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Lewis Wood
Knowing how to write wedding invitations is a key part of your planning process. Your wedding invitation should include the host names, a request for guests to attend, both partners' names, the date and time, venue location, reception details, dress code, and an RSVP card.
As an essential piece of your wedding stationery, these elements ensure guests have all the information they need to celebrate with you.
You might feel unsure about which details to include or how formal your wording should be. The style of your invitation depends on your wedding type and personal preference. A formal church ceremony calls for traditional language with everything spelled out, while a casual celebration allows for relaxed phrasing and a more playful tone.
This guide walks you through how to write wedding invitations step-by-step. You'll learn what information matters most and see real examples of wording styles that fit your celebration. Whether you're planning a black-tie affair or a backyard gathering, you'll know exactly what to write.
Key Elements of Wedding Invitations
Every wedding invitation needs specific information to guide your guests. Choosing the right wedding invite wording sets the tone for your celebration, whether formal or casual. This helps guests understand the atmosphere of your big day.
Host Line and Who Is Inviting
The host line appears at the top of your invitation and names the people hosting the wedding. Traditionally, the bride's parents took this spot, but modern wedding invitations often list both sets of parents, the couple themselves, or a combination.
If the bride's parents are hosting alone, use wording like "Mr. and Mrs. Michael Davis request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter." When both families host together, list both sets of parents with "Mr. and Mrs. Robert Johnson and Mr. and Mrs. George Williams request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their children."
For couples hosting their own wedding, you can skip the parent mention entirely. Write your names followed by "request the pleasure of your company" or "invite you to celebrate their marriage." Many couples today share hosting duties with their families, using phrases like "Together with their parents" or "Together with their families."
Special situations need thoughtful handling. If a parent has passed away, you can include them with wording like "Mrs. Elizabeth Jones and the late David Jones." For divorced parents, list each parent on a separate line. Remarried parents should appear on the same line as their current spouse.
Request Line and Extending the Invitation
The request line invites your guests to attend and sets your wedding's tone. This single line makes a big difference between formal wedding invitation wording and casual wedding invitation wording.
Formal invitations typically use phrases like "request the honor of your presence" or "request the pleasure of your company." The word "honor" traditionally appears for religious ceremonies, while "pleasure" works for non-religious venues. These classic phrases give your paper invitations an elegant feel.
Casual wedding invitation wording offers more flexibility. You can write "invite you to celebrate," "would love for you to join them," or "joyfully invite you to the marriage of." These relaxed phrases work well for informal venues like gardens, beaches, or restaurants.
Your invitation wording examples should match your venue and dress code. A black-tie ballroom wedding calls for formal language. A backyard celebration allows for warmer, more personal phrasing.
Couple's Names Placement
Traditional wedding invitation wording places the bride's name before the groom's name. This custom comes from the historical practice of parents presenting their daughter in marriage. Modern couples sometimes choose different arrangements based on personal preference.
For formal invitations, use full names including first, middle, and last names. If parents' names already appear above, you can drop the last names and use just first and middle names. Write "Emily Grace Smith to Philip Joseph Jones" or simply "Emily Grace to Philip Joseph" if the last names are already listed.
When the couple hosts their own wedding, both full names appear together. You can separate names with "and" for a formal tone or use an ampersand (&) for a casual feel. Same-sex couples can list names alphabetically or choose the order that sounds best.
Event Details: Date, Time, Venue
The date and time section tells guests exactly when to arrive. Formal wedding invitations spell out all details completely without using numbers. Write "Saturday, the sixteenth of June, two thousand twenty-five, at two o'clock in the afternoon."
Casual wedding invitation wording examples allow numbers and abbreviations. You can write "June 16th, 2025, 5:30 PM" or mix styles with "June 16th, 2025, at five o'clock in the evening." Including the year is optional since invitations typically go out within months of the wedding.
List your venue name, city, and state below the time. Write out the full state name rather than using abbreviations. If your venue is well-known, the name and city suffice. For less familiar locations, include the street address so guests can find it easily.
Reception information can appear on the invitation itself or on a separate card. Adding "reception to follow" or "dinner and dancing to follow" on the main invitation works for casual events. Formal invitations often include a separate reception card with full details.
Wording Options and Examples
The words you choose for your wedding invitation set the tone for your entire celebration. Your wedding wording can range from traditional and elegant to relaxed and personal. This style depends on your wedding theme and the impression you want to make.
Formal Wedding Invitation Wording
Formal wedding invitation wording follows traditional etiquette rules and writes everything out in full. You should spell out dates, times, and locations completely rather than using numbers. For example, write "Saturday, the fifteenth of May, two thousand twenty-six, at half after four o'clock" instead of "Saturday, May 15, 2026, at 4:30 PM."
The traditional format starts with the hosts' names, typically the bride's parents. Use full titles like "Mr. and Mrs." followed by complete names. The request line might read "request the honour of your presence" for a religious ceremony or "request the pleasure of your company" for other venues.
The couple's names appear in full, with the bride's first and middle name followed by the groom's full name and title. Write out the complete venue name and city and state in full. Finish with "Reception to follow" or the reception location if it differs from the ceremony site.
Casual and Modern Wording Choices
Modern wedding invitation wording gives you freedom to express your personality and style. You can use first names only, write in a conversational tone, and include phrases like "We're getting married!" or "Join us as we tie the knot." Numbers are acceptable for dates and times in casual invitations.
Many couples hosting their own weddings skip the host line entirely and start with their names. You might write "Together with their families" to acknowledge parents without formal naming. Same-sex couples can arrange names alphabetically or by personal preference rather than following traditional gender rules.
Modern wording often includes both partners' last names and can incorporate creative phrases that reflect your relationship. You can add personal touches like "Love is in the air" or "Please join us for the celebration of our love" to make your invitation unique.
Sample Invitation Wording for Different Scenarios
Parents hosting: Mr. and Mrs. John Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Sarah Elizabeth to Michael James Anderson Saturday, June tenth, two thousand twenty-six at five o'clock in the evening
Couple hosting: Sarah Smith and Michael Anderson invite you to celebrate their wedding June 10, 2026 5:00 PM The Garden Estate Dinner and dancing to follow
Both families hosting: Together with their families Sarah Smith and Michael Anderson request the honor of your presence at their wedding
Divorced parents hosting: Mrs. Jennifer Smith and Mr. John Smith invite you to the wedding of their daughter
Essential Enclosures and RSVP Details
Your invitation suite needs more than just the main invitation to give guests all the information they need. RSVP cards help you track attendance and meal choices, while reception cards and detail inserts communicate venue changes, dress codes, and event timings.
Including an RSVP Card
An RSVP card gives guests a simple way to confirm their attendance. Include a clear response line where guests can write their names and mark whether they will or will not attend. Add a line for meal preferences if you're offering multiple entree options like beef, chicken, or fish.
You can use traditional paper RSVP cards with a pre-addressed, stamped return envelope. This makes it easy for guests to mail back their response. Some couples now prefer digital RSVPs through their wedding website, which makes tracking responses easier.
If you want both options, include your wedding website URL on a small card and mention that guests can RSVP online. Keep the language simple and direct. For example: "Kindly reply by October 15th" followed by space for the guest name and attendance choice.
Setting the RSVP Deadline
Your RSVP deadline should be at least three to four weeks before your wedding date. This gives you enough time to create a final guest count for your caterer and complete your seating chart. Write the deadline clearly on your RSVP card using the full date, such as "Please respond by September 23rd."
An earlier deadline helps you follow up with guests who forget to respond. You'll need final numbers for your venue and catering team about two weeks before the wedding. Pick a specific date rather than saying "two weeks before" to avoid confusion.
Reception and Additional Information Cards
A reception card tells guests where to go after the ceremony if it's at a different location. If your reception follows immediately at the same venue, you can simply write "reception to follow" or "dinner and dancing to follow" on the main invitation.
Include the full venue name and address on the reception card. Add the time if there's a gap between the ceremony and reception. For example, if your ceremony ends at 4:00 PM but dinner starts at 6:00 PM, make this clear.
You can also include detail cards for important information like:
Dress code: Specify black tie, cocktail, semi-formal, or casual attire
Adult reception: State "adult reception" if children are not invited
Transportation: List shuttle schedules and pickup locations
Accommodations: Share hotel block information and booking codes
Directions: Provide simple driving directions or parking details
Keep each card focused on one topic. Use straightforward language and avoid cramming too much information onto a single card.
Design and Presentation of Your Wedding Invitations
Your invitation's design creates the first impression of your wedding. As you explore options for your wedding stationery, the visual style should match your formality level. This makes important information easy for guests to read.
Choosing a Wedding Invitation Design
Your wedding invitation design should reflect your wedding's style and setting. A formal church wedding calls for classic designs with traditional fonts and neutral colors. A beach wedding works better with lighter colors and casual typography.
The invitation design signals the dress code to your guests. Elegant script fonts and formal layouts suggest black-tie or formal attire. Simple, modern designs with clean lines indicate a more casual dress code.
Key design elements to consider:
Paper quality: Heavier cardstock (100-130 lb) feels more formal
Color scheme: Match your wedding colors or venue setting
Typography: Use no more than two different fonts
Layout: Leave enough white space so text is easy to read
Your venue often guides design choices. A ballroom wedding suits traditional designs with gold or silver accents. A barn venue pairs well with rustic designs featuring kraft paper or natural textures.
Coordinating Stationery and Wedding Website
Your paper invitations and wedding website should share the same design elements. Use matching colors, fonts, and graphics across both platforms to create a unified look.
Include your wedding website address on a separate card in your invitation suite. This card should match the design of your main invitation. Many couples also add their RSVP options to the website as an alternative to mailed response cards.
Elements to coordinate:
Color palette
Font choices
Decorative elements or borders
Overall tone (formal vs. casual)
Your website can include details that don't fit on paper invitations. Add maps, hotel information, schedule of events, and photos of you as a couple. Keep the website updated with any changes to your plans. This reduces confusion and saves you from printing additional cards with extra information.
