Wedding Invite Etiquette: When To Capitalize Your Words

Wedding invitations are an important piece of the planning puzzle. They set the tone for the big day and convey critical information. The invitation wording should be chosen carefully to ensure clarity of message and to maintain a level of formality and politeness. The invitation should include the critical information about the wedding, such as who is getting married, the wedding date, and the location. It should also recognize the hosts of the wedding, convey the tone and formality, and indicate how guests should RSVP.

When it comes to capitalization on wedding invitations, there are a few key things to keep in mind. Proper nouns, such as names and places, should always be capitalized. Additionally, only the day of the week, the month, and the first letter of the year should be capitalized. The first word in the reception line is also commonly capitalized, although this is not traditional. It is also acceptable to capitalize all words on the invitation or to capitalize certain lines to signify their significance.

Host Line: The host line is where the name(s) of the event hosts appear. The hosts are typically the people who are paying for the wedding

The host line is where the name(s) of the people hosting the wedding appear. Traditionally, the bride's parents are the hosts and pay for the wedding. However, nowadays, it is becoming more common for couples to pay for their weddings themselves, or for the costs to be shared equally between the bride's and groom's parents. Other factors, such as whether the host(s) are married, divorced, or remarried, will also affect how the host line is worded.

If the bride's parents are hosting, the host line could be:

> Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Timothy Williams request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter [Bride's name].

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

> Together with full hearts

> With hearts full of love and joy

If both sets of parents are hosting, the host line could be:

> Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Wong and Mr. and Mrs. Adam Hollis request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their children.

If the couple is hosting with their families, the host line could be:

> Together with their families

> Together with our families

> Together with their parents

If the bride's parents are divorced and not remarried, the host line could be:

> Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Ryan Bingley

> Mr. and Mrs. James Godfrey Bennet

> request the pleasure of your company

> at the marriage of their daughter [Bride's name]

If the bride has divorced parents who are both remarried, the host line could be:

> Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Ryan Bingley

> Mr. James Godfrey Bennet

> request the pleasure of your company

> at the marriage of their daughter [Bride's name]

If the bride has a widowed parent who is hosting alone, the host line could be:

> Mrs. Emily Gardiner Bennet

> and Mr. James Godfrey Bennet†

> request the pleasure of your company

> at the marriage of their daughter [Bride's name]

If the couple wants to honour a deceased parent, the host line could be:

> Mrs. Emily Gardiner Bennet

> and the late Mr. James Godfrey Bennet

> request the pleasure of your company

> at the marriage of their daughter [Bride's name]

Request Line: The request line is where you invite your guests to join your wedding celebration

The request line is where you extend an invitation to your wedding celebration and set the tone for the event. This is where you ask your guests to join you on your special day. Here are some examples of request lines for different scenarios:

Bride's Parents Hosting

The traditional format for the request line is " [Bride's parents' names] request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter [Bride's name] and [Groom's name] [Date] at [Time] in [City, State]." Here is an example:

> Mr. and Mrs. James Godfrey Bennet request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Fitzwilliam Randolph Darcy on Saturday, the twenty-sixth of September at six o'clock in the evening in Rutherford, California.

Both Sets of Parents Hosting

When both sets of parents are hosting, the request line can be adjusted to include both the bride's and groom's parents' names: " [Bride's parents' names] and [Groom's parents' names] request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their children [Bride's name] and [Groom's name] [Date] at [Time] in [City, State]." Here is an example:

> Mr. and Mrs. James Godfrey Bennet and Mr. and Mrs. William Charles Darcy request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their children Elizabeth Lauren Bennett and Fitzwilliam Randolph Darcy on Saturday, the twenty-sixth of September at six o'clock in the evening in Rutherford, California.

Couple Hosting

If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves, the request line can be more general and simply extend an invitation to the celebration: " [Bride's name] and [Groom's name] request the honour of your presence at their wedding on [Date] at [Time] in [City, State]." Here is an example:

> Elizabeth Lauren Bennett and Fitzwilliam Randolph Darcy request the honour of your presence at their wedding on Saturday, the twenty-sixth of September at six o'clock in the evening in Rutherford, California.

Honour vs. Pleasure

It is important to note that the wording "honour of your presence" is traditionally used to indicate a religious ceremony, while "pleasure of your company" denotes a non-religious ceremony. Adjust the wording accordingly based on the type of wedding celebration you are hosting.

Creative and Fun Wording

While the examples provided follow a traditional format, feel free to get creative and inject your personality into the request line. Here are some fun alternatives:

• "We would love for you to join us at our wedding."
• "Come celebrate with us as we tie the knot!"
• "Eat, drink, and be merry as we exchange our vows."
• "Join us for a celebration of love and happiness."

Couple's Names: The bride's name typically comes before the groom's. For same-sex couples, the wording of the host line may dictate the order

When it comes to wedding invitations, tradition dictates that the bride's name typically comes before the groom's. This protocol is followed for all pre-wedding stationery, including save-the-dates and invitations. However, after the wedding, on items like thank-you cards and address labels, the groom's name usually precedes his new wife's.

For same-sex couples, there are a few options to consider when deciding whose name should come first. One approach is to let alphabetical order guide the way, providing a structured way to determine the order, such as Jeff & John instead of John & Jeff. Another option is to go with personal preference. If a couple is known as "Tina and Cathy" to their friends and family, it might feel unnatural to switch the order just for the invites. Honouring your relationship and how you refer to yourselves in everyday life can be a good way to decide on the order of your names.

When it comes to the host line on the invitation, the wording may dictate the order of the couple's names. If the bride's parents are hosting, the bride's name will typically come first, followed by the groom's full name. If both sets of parents are hosting, the bride's parents' names are listed first, followed by the groom's parents, and then the couple's names. In the case of same-sex couples, the names can be listed according to preference or to achieve the most aesthetically pleasing layout for the invitation design.

While traditional etiquette suggests that the bride's name comes first, modern couples may choose to prioritise personal preference and what feels right for them. Ultimately, the most important consideration is to ensure that the invitation accurately reflects the couple's identity and relationship.

Date, Time, and Location: Include the date, start time, and location of the wedding

When it comes to wedding invites, there are a few different approaches to consider. Here are some suggestions for including the date, time, and location in your wedding invites, with a focus on maintaining a formal and traditional tone:

Date and Time

Traditionally, the date and time on wedding invitations are spelled out in full. For example, if your wedding is on September 15, 2024, at 4:30 p.m., the wording could be "Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-one, at half after four in the afternoon." Here, the day of the week and the month are capitalized, and the year is lowercase. The time of day is also spelled out, with "o'clock" or "half after." The use of a.m. or p.m. is optional.

However, for a more casual or modern invitation, it is also acceptable to use numerals for the date and time, such as "Saturday, 9/15/2024, 4:30 p.m." or even "Saturday, September 15th, 4:30 p.m." Just be sure to choose a legible font to avoid any confusion.

Location

For the location, you'll want to include the name and full street address of your wedding venue, including the city, state, and zip code. If your wedding is taking place abroad, be sure to include the country as well. Here's an example: "The Ritz-Carlton, 123 Main Street, San Francisco, California, 94102, USA."

If your wedding is taking place at a well-known venue or a private residence, you may omit the street address. For instance, "The White House, Washington, D.C." or "The Grand Ballroom, Downtown."

Combining Date, Time, and Location

Now, let's put it all together. Here are some examples of how you might combine the date, time, and location details in your wedding invites:

"Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-four, at half after four in the afternoon, The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco, California."

"On Saturday, the third of July, two thousand and twenty-one, at half past four o'clock in the afternoon, please join us at the Surrey-Williamson Inn, Saratoga Springs, New York."

"We request the honor of your presence at our wedding on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at half past four in the afternoon, at the Garden Villa, 456 Rose Avenue, Austin, Texas, 78701."

Remember, these examples maintain a formal and traditional tone. Depending on your wedding's style and your personal preferences, you may choose to adapt the wording to be more casual, creative, or fun.

Additional Considerations

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, you can include those details on a separate insert card or provide the information on your wedding website.

Also, while not compulsory, including dress code information can be helpful for your guests. You can mention it in the lower corner or bottom center of the invite, or include it on a separate details card.

Finally, be concise and clear in your wording. Avoid overloading your invites with text, as this can take away from the design and potentially confuse your guests.

Reception Details: Include information on what type of festivities are scheduled to follow the ceremony

When it comes to wedding invites, there are a few key elements that should be included. These are:

• A request for guests to come to the wedding
• The names of the couple
• Reception details

This section will focus on the third element: reception details.

Reception Details

The reception details section of a wedding invitation should include information on the festivities that are scheduled to follow the ceremony. This can be included on a separate card or printed on the wedding invitation itself, depending on space and formality. Here are some tips and examples to help you craft this section:

Location

If the ceremony and reception are held in the same location, you can simply state, "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow." If the reception is at a different venue, include the location on a separate line or on a separate insert card.

Examples:

• "Reception immediately following the ceremony"
• "Dinner and dancing to follow at Casa de la Guerra"
• Reception to follow at One&Only Palmilla San Jose del Cabo, Mexico"

Timing

If the reception is not immediately after the ceremony, be sure to include the time. For example:

• "Join us after the ceremony for cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and dancing at 7 pm"
• "Merriment and festivities to follow at 8 pm"

Attire

Including a dress code on the invitation is optional but can be helpful for guests. If you choose not to include it, the formality of the invitation itself will give guests an indication of the expected attire. For example, a very fancy invitation may lead guests to anticipate a black-tie affair.

Examples of dress code wording:

• "Black-tie (tuxedos and floor-length gowns)"
• "Formal attire (suits and dresses)"
• "Cocktail attire (suits or dress shirts with ties and cocktail dresses)"

Additional Details

Other details you may want to include on a separate details card or the invitation itself are:

• Parking arrangements and transport options between venues
• Accommodation options for guests, especially if there are special rates available
• Whether the venue is cashless, i.e., only card or contactless payments are accepted
• A specific colour theme or dress code request, e.g., "The wedding party will be in pink; we'd love you to coordinate!"

Frequently asked questions