While most couples might consider wedding invitation wording a minor detail, it’s actually an important part of your wedding planning. What you write on your invitations gives guests all the essential details they need to know about your wedding day. Your approach and choice of traditional or modern wording can help set the tone for your event.
But getting the language right on your invitation might be easier said than done. The task becomes infinitely more complicated when you pair unfamiliar rules of etiquette with unconventional family dynamics and sticky situations. To help you get it right, here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate wedding invitation wording.
Table of Contents
- The Anatomy of a Wedding Invitation
- What to Leave Out of Wedding Invitation Wording
- Traditional Versus Modern Wedding Invitation Wording
- Wedding Invitation Wording Examples
The Anatomy of a Wedding Invitation
The best wedding invitation wording is short and sweet. While the choice of designs and fonts will vary from couple to couple, details like the couple’s names, date, time and location are pretty standard. Every wedding invitation should include the following elements.
The Host of the Wedding
Wedding invitation etiquette says the first line is reserved for the host — essentially, whoever is footing the bill. Traditionally, this was the bride’s parents, but times have changed. Today, it’s not uncommon for couples to pay for a wedding themselves, share the expense with their parents, or for both families to split the bill. Moreover, some couples may choose to honor both sets of parents, regardless of who’s paying. Others may include divorced parents or even those who have passed away.
Ultimately, the choice is entirely up to you. Go with what feels right — you can certainly list as many names as you like. But just keep in mind that the more complex your family dynamics are, the more creative you need to be with the wording.
If you want to simplify your wedding invitation wording, you can always go with broad strokes like:
- “Together with their parents”
- “Together with their families”
| Notes on Form |
| The word “and” in between two names typically denotes that those people are to be married. Divorced parents’ names should be listed on separate lines. Stepparents should be listed on the same line as their partner. Deceased parent(s) could be recognized as follows: “Lily Ferraro, daughter of Mr. Victor Ferraro and the late Isabel Ferraro.” |
The Request
While wedding invitations are fairly intuitive, they should still include a formal request for attendance. This is pretty straightforward, but the words you choose for your request can help set the tone for your wedding. And there’s no mystery here: If your wedding is more formal, use formal language. If you’d like your wedding to have a more casual vibe, use casual language.
Requests for attendance with a more formal tone may look like:
- “the pleasure of your company”
- “at the marriage of their children”
- “the honor of your presence”
Requests for attendance with a more casual tone may look like:
- “would love for you to join them”
- “invite you to celebrate with them”
| Notes on Form |
| The phrase “The honor of your presence” is traditionally used to denote a religious service. Some stationers may suggest using the British spelling, “honour of your presence,” to indicate a ceremony in a church or house of worship. Either way is perfectly acceptable. |
Names of the Couple
The couple’s names should appear prominently on a wedding invitation, whether you are hosting or not. In most cases, your names are printed in a larger font than the rest of the text.
| Notes on Form |
| Traditionally, the bride’s name appears first (if someone in the couple identifies as such). Invitations from the bride’s parents typically refer to their daughter by her first and middle names. The groom is referred to by his full name. For same-sex couples, names can be listed alphabetically or in any order you like. For a more casual wedding, some couples opt to use first names only. |
Date and Time
The date and time listed on your wedding invitation might seem like another important but benign detail. Your choice of numerals or words, however, will speak volumes about the tone of your wedding.
For a more formal event, the wedding date and time are spelled out. For example, a ceremony scheduled for November 8, 2024, at 5:30 p.m., should read “Saturday, the eighth of November, two thousand twenty-four, at half after five in the afternoon.” For a more casual feel, couples can opt for numerals instead.
| Notes on Form |
| The day of the week and the month are capitalized. The year is all lowercase, and there is no “and” when spelling out the year. For formal invitations, the time of day should be spelled out as “five o’clock” or “half after five o’clock.” Less formal invitations can use “half past five o’clock” or “five-thirty.” Typically, wedding invitations skip phrases like “in the afternoon” or “in the evening” unless the hour of your wedding ceremony may cause confusion (8 a.m. or 9 a.m.). These phrases are usually reserved for clarity, but some wedding invitation designers may use them as line fillers or to improve the look of your invitation. Modern and informal wedding invitation designs may use numerals to list the date and time. Whether you choose formal wording or informal numerals, it’s important to be consistent across all wedding stationery and match the overall tone of your event. |
Ceremony Venue
This part of your wedding invitation wording is fairly straightforward. The ceremony venue is usually listed as follows:
- “Venue Name” (on one line)
- “City, State” (on the following line)
| Notes on Form |
| For formal weddings, the state name is usually spelled out (abbreviations are a no-no). The street address of the wedding venue is typically not included. |
Reception Information
The wedding reception details are usually listed on the last line of the invitation. This line can be tricky because you need to give your guests a lot of information in as few words as possible. The wording you choose will ultimately tell your guests where the reception will take place, what food and beverage offerings to expect, and the tone of the reception.
Here’s the catch: You typically have one line to convey all those details. If you need more space to be specific, you can also opt for a reception card as part of your invitation suite.
| Notes on Form |
| If the reception will be at the same location as the wedding ceremony, you can keep it simple with “Please join us for an evening of dinner and dancing following” for a formal celebration or “Drinks, dancing and merriment to follow” for a casual wedding. If the wedding reception is at a different location, you can reflect that as “Reception to follow at [name of venue].” You can print the full address of your wedding reception venue on a separate reception card included in your invitation suite. If you’re not planning a full meal, you can indicate that with something like “Join us after the ceremony for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and dancing.” |
Dress Code
Information regarding the dress code for your wedding is optional, with one exception. If your wedding is a black-tie affair, you must indicate that on the invitation.
You should also keep in mind that without any direction, your guest will be left to their own devices. Some may make inferences about your event’s formality based on the invitation’s tone and look — while others may not. Dress code instructions are great to include on your wedding website FAQ page.
What to Leave Out of Your Wedding Invitation Wording
The purpose of your wedding invitation is to give your guests all the information they need for your event. But too much information on one card is information overload, and from a visual perspective, it just doesn’t look good. Use your invitation suite to share additional details for any information beyond the time, date and location. Separate inserts are a great idea for the following details.
- Wedding website: Your wedding website can be a trove of information about your big day, but a clunky URL can clutter an elegant invitation. If you’re keen on including it, consider a URL shortener or adding the wedding website in smaller print.
- Registry information: Your invitation isn’t a wish list, so skip any mention of gifts or your wedding registry. The best place to share this info is on your wedding website or by word of mouth.
- RSVP info: Oftentimes, guests will have questions about bringing plus-ones and kids. While you’ll want to answer those questions for everyone, the face of your invitation isn’t the place to do it. Feel free to address these concerns on a separate RSVP card or an insert directing guests to your wedding website FAQ page.
Traditional Versus Modern Wedding Invitation Wording
While some first marriages and weddings hosted by parents tend to lean more traditional, some celebrations call for a more modern approach to wedding invitation wording. Just a few examples: those entering a second marriage, non-hetero couples, couples hosting their own wedding, or those choosing a destination wedding.
Modern wedding invitation wording can still be formal or casual but allows for more personalization and a chance for your unique voices to shine through. If requesting the honor of your guests’ presence isn’t quite your vibe, feel free to take the modern approach and make your wedding invitation wording your own.
Wedding Invitation Wording Examples
With everything involved in your wedding planning, finding the proper phrasing on your wedding stationery should be the least of your worries. We’ve curated a comprehensive suite of wedding invitation wording templates for formal and casual celebrations. Here are 20 wedding invitation wording examples you can copy or use as a jumping-off point for your own big day.
Wedding Invitation Wording When a Bride’s Parents are Hosting
| Formal |
| Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Walker cordially invite you to attend the wedding of Ashley Marie and Matthew Ford Saturday, the seventh of October, two thousand twenty-four at five o’clock Hotel Beekman Seattle, Washington Reception to follow |
| Casual |
| Mr. and Mrs. Henry Deardon request the honor of your presence at the marriage of Isabella Rose Linnit to their son Jackson Edward Deardon Saturday, the twenty-sixth of June, two thousand twenty-four at three o’clock Rosewell Gardens Rosewell, Georgia Please join us for an intimate dinner and dancing following |
Wording for When a Groom’s Parents Are Hosting
| Formal |
| Mr. and Mrs. Henry Deardon request the honor of your presence at the marriage of Isabella Rose Linnit to their son Jackson Edward Deardon Saturday, the twenty-sixth of June, two thousand twenty-four at three o’clock Rosewell Gardens Rosewell, Georgia Please join us for an intimate dinner and dancing following |
| Casual |
| Please join Carl & James Fisher for the wedding of their son Lyle Fisher to Mark Mathis Friday, April 4, 2025 4:00 p.m. Carondelet House Los Angeles, California Dinner and drinks to follow |
Wording for When Both Sets of Parents are Hosting
| Formal |
| Laura & David Anders and Sandra & Jake Wilson request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their children Rachel Anne and Ethan William Saturday, the eleventh of August, two thousand twenty-four at half past two Miller Lodge Torrance, California Dinner, dancing and merriment to follow |
| Casual |
| With great pleasure, Arianna & Juan Mendoza and Linda Roman & Andrew Moorhead invite you to celebrate the marriage of their children Jake Mendoza and Justin Moorhead October 19, 2025 4 p.m. Palisades Hotel Palisades, New Jersey Dinner and dancing to follow |
Wedding Invitation Wording for Couples Hosting
| Formal |
| Naomi Alston and Ronan Betts request the honor of your presence at the celebration of their marriage Saturday, the fifth of September, two thousand twenty-four at five o’clock Serene River Church Austin, Texas Reception to follow |
| Casual |
| We’re getting married! Patrick and Declan Please join us 10.11.2014 at 5:30 p.m. Heritage House Idaho Falls, Idaho Dinner, dancing and shenanigans to follow! |
Wording for When Both Families and the Couple are Hosting
| Formal |
| Together with Mr. and Mrs. Arlo Nelson and Mr. and Mrs. George McVie, Amanda Jane Nelson and Jeremy Steven Mcvie request the honor of your presence at the celebration of their union Saturday, the twenty-third of May, two thousand twenty-four at six o’clock St. Paul’s Cathedral San Francisco, California Reception to follow |
| Casual |
| We do! Along with our families, Stephen Ballard and Michael Ellis invite you to a celebration of our marriage June 11, 2025 12:00 p.m. Marriott Hotel Chicago, Illinois Dinner and dancing to follow |
Both Sets of Parents are Hosting, with Reception at a Different Location
| Formal |
| Doctor and Mrs. Frank Dalton Mr. and Mrs. Pablo Santiago invite you to share in their joy at the marriage of their children Marina Elizabeth and Sierra Alexis Saturday, the twenty-ninth of September, two thousand twenty-four at six o’clock Queens Botanical Garden Queens, New York Dinner and dancing to follow at Neiman Restaurant Black-tie optional |
| Casual |
| Together with our parents, Samantha & Jamison invite you to join us as we tie the knot! Saturday, June 13th, 2024 at 4 p.m. Seaside Beach Sarasota, Florida Join us after the ceremony for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and dancing at The Sarasota Modern |
Wedding Invitation Wording that Includes Divorced Parents
| Formal |
| Mr. James Patrick Billings Ms. Alice Robbins request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Katherine Ann Billings to Charles David Black son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Black Saturday, the tenth of September, two thousand twenty-four at six o’clock Riverview Loft Brooklyn, New York Reception to follow |
| Casual |
| Ava Bradley and Kevin Platt invite you to the wedding of their child Prudence Bradley to Thomas Monroe August 16, 2024 3:00 p.m. The Findley Arboretum Hartford, Connecticut Join us for dinner and dancing to follow at Da Vinci Restaurant |
Wording to Include a Deceased Parent
| Formal |
| Stella Milton daughter of Harold and Lana Milton and Damien Lowe son of the late Jonathan and Mona Lowe invite you to share in their wedding festivities Saturday, the eighth of November, two thousand twenty-four at four o’clock The Riverbend Estate River Vale, New Jersey Dinner reception to follow |
| Casual |
| Hannah Ostrom and the late John Harris and Jessica and Maria Beck Sidney and Rebecca invite you to share in our joy as we say “I do” Saturday, June 29, 2024 5:00 p.m. Los Angeles Athletic Club Los Angeles, CA Drinks, dinner and dancing to follow |
Wording to Include Remarried Parents or Stepparents
| Formal |
| Ms. Angie Miller Mr. and Mrs. John De La Cruz request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Daphne Anne to Harrison Shane Keane son of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Keane the twentieth of June, two thousand twenty-four at five o’clock Eight and Rail Loft & Terrace New York, NY Reception to follow |
| Casual |
| Celebrate with us! Christine and Roman Gibb invite you to the marriage of Christine’s daughter Zoe Lincoln to Walter Reddy on Saturday, August 25, 2024 at 1 p.m. Redding Farm Redding, California Dinner will be served at a reception to follow |
Destination Wedding Invitation Wording
| Formal |
| You are cordially invited to a wedding weekend getaway for Donna Leeds and Andrew Mclean from the fourth through seventh of September, two thousand twenty-four Cancun, Mexico Travel details and weekend itinerary enclosed |
| Casual |
| Pack your bags! Together with our families Carol Issac and Bryan Green invite you to celebrate our wedding January 2, 2024 at 5 p.m. Hawks Cay Resort Key Largo, Florida |
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