Creative Ways To Invite Guests To Your Wedding

A wedding invitation is a piece of stationery that conveys critical information about the wedding. It should include who is getting married, the wedding date, and the wedding location. It may also recognise the hosts of the wedding, convey the tone and formality of the wedding (including the dress code), and indicate how guests should RSVP.

Who is hosting

The first line of your wedding invitation should declare who is hosting the wedding. This is traditionally the bride's parents, but there are many other options. Here are some examples of how to word this:

Both Sets of Parents

Mr. and Mrs. John Smith, along with Mr. and Mrs. Richard Charles

Both Sets of Parents, More Informal

Christopher and Sarah Williams, together with Aaron and Alisha Wong

Both Sets of Parents, Divorced and Remarried

Mr. and Mrs. John Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Charles

Couple Hosting With Their Families

Together with their families

Together with our families

Together with their parents

Couple Hosting Themselves

Skip the host line altogether or start with a warm and welcoming introduction, such as: "Together with full hearts" or "With hearts full of love and joy"

Collaborative Affair Hosted and Paid for by Couple and Both Sets of Parents

Together with their parents, [bride's name] and [groom's name] request the pleasure of your company...

Include the Name of a Deceased Parent

[Bride's name], daughter of Mr. [father's name] and the late [mother's name], and [groom's name], son of Mr. and Mrs. [groom's parents' names], request the honour of your presence...

Couple With Divorced Parents

Dr. [mother's name] and [father's name] and Mr. [father's name] and [stepmother's name] invite you to the wedding of their children [couple's names]

A warm invitation

We are thrilled to invite you to witness the union of our daughter, [Bride's Name], and her partner, [Groom's Name], as they exchange their wedding vows and embark on a lifelong journey together. Their love and commitment will be celebrated on [Date] at [Time] in the enchanting setting of [Venue].

This special day will be filled with love, laughter, and joy as these two hearts become one. We kindly request the honour of your presence to share in this memorable occasion and join us in celebrating the beginning of their new chapter.

The ceremony will be held at [Ceremony Venue], followed by a reception at [Reception Venue] where we will continue the festivities. We invite you to join us for an evening of dinner, dancing, and merriment as we toast to the happy couple.

Your presence will bring us immense happiness and make this day even more meaningful. We look forward to celebrating with you and kindly request the pleasure of your company.

Please RSVP by [Date] to confirm your attendance and help us ensure a magical day for the lovely couple.

Couple's names

There are many ways to invite guests to witness the union of a couple and celebrate their love. Here are some ideas for wedding invitation wordings for "Couple's Names":

Traditional Layout

The first line of the invitation usually declares who is hosting the wedding, which is traditionally the bride's parents. If both sets of parents are hosting, it can be worded as:

> Mr. and Mrs. John Smith, together with Mr. and Mrs. Richard Charles, invite you to share in the joy of their children's wedding.

The second line invites the guests to the ceremony and can vary depending on the level of formality. For a formal wedding, the wording can be:

> We request the honour of your presence at the marriage of our daughter, Couple's Names.

For a less formal approach, you could say:

> We joyfully invite you to celebrate the wedding of Couple's Names.

The couple's names are then listed, traditionally with the woman's name first, followed by the man's full name. For same-sex couples, the names can be listed alphabetically or based on preference.

Creative and Personalised Wording

You can also add creative and personalised elements to your wedding invitations to make them stand out. Here are some ideas:

• "We found love, true love, the kind that lasts forever, and we decided to celebrate it by getting married. We hope you can share this moment with us."
• "Our love is like a ray of sunshine, shining brightly and warming our hearts. We have decided to celebrate it by getting married, and we hope you can be there to share this moment."
• "We are thrilled to invite you to witness the celebration of our love and commitment. Your presence will make our wedding day complete."
• "With immense joy and excitement, we invite you to share in the happiness of our wedding day. Your presence will make it even more special."
• "Together with our families, we invite you to join us as we exchange vows and begin our journey of love and commitment."

Important Details to Include

Regardless of the style and wording you choose, there are some essential elements that should be included in your wedding invitations:

• The request to come to the wedding, such as "We invite you to celebrate with us" or "We request the honour of your presence".
• The names of the couple, traditionally with the woman's name first.
• Information about the reception, including the time and location. This can be included on a separate card for very formal invitations.
• Dress code, which is usually indicated in the lower right corner of the invitation.
• RSVP details, such as a separate response card or a wedding website where guests can confirm their attendance.

Date, time and location

When it comes to wedding invitations, the date, time, and location are essential pieces of information that need to be communicated clearly and effectively to your guests. Here are some tips and guidelines to help you with this important task:

Formatting the Date and Time:

• Writing out the date and time: For formal invitations, it is customary to write out the date and time in full rather than using numerals. For example, if your wedding is on Saturday, September 15, 2024, at 4:30 p.m., the wording could be "Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-four, at half after four in the afternoon."
• Capitalization: When writing the date, capitalize the day of the week and the month. For example, "Saturday, the fifteenth of September." The year and numerical date are not usually capitalized.
• Using "o'clock": When specifying the time, include "o'clock", such as "four o'clock in the afternoon" or "half after four o'clock."
• Designating morning, afternoon, or evening: Instead of using a.m. or p.m., indicate the time of day using phrases like "in the morning," "in the afternoon," or "in the evening." Morning is considered to be up until noon, afternoon is from 12 pm to 5 pm, and evening begins at 5 pm.
• Evening wording: If your wedding is in the evening, you can simply state the time as "seven o'clock" instead of "seven o'clock in the evening."
• Informal options: For a more casual wedding, you can use numerals for the date and time, such as "Saturday, 9/15/2024, 4:30 p.m."

Providing Location Details:

• Venue name and address: Include the name of the venue and its full address, especially if it is a private residence or if omitting the address would cause confusion. For formal weddings, spell out the state name. Zip codes are generally not included.
• Reception information: If the reception is at the same location as the ceremony, you can simply state "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow." If the reception is at a different venue, include its name and address on a separate line or on a separate reception card.
• Timing for the reception: If the reception is not immediately following the ceremony, include the time for the reception as well.
• Dress code: Including the dress code on the invitation is helpful for guests. For a black-tie event, be sure to include this information. Otherwise, the invitation's design and formality will give guests an idea of the expected attire.

Additional Considerations:

• Proofreading: Be sure to proofread your invitations carefully. Ask friends or family members to review them as well to catch any potential errors.
• Providing extra details: If you have additional information or directions to include, consider adding a separate details card to your invitation suite rather than overcrowding the invitation itself.
• RSVP details: Include a clear RSVP date, typically two to three weeks before the wedding, and provide response cards with postage for your guests' convenience.
• Timing considerations: Avoid placing an earlier time on the invitation than the actual start time. Guests usually arrive on time or early for weddings. Simply stating "reception to follow" is sufficient if all events are on the same day and location.

RSVP details

When it comes to RSVPs, there are a few key details to include and some creative options to consider. Here are some essential elements to create an effective RSVP card:

• Clear deadline: It is recommended to set the RSVP deadline about a month before the wedding. This allows enough time to finalise details with vendors and create a smooth planning process. For destination weddings, consider setting the deadline two months in advance to accommodate travel arrangements.
• Matching stationery: Maintain an elegant and cohesive look by ensuring your RSVP cards match the rest of your wedding stationery. Pre-addressed and stamped envelopes are a courteous touch, making it convenient for guests to respond promptly.
• Essential information:

• Blank line for guest names: Include an "M" at the start of the line to indicate proper honorifics (Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss). This guarantees you know who is attending and ensures correct spellings for seating charts or place cards.
• Acceptance or decline options: Provide checkboxes, circling options, or fill-in-the-blank lines for guests to confirm their attendance.
• RSVP deadline: Display the deadline prominently, using phrases like "Kindly reply by [date]" or "Please respond by [date]."
• Dietary requirements: If offering meal choices, include entrée options and a fill-in-the-blank line for any dietary restrictions.

Additional creative touches:

• Special request line: Include a song request line or ask for their drink of choice to personalise your playlist and bar offerings.
• Space for notes: Encourage guests to share their excitement and any special accommodation requests by leaving some blank space on the RSVP card.

• Create a spreadsheet: Organise your RSVPs by creating a spreadsheet. Number each invitation and subtly pencil the corresponding number on the back of each RSVP card. This ensures you can identify the sender, even if their names are missing or tricky to read.
• Break traditions: Feel free to inject your personality and style into the wording. You can replace traditional phrases like "Accepts with Pleasure" with something fun like "I'll be there with bells on" or "Yes, baby!".

Creative RSVP Wording Ideas

• "Two words... free booze. I'll be there with bells on."
• "Yes, the party don't start 'til I walk in! Here's a song I'd love to request:"
• "No, and I'll forever regret this decision. Will be there in spirit."

Traditional RSVP Wording

• "Respectfully declines."
• "Accepts with pleasure."
• "Declines with regret."

Frequently asked questions