Crafting Romantic Wedding Invitations: Setting The Tone For Your Big Day

Wedding invitations are one of the first things your guests will see, so it's important to get them right. The wording of your wedding invitation will depend on the style of your wedding, but there are some key elements that should be included. These are: the host line, a request line, the couple's names, the date, time and location of the ceremony, and any post-ceremony plans.

The host line is where the name(s) of the event host(s) appear – usually the people paying for the wedding. This could be one set of parents, both sets of parents, the couple and their parents, or just the couple. The request line is where you invite your guests to join your wedding celebration. The couple's names should be front and centre, with the bride's name typically coming before the groom's. However, this tradition doesn't apply to same-sex couples, who can choose to list their names alphabetically or in the order that sounds best.

The date, time and location of the ceremony should be included, along with any dress code information. Finally, the post-ceremony plans let your guests know what type of festivities to expect, such as dinner and dancing, or cocktails and canapes.

How to word the host line

The host line is the first line of a wedding invitation and is dedicated to the host of the wedding, or the party covering the expenses. It is important to include this line so that guests know whom to thank. Traditionally, the bride's parents host and pay for the wedding, but nowadays, the groom's parents, the couple themselves, or a combination of all three may contribute.

If you are hosting the wedding yourselves, you can omit the host line. However, if you are hosting with your parents, you can include a line such as "Together with their parents".

If you are including one set of married parents as hosts, write their full names, e.g. "Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Timothy Williams". For divorced parents, include the mother's name first, followed by the father's name on a separate line. For remarried parents, use the mother's married title, e.g. "Mrs. Beth Howard".

If you are including both sets of parents as hosts, list the bride's parents' names first, followed by the groom's. For same-sex couples, list the names in alphabetical order by last name, or in the order that looks best with the invitation design.

• Mr. and Mrs. Christopher and Sarah Williams request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Talia Camila Flores to Stephen Anthony Byrne.
• Together with their parents, Talia Flores and Stephen Byrne invite you to a celebration of their love.
• Mr. and Mrs. Jon Flores and Mr. Tom Byrne and the late Mrs. Nancy Byrne request the honour of your company at the marriage of their children Talia Flores and Stephen Byrne.
• Mr. Angiolo Guiseppe and Ms. Elettra Rossellini invite you to share in the joy of marriage uniting their son Roberto Rossellini to Ingrid Bergman.
• 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.
• Together with their families, Jessica Smith and Edward Jones invite you to join them as they say "I do!".

The request line

• "Request the honour of your presence" – traditionally used to denote a religious service.
• "Request the pleasure of your company" – used to denote a non-religious ceremony.
• "Invite you to celebrate with them"
• "Would love for you to join them"

If you're after a more creative request line, here are some unique ideas:

• "Join us for the wedding of [couple's names]"
• "Kindly join us at the wedding of [couple's names]"
• "Please join us for our wedding"
• "[Couple's names] will say 'I do'"
• "Join us as we tie the knot!"
• "Please come help us celebrate our love"
• "With joyful hearts, [couple's names] request your presence at their wedding"

Remember, the request line is just one part of your wedding invitation. Be sure to include other important details such as the date, time, location, and any post-ceremony plans.

Couple's names

The couple's names are the most important part of the wedding invite after the ceremony details. When listing the names of the couple in wedding invitations, the bride's name typically precedes the groom's. However, this tradition is not applicable to same-sex couples, who can choose to list their names alphabetically or in the order that sounds best.

If you are a heterosexual couple opting for a formal invitation, the bride's first and middle names are usually used, while the groom's first and last names are used. For a casual invitation, first names only are fine.

If you are a same-sex couple, you can list your names alphabetically by last name, or in the order that looks best with the invitation design.

• "The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Talia Camila Flores and Stephen Anthony Byrne"
• "Talia Flores and Stephen Byrne invite you to a celebration of their love and commitment"
• "Together with their parents, Talia Flores and Stephen Byrne invite you to share in their joy as they tie the knot"
• "Mr. & Mrs. Jon Flores request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Talia Camila Flores to Stephen Anthony Byrne"
• "Mr. & Mrs. Tom Byrne joyfully invite you to the marriage of Talia Flores to their son Stephen Byrne"
• "The Flores and Byrne families joyfully invite you to the marriage of Talia Flores and Stephen Byrne"

Date, time and location

The date, time, and location of the wedding are essential elements of a wedding invitation. Here are some tips and examples to help you word this information effectively:

Date and Time:

• For a formal invitation, it is customary to spell out the date, time, and year in full. For example, "Saturday, the eleventh of June two thousand and twenty-three at twelve o'clock in the afternoon."
• Alternatively, for a more modern or casual invitation, you can use numerical figures and abbreviations. For instance, "June 11, 2024, at 12:00 pm."
• Specify whether the time is "in the morning," "in the afternoon," or "in the evening" to avoid confusion.
• If your wedding has a specific theme or colour scheme, consider incorporating this into the wording. For example, "Join us at sunset on the beach for the wedding of..."

Location:

• Include the full name and address of the wedding venue, especially if it is a well-known location or if you have guests travelling from out of town.
• If your wedding is taking place abroad, be sure to include the country as well.
• For a formal invitation, you may want to spell out the state name.
• If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, a simple "Reception to follow" will suffice.
• If the reception is at a different location, include the full address or venue name on a separate line or card.
• You can also provide additional details or directions on a wedding website and include the URL on the invitation.

Examples:

Formal Invitation Examples:

• "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."
• "The twenty-fourth of May nineteen fifty at noon, Hotel Boca Chica, Acapulco, Mexico. Dinner and merriment to follow."

Casual Invitation Examples:

• "June 11, 2024, at 12:00 pm, Arctic Club Hotel, 700 Third Avenue, Seattle, Washington. Dinner and dancing to follow."
• "July 10, 2010, at half past six in the evening, Via Regina Teodolinda, 35 Como, Italy. Food, wine, and merriment to follow."

Reception details

If your ceremony and reception are at the same venue, you can simply write "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow". If the reception is at a different location, you can include the full address and other pertinent information on a separate details card tucked in with your main invitation.

If the reception is not immediately following the ceremony, include the time. You can also include information on the dress code and how guests should RSVP if this information is not included elsewhere.

• "Reception immediately following the ceremony"
• "Dinner and dancing to follow"
• "Cake, punch, and merriment to follow"
• "Feasting and merriment to follow"
• "Dining, dancing, and happily ever after to follow"
• "Join us after the ceremony for cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and dancing"
• "Reception to follow at [address]"
• "Dinner to follow at [address]"

Frequently asked questions