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A Comprehensive Guide to Wedding Invitation Wording

by Sharon Brandwein
A hand holding up Joy's Rustic Floral wedding invitation in front of a laptop screen with a matching wedding website

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 

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. 

A wedding invitation with watercolor edges  surrounded by sunglasses, wedding rings, and a seashell

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

A wedding invitation with two rings laid on top of it, surrounded by flowers, a pair of heels and slightly lit up from the glow of sunlight

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 

Joy's Garden Wedding invitation on a piece of cloth surrounded by a wedding ring in a velvet box, a matching envelope, and matching wedding website on a tablet featuring aa couple embracing

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

Wedding invitation guide layflat photos of featured wedding invitations

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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