased parents on a wedding invitation can be tricky, but there are ways to word the invite to ensure they are included. Here are four to six paragraphs with direct and instructive content focused on this topic:

Host Line

The opening line of a wedding invitation names the hosts and traditionally, this is the bride's parents. However, it is acceptable and gracious to list the names of both sets of parents, especially if both are contributing financially. If the couple is hosting, the host line can be omitted or replaced with a warm introduction such as "Together with full hearts". If you wish to honour a deceased parent, you can include their name alongside the couple's, for example: "Lauren Martinez, daughter of Robert Martinez and the late Marta Martinez".

The Request to Attend

The invitation should include a request for the guest's presence at the wedding. There are several ways to word this, such as "request the honour of your presence" or "request the pleasure of your company". The British spelling of "honour" traditionally indicates the ceremony will be held in a religious setting. If the deceased parent's name is not included in the host line, it can be included here. 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...".

The Couple's Names

The names of the couple are usually displayed in larger text and the bride's name typically comes first, followed by the groom's. However, for same-sex couples, this tradition does not apply, and names can be listed alphabetically or based on preference. Formal invitations issued by the bride's parents refer to her by her first and middle names and the groom by his full name and title. If the couple is hosting, their titles are optional. For a less formal feel, you may opt to use only first names.

Date and Time

The date and time of the wedding should be included in the invitation, with the day of the week and the month written out in full. For formal invitations, the date and time should be spelled out rather than using numerals. For example, "Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand and twenty-one, at half after four in the afternoon". The time of day should be indicated as "four o'clock" or "half after four o'clock".

Location

The name and full address of the wedding venue should be included, along with the state and zip code. If the wedding is taking place abroad, include the country as well. If the reception is at the same location, you can simply state "Reception to follow". Otherwise, include the full address of the reception venue on a separate line or on a details card tucked into the invitation.

Including step-parents

The first line of a wedding invitation is dedicated to the host(s) of the wedding, which is usually the party covering the expenses. Traditionally, this would be the bride's parents, but nowadays, it could be the groom's parents, the couple, or a combination of all three. If you have step-parents, you can include them on the invitation, too. Here are some examples of how to do this:

• Including step-parents and both sets of parents: "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."
• Including step-parents and one set of parents: "Mr. & Mrs. Flores, Mr. & Mrs. Hill, Mr. & Mrs. Byrne and Mr. & Mrs. Lin request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of Talia Flores & Stephen Byrne."
• Including step-parents and divorced parents: "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."

If the bride or groom has a step-parent and a deceased parent, the invitation could be worded as follows:

Including step-parent and deceased parent: "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."

General Tips for Wedding Invitation Wording

• The host line is where the name(s) of the event host(s) appear. The hosts are typically the people who are paying for the wedding.
• The request line is where you invite your guests to join your wedding celebration. Traditionally, couples would include formal wording to denote a formal religious ceremony, whereas modern celebrations tend to use more casual language.
• The couple's names should be clearly legible and prominently featured. For heterosexual couples, the bride's name traditionally comes before the groom's. For same-sex couples, the wording of the host line may dictate whose name comes first.
• Include the date, time, and location of the ceremony. For formal invitations, spell out the date, time, and address in full.
• Finish the wedding invite with the reception details line, letting guests know what type of festivities to expect, such as dinner and dancing or cocktails and canapes.

The couple's names

For different-sex couples, the bride's name typically goes first, followed by the groom's full name. If the bride's parents' names are listed at the top, the bride's name can just be her first and middle name, without her last name. In that case, the groom's name is either listed in full, or his first and middle names are listed, followed by "Son of Mr. & Mrs. [Groom's Father's First Name] [Groom's Surname]."

For same-sex couples, you can list the names in alphabetical order by last name or based on what looks best with the invitation design. For a less formal feel, you may opt to list first names only.

Traditionally, the bride's name always goes first on wedding invitations. That said, it's really up to you to decide whether or not to follow this tradition. For couples that don't identify as a bride and groom, or if there are two brides, names are typically listed in alphabetical order.

If you want to break with tradition, you can place the groom's full name first or even shorten the names by using only first and last names. The use of middle names is only expected when the wedding is very formal; otherwise, the use is based on your personal preference.

If you want your invitation to sound formal, add middle names to make the invitation sound regal. However, if you want your invite to be more casual, it's best to state only the first and last names.

Ceremony details

The first step in crafting the perfect wedding invitation is to set the tone for your celebration. This can be done through the wording of the invitation, which can be traditional, modern, fun, casual, or creative.

The ceremony details section of the invitation should include the following:

• Date and time: Traditionally, the date and time are spelled out in full, including the day of the week, date, and time of day. For example, "Saturday, the seventeenth of August two thousand twenty-four at half after four in the afternoon." If you are having a more casual wedding, you may use numerical figures and abbreviated terms, such as "Saturday, 8/17/24, 4:30 p.m."
• Location: Include the name of the venue, city, and state. For formal weddings, spell out the state name in full. If the wedding is taking place at a private residence, include the street address as well. For example, ""[Venue Name], Simi Valley, California."
• Reception details: If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, simply state "Reception to follow." If the reception is at a different location, include the full address on a separate details card tucked into the invitation.
• Dress code: Including dress code information is optional, but it can be helpful for guests. If you are having a black-tie wedding, it is important to include this information on the invitation. Otherwise, guests will infer the dress code based on the formality of the invitation.
• "Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-one, at half after four in the afternoon, [Venue Name], [City], [State]."
• "4:30 p.m., [Venue Name], [City], [State]."
• "Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 4:30 in the afternoon, [Venue Name], Simi Valley, California. Reception to follow."
• "The fifteenth of January, two thousand twenty-two, at five o'clock in the afternoon, Kempa Villa, 71555 Jaguar Way, Palm Desert, CA."

Post-ceremony plans

The post-ceremony plans section of your wedding invitation is where you can set the tone for your reception and give your guests a glimpse of what to expect after the main event. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Informal Wording: If you're planning a more relaxed reception, you can use phrases like "Dinner and dancing to follow", "Followed by dinner and dancing", "Drinks and dancing to follow", or "Cocktails, dinner and dancing to follow". You can also mention specific activities or entertainment, such as "Live music and dancing to follow" or "Join us for cocktails, lawn games, and a barbecue after the ceremony".
• Formal Wording: For a more formal or traditional reception, you might say "An evening of celebration to follow", "Reception to follow", "Dinner to follow at [location]", or "Reception to follow at the residence of [host's name]".
• Different Location: If your reception is at a different location than the ceremony, include the full address or direct guests to your wedding website for more information. You can say something like "Reception immediately following at [location]", "Dinner and celebration to continue at [location]", or "Join us for further festivities at [location]".
• Adult-Only Reception: If your reception is adults-only, you can indicate this by saying "Adult reception to follow" or "Cocktails and celebration for adults only to follow".
• No Full Meal: If you're not serving a full meal, you can let guests know by saying something like "Join us for cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and dancing after the ceremony", "Cake, punch, and merriment to follow", or "Feasting and fun to follow".
• Timeline: You can also give a sense of the timeline for the reception, such as "Dinner and dancing from 7 pm onwards" or "Evening celebrations from 6 pm".

Remember, the post-ceremony plans section is your chance to get your guests excited about the reception and give them a taste of what's to come. Choose wording that reflects the style and tone of your celebration, and feel free to add a creative twist to make it unique!

Frequently asked questions