Crafting The Perfect Wedding Invitation: A Guide To Wording

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, the style you choose should reflect the tone of your celebration. Whether your wedding is formal and traditional or relaxed and informal, there are some essential details that you should include.

Firstly, you'll want to include the host line – this is who is hosting the wedding, typically the person(s) footing the bill. If multiple parties are hosting, you only need to include names if you want a formal feel. If the couple is hosting themselves, this line can be omitted.

Next, you'll want to include an attendance request – this is where you invite your guests to the wedding and let them know what they're being invited to.

Then comes the main event – the names of the couple! Traditionally, the bride's name comes first, but this isn't mandatory, especially for same-sex couples, where names can be listed alphabetically or in the order that people are used to hearing them.

After that, you'll want to include the date and time, location, and reception details if the ceremony and reception are in different venues.

Finally, you may want to include an optional dress code – this isn't compulsory, but it can be helpful for your guests to know.

The 'Host' Line

The host line is the opening line on a wedding invitation, naming the hosts of the event. Here are some examples of how to word the host line for different scenarios:

Formal Wedding Invitation Wording with 'Host'

• Bride's Parents: "Mr and Mrs D. Hall request the pleasure of the company of Mr and Mrs J. Johnson on the occasion of the marriage of their daughter Laura Elizabeth to Mr George Peter Brown."
• Bride's Parents: "David and Claire Hall request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Laura Elizabeth to George Peter Brown."
• Couple + Parents: "Together with their families, Laura Hall and George Brown request the pleasure of your company to celebrate their marriage."
• Evening Reception, Bride's Parents: "Mr and Mrs D. Hall request the pleasure of the company of Mr and Mrs J. Johnson at the evening reception to celebrate the marriage of their daughter Laura Elizabeth to Mr George Peter Brown."
• Evening Reception, Couple + Parents: "Together with their families, Laura Hall and George Brown request the pleasure of your company to celebrate their marriage at Pendleton Hall on Saturday 10th May 2023. The evening reception begins at 7.30 pm. Carriages at midnight."

Formal Wedding Invitation Wording with No Specific 'Host'

• "The pleasure of the company of Mr and Mrs J. Johnson is requested at the marriage of Laura Elizabeth Hall to George Peter Brown."
• "You are cordially invited to celebrate the marriage of Laura Hall and George Brown."
• "The pleasure of your company is requested to celebrate the marriage of Laura Hall and George Brown."
• Evening Reception: "The pleasure of your company is requested at the evening reception to celebrate the marriage of Laura Elizabeth Hall to George Peter Brown."

Informal Wedding Invitation Wording with 'Host'

• Bride's Parents: "David and Claire Hall have great pleasure in inviting Rob, Sally and Archie to celebrate the marriage of their daughter Laura Elizabeth to George Peter Brown."
• Couple + Parents: "Together with their families, Laura Hall and George Brown cordially invite you to their wedding."
• Evening Reception, Bride's Parents: "David and Claire Hall have great pleasure in inviting Rob, Sally and Archie to the evening celebration following the marriage of their daughter Laura Elizabeth to George Peter Brown."
• Evening Reception, Couple: "Laura & George are delighted to invite you to their evening reception."

Informal Wedding Invitation Wording 'Without Host'

• "Rob, Sally and Archie please join us to celebrate the marriage of Laura Hall and George Brown."
• "You are cordially invited to the wedding of Laura Hall and George Brown."
• "It is with great pleasure that we invite you to join Laura Hall and George Brown on their wedding day."
• Evening Reception: "You are cordially invited to an evening of wedding celebrations following the marriage of Laura Hall and George Brown."

Divorced Parents Hosting (Different Surnames)

"Mr David Hall and Mrs Claire Edwards request the pleasure of your company to celebrate the marriage of their daughter Laura Elizabeth to George Brown."

When One Parent is Deceased and You Wish to Mention Them

"You are cordially invited to the wedding of Laura Hall, daughter of David Hall and the late Claire Hall, and George Brown, son of Peter and Mary Brown."

Parents of the Bride and Groom Hosting

"Mr and Mrs D. Hall together with Mr and Mrs P. Brown request the pleasure of your company to celebrate the marriage of Laura Elizabeth Hall to George Peter Brown."

Couple and Parents Hosting

"Together with their families, Laura Hall and George Brown request the pleasure of your company at their wedding."

The 'Invitation' Line

The Invitation Line is the part of the wedding invitation that invites your guests to the wedding. The choice of wording here usually suggests the formality of the event.

• "Mr and Mrs D. Hall request the pleasure of the company of Mr and Mrs J. Johnson on the occasion of the marriage of their daughter Laura Elizabeth to Mr George Peter Brown."
• "Together with their families, Laura Hall and George Brown request the pleasure of your company to celebrate their marriage."
• "The pleasure of your company is requested at the marriage of Laura Hall and George Brown."
• "David and Claire Hall are delighted to invite you to the wedding of their daughter Laura to George Brown."
• "Together with their families, Laura Hall and George Brown cordially invite you to their wedding."
• "Laura & George are delighted to invite you to share in the celebration of their marriage."

The Couple's Names

• "The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Jack Alexander Smith to Mason Jacob Kim"
• "Together with their families, Olivia Rose Smith and John Michael Reyes request the honour of your presence at their wedding"
• "Come party with us! Jack Alexander Smith and Mason Jacob Kim are tying the knot!"
• "Jack Smith & Mason Kim would love to eat wedding cake with you"
• "Jack Alexander Smith & Mason Jacob Kim invite you to share in their joy at their wedding"
• "Jessica and Jane are getting hitched!"
• "Join us to celebrate our wedding"
• "The wedding of [Couple]"
• "Together with their parents, [Couple] invite you to join them as they say 'I do!'"
• "With hearts full of love and joy, [Couple]"
• "[Couple] are getting married!"

Date, Time and Location

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

Formal Wedding Invitation Wording

With a 'Host'

"Mr. and Mrs. John Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter, Jessica, to Mr. Edward Jones, on [date] at [time] at [location and address]. A reception will follow at [reception location]."

With No Specific 'Host'

"The pleasure of your company is requested at the marriage of Laura Elizabeth Hall to George Peter Brown on Saturday, the 20th of May 2023, at 1:30 pm at St. Helen's Church, Grangefield. A reception will follow at Pendleton Hall."

Informal Wedding Invitation Wording

With a 'Host'

"David and Claire Hall are delighted to invite you to celebrate the marriage of their daughter, Laura, to George Brown, on [date] at [time] at Pendleton Hall. The ceremony will be followed by a wedding breakfast and an evening of celebration. Carriages will be available at midnight. Please RSVP by the 10th of February 2023."

Without a Host

"You are cordially invited to the wedding of Laura Hall and George Brown at Pendleton Barn, Shropshire, on [date] at [time]. The ceremony will be followed by a wedding breakfast and an evening of celebration. Carriages will be available at midnight. Please RSVP by the 10th of February 2023."

Creative Wedding Invitation Wording

Get creative with your wording and add a personal touch! Here's an example:

"It's a wedding! John and Eliza Smith invite you to celebrate their son Jack Alexander as he weds Mason Jacob Kim on [date] at [time] at [location and address]. Let's eat, drink and be merry! A party will follow the ceremony."

Modern Wedding Invitation Wording

Modernise your invitation by putting your names front and centre and using straightforward language:

"Jack Alexander Smith and Mason Jacob Kim are getting married! Join us on [date] at [time] at [location and address] for a celebration of their love. Reception to follow."

Simple Wedding Invitation Wording

Keep it short and sweet:

"Jack Smith and Mason Kim are getting married! Please join us on [date] at [time] at [location and address] for a celebration. Reception to follow."

Reception Details

The reception is an integral part of the wedding celebration, and providing clear details about it in your invitation is essential to ensure your guests know what to expect. Here are some key points to include:

Location

If your ceremony and reception are at the same venue, you can simply state "reception to follow" or "dinner and dancing to follow." If the reception is at a different location, include the full address and other relevant information. You can include this on a separate details card tucked into the invitation or as part of the main invitation.

Time

Clearly state the time of the reception, especially if it is not immediately following the ceremony. This can be written numerically (e.g., "7:00 pm") or spelled out (e.g., "seven o'clock in the evening").

Dress Code

Including dress code information is optional but can be helpful for your guests. You can mention it in the lower corner or centre of the invitation or include it on a separate details card. Some examples of dress codes are "black tie," "formal attire," "cocktail attire," and "beach casual."

Additional Information

If there are any other important details about the reception, such as transportation arrangements, accommodation options, or specific instructions, consider including them. You can add them to the invitation, a separate details card, or your wedding website.

• "Reception to follow at The Grand Hotel, 123 Main Street, Anytown. Cocktails and dancing from 7:00 pm onwards."
• "Dinner and celebrations to follow at the country club. Black-tie attire requested."
• "Evening reception from 6:00 pm at The Garden Terrace, with drinks, dancing, and light supper."
• "Join us for an evening of merriment and feasting at the Riverside Ballroom, starting at 8:00 pm. Smart casual attire suggested."

Frequently asked questions