Writing Evening Wedding Invitations: Tips And Tricks

Writing wedding invitations can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to evening invitations. The wording should convey the right tone and include essential details such as the request to attend, the couple's names, the date, time, and location of the reception, as well as any dress code or RSVP information. Here are some examples of how to word evening wedding invitations to make the process a little easier.

Host Line

The host line is the opening line on a wedding invitation and names the hosts of the event. Here are some examples of host lines for evening wedding invitations:

One Set of Married Parents Hosting

Include the parents’ full names (with middle names for very formal weddings). If they have different last names, write “and” to join the two names.

• Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Timothy Williams (very formal; 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

Include the mother’s name first, followed by the father’s name. Do not use “and” to connect the two names; instead, give each name its own line.

Both Sets of Parents Hosting

For different-sex couples, list the bride’s parents’ names at the top of the invite, then the groom’s parents’ names. For same-sex couples, list the names according to preference 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)

Couple Is Hosting With Their Families

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

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

Couple Hosting

If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves, you can skip the host line altogether or start the invitation wording with a warm and welcoming introduction, such as:

• Together with full hearts
• With hearts full of love and joy

Attendance Request

There are many ways to request the attendance of your guests. Here are a few examples:

"The pleasure of your company is requested"

"We would love for you to join us"

"We invite you to celebrate with us"

"We request the honour of your presence"

The British spelling of "honour" usually indicates the ceremony will be held in a church or another house of worship.

If you are having a less formal wedding, you may prefer to use wording such as:

"Join us for a wonderful day of laughter and merriment"

"Come party with us"

"We would love you to join us in celebrating our wedding"

"We're getting married! Please join us"

Additional Information

The following information should also be included in your invitations:

• The specific part of the day that the invitation covers, for example, whether it is for the wedding ceremony and reception, reception only, or evening reception only.
• The full name and address of the ceremony and reception venue.
• The date and time of the wedding. It's a good idea to word the time as "3 pm sharp" for civil ceremonies where the bride is not allowed to be late.
• RSVP information, including the deadline and details of where the reply should be sent.
• Information on the dress code, if you want your guests to wear something other than standard wedding attire.
• The URL of your wedding website, if you've created one.
• A prompt for guests to send information about any dietary requirements or restrictions.
• A line to specify that your wedding is adults-only or child-free.

Couple's Names

The following are some examples of wedding invitation wordings for evening receptions that focus on the couple's names:

Formal Wording

With Host Names

• Mr. and Mrs. John Smith request the pleasure of [guest name/your company] at a reception to celebrate the marriage of their daughter, Jessica, to Mr. Edward Jones.
• Mr. and Mrs. John Smith request the pleasure of [guest name/your company] at the evening reception to celebrate the marriage of their daughter, Jessica, to Mr. Edward Jones.
• Mr. and Mrs. John Smith and Mr. and Mrs. James Jones request the pleasure of [guest name/your company] at a reception to celebrate the marriage of Jessica and Edward.

Without Host Names

• The pleasure of your company is requested at a reception to celebrate the marriage of Jessica Smith to Mr. Edward Jones.
• The pleasure of your company is requested at the evening reception to celebrate the marriage of Jessica Smith to Mr. Edward Jones.
• The pleasure of your company is requested at a reception to celebrate the marriage of Jessica Smith and Edward Jones.
• The pleasure of your company is requested at the evening reception to celebrate the marriage of Jessica Smith and Edward Jones.

Informal Wording

With Host Names

• Jessica and Edward invite you to an evening of drinks and dancing to celebrate their wedding!
• Jessica and Edward invite you to the evening celebration following their marriage.
• David and Claire Hall are delighted to invite you to the evening celebration following the marriage of their daughter, Laura, to George Brown.
• David and Claire Hall have great pleasure in inviting you to the evening celebration following the marriage of their daughter, Laura Elizabeth, to George Peter Brown.

Without Host Names

• You are invited to an evening reception to celebrate the marriage of Jessica Smith and Edward Jones.
• You are invited to the evening reception following the marriage of Jessica Smith and Edward Jones.
• You are invited to the wedding reception of Jessica Smith and Edward Jones.
• You are invited to the wedding reception of Jessica and Edward.

Date and Time

The date and time of your wedding are essential details to include in your invitations. Here are some tips and examples to help you with this section of your evening wedding invitations:

• Traditional wedding invitation wording usually spells out the date and time in full. For example, "Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-one, at half after four in the afternoon". The day of the week and the month should be capitalised, and the year should be in lowercase.
• For a more modern or informal approach, you can use numerals for the date and time, e.g. "Saturday, 15th September 2024, 4:30 pm". If you go for this style, be sure to choose a legible font to avoid any confusion.
• The time of day should be spelled out as "four o'clock" or "half after four o'clock". For times between noon and four o'clock, you can use "in the afternoon". For times after five o'clock, you can indicate the evening.
• If your wedding is taking place in the evening, you might want to specify arrival and finish times. For example, "Arrival at 7:30 pm and doors close at 12:00 am".
• If you are having a religious ceremony, you might want to use the phrase "the honour of your presence". Using the British spelling of "honour" is a subtle way to indicate a traditional or formal tone.
• For a non-religious ceremony, you could use "the pleasure of your company" or something similar.
• If you want to be very clear about the timing, especially for civil ceremonies where the bride should not be late, you can write the time as "3 pm sharp".
• If you are inviting guests to a ceremony at a different time of day, be sure to specify this. For example, "You are also welcome to attend the ceremony at Kelsale Church at 1 pm".

Location

The location of your wedding is an important detail to include in your invitation. Here are some tips and examples to help you word this section effectively:

• Provide clear and specific information: Include the name and full address of your wedding venue, especially if it is a destination wedding or if you have many out-of-town guests. You may also want to include additional details such as the city and state, or even the country if it is an international destination.
• Spell out the date and time: For formal invitations, it is customary to write out the date, time, and year in full. For example, "Saturday, the ninth of September two thousand twelve at noon." For modern or casual invitations, you may use numerical figures and abbreviations, such as "Sept. 9, 2022, 12:00 pm."
• Indicate the number of guests: If you are allowing guests to bring a plus one, specify this on the invitation. You can also use the invitation to indicate if children are welcome. For example, "X and X and Family" on the envelope can indicate that children are included. If you prefer an adult-only wedding, you can write "Adults only, please" at the bottom of the invitation.
• Provide reception details: If your ceremony and reception are at the same venue, you can simply state "Reception to follow." If the reception is at a different location, include the full address on a separate card or details card. You may also want to include information about the type of festivities, such as "Dinner and dancing to follow" or "Cocktails and canapes to follow."
• Consider including a map or directions: If your venue is difficult to find or located in an area with limited transportation options, you might want to include a small map or directions on a separate card to make it easier for your guests to reach the location.
• Be mindful of cultural or religious considerations: If your wedding venue has any cultural or religious significance, be sure to convey this information clearly and respectfully. For example, if you are getting married in a church, synagogue, or other religious site, indicate this in your invitation.
• Proofread and double-check all details: It is crucial to proofread your invitations carefully to ensure that all location details are accurate. Double-check the address, date, time, and any other pertinent information to avoid any confusion for your guests.
• "at [venue name and address] in the city of [city name], on [date and time]"
• "at the home of [host's name], located at [address], on [date] at [time]"
• "at the [venue name], [address], [city], on [date] from [time] until late"
• "Please join us for an evening of celebration at [venue name and address] on [date] at [time]. Dinner, drinks, and dancing to follow."
• "An evening reception to celebrate the marriage of [bride and groom] will be held at [venue name and address] on [date] at [time]. We look forward to your presence."

Frequently asked questions