Writing Wedding Invitations: Samples And Tips For Your Big Day

Wedding invitations are an important piece of the planning puzzle. They set the tone for the wedding and convey critical information. The key components of a wedding invitation are: the host line, a request line, the couple's names, the date, time and location of the ceremony, and the reception details. Here are some tips for writing wedding invitations:

- Be concise: Overloading invitations with text can result in guests missing important details.

- Consider the host: Traditionally, wedding invitations include the name of the person hosting (i.e., paying for) the wedding. Nowadays, this isn't always the parent(s) of the bride, but it's respectful to list anyone contributing.

- Consider formality: The wording of the invitation correlates to the formality of the occasion. For a black-tie event, opt for traditional wording, and for a casual wedding, explore modern and playful phrasing.

- Include an insert card: Certain pieces of information don't belong on the invitation itself, such as registry details. Provide guests with a link to your wedding website on a separate insert card.

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 what to include in 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 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, followed by 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 wedding, you can add a line such as "Together with their families" as the host line.

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

Couple Is Hosting

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

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

Attendance Request

The attendance request is a crucial part of a wedding invitation, as it sets the tone for the event and lets guests know exactly what they are being invited to. Here are some examples of attendance requests for a wedding invitation:

Formal Tone

• "Request the pleasure of your company"
• "Request the honour of your presence"
• "Invite you to celebrate with them"
• "The pleasure of your company" is requested
• "Together with their families invite you to share in their joy"

Casual Tone

• "Would love for you to join them"
• "Come party with us"
• "Join us as we celebrate"
• "Invite you to share in our happiness"
• "Are delighted to invite you"

Remember to choose clear and appropriate wording that matches the style and tone of your wedding. Feel free to add creative touches that reflect your personality as a couple, while ensuring that the essential information is conveyed to your guests.

Couple's Names

The couple's names are the main event of the wedding invitation and are usually displayed in larger text and a fancy typeface.

Married Couple With the Same Last Name

For heterosexual couples, use "Mr." and "Mrs." and spell out the husband's first and last name. For same-sex couples, either name can go first.

Outer envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Warren"

Inner envelope: "Mr. and Mrs. Warren" or "Thomas and Michelle"

If the couple is sensitive to the woman's name being left out, you can write:

Outer envelope: "Mr. Thomas Warren and Mrs. Michelle Warren"

Married Couple With Different Last Names

For heterosexual couples, write their names on the same line with the woman's name first. If the combined names are too long, list them separately.

Outer envelope: "Ms. Maria Stevens and Mr. David Estevez"

Inner envelope: "Ms. Stevens and Mr. Estevez" or "Maria and David"

Married Couple With One Hyphenated Last Name

Outer envelope: "Mr. Marcus Craft and Mr. Brian Crosby-Craft"

Inner envelope: "Mr. Craft and Mr. Crosby-Craft" or "Marcus and Brian"

Unmarried Couple

List the person you are closest to first.

Outer envelope: "Mr. Stanley Kim and Ms. Amanda Rhee"

Inner envelope: "Mr. Kim and Ms. Rhee" or "Stanley and Amanda"

Same-Sex Couple

For same-sex couples, the traditional rule of the woman's name first does not apply. Alphabetical order or what sounds better can be used.

Outer envelope: "Emily and Zara" or "Zara and Emily"

Formal Weddings

Everything is written out in full (no numerals). The year is optional. Time is spelled out using "o'clock" or "half after five o'clock".

Casual Weddings

Numerals are fine.

Date and Time

The date and time of your wedding are arguably the most important details on your invitation. Here are some tips and examples to ensure your guests get there at the right time:

Format

The date and time of your wedding should be written out in full, in words, for formal invitations. For instance, "Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-four, 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. There is no "and" when spelling out the year.

For less formal invitations, you can use numerals for the date and time, e.g. "Saturday, 15th September 2024, at 4:30 p.m.".

Time of Day

The time of day should be written out as "four o'clock" or "half after four o'clock". From noon until four o'clock is considered afternoon, and evening begins at five o'clock.

Location

If your wedding is taking place abroad, be sure to include the country in the location details. The venue's street address is traditionally not included unless the venue is a private residence or omitting it would cause confusion. Zip codes are also usually omitted.

Reception Details

If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, you can simply say "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow". If the reception is at a different location, include the full address on a separate card.

Location

The location line is one of the most important parts of your wedding invitation. You want to make sure your guests have no confusion about when, where, and at what time and date your wedding will take place.

Include the Date, Time, and Location of the Ceremony

Don't make your guests guess. Include everything they need to show up at the right place at the right time. The real meat of the invitations, the information section, follows the couple's names.

For formal invitations, it is customary to spell out the date and time. For example, write "Saturday, the eleventh of June two thousand and twenty-three at twelve o'clock in the afternoon."

For modern or informal invitations, you can use numerals and write the time as numbers, e.g., "June 11, 2024, at 12:00 pm."

Include the Full Address and Other Pertinent Information

For a destination wedding or out-of-town guests, include the full address of the venue, including the street name and number, city, state, and zip code. If your wedding is taking place abroad, include the country as well.

You may also want to include dress code information if you wish your guests to adhere to a specific style of apparel.

Include Post-Ceremony Plans

Let your guests know what to expect after the ceremony. It's a great way to set the tone for your reception with clear expectations. If there's a cocktail hour or dancing and dinner, it's good to spell it all out here, or include your wedding website link, which has all the information.

If the reception is at a different location, make sure to include the additional address or direct guests to your wedding website for more information.

Examples

Formal Wedding Invitation Wording Examples:

• "Arctic Club Hotel, 700 Third Avenue, Seattle, Washington. Reception to follow."
• "Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Randwick. Reception to follow at six o'clock in the evening at The Argyle, The Rocks, Sydney."
• "Boone Hall, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Dinner and merriment to follow."
• "Luttrellstown Castle, Clonsilla, Ireland. Reception to follow."

Casual Wedding Invitation Wording Examples:

• "Arctic Club Hotel, 700 Third Avenue, Seattle, Washington. Dinner and dancing to follow."
• "Via Regina Teodolinda, 35 Como, Italy. Food, wine, and merriment to follow."
• "Borgo Egnazia Resort, 72015 Savelletri di Fasano BR, Italy. Dress as you wish, dine as you like, dance as you please."
• "Hotel Boca Chica, Acapulco, Mexico. Dinner and merriment to follow."

Frequently asked questions