Wedding invitations are one of the most exciting parts of planning a wedding. But it can also be stressful to come up with the perfect wording for your invitation. Here, we’ll help you find the right words for every part of your wedding invitation so that it matches your vision for your big day.
Proper wedding invitation etiquette is an important consideration in the overall design and wording of your wedding invitations. Your guests will remember the invitation for years to come, so it’s important to get it right.
Below are some tips for perfecting your wording:
The most important part of your invitation is its wording. It’s what pulls together all of the other elements and makes them cohesive. You’ll want to make sure that you he an expert helping you with this part—someone who can write in a formal yet friendly tone. They should also be able to write grammatically correct sentences and oid spelling mistakes or typos that could embarrass you in front of all your family and friends on such a special occasion! Keep things short but sweet! Don’t add unnecessary words or phrases into your invitation just because they’re expected at weddings; instead, keep things simple by focusing on just two aspects: who will be getting married (i.e., “Mr.” & “Mrs.”) AND where/when exactly they’ll be doing so (i.e., “Saturday June 17th at 6PM”). Anything else would be considered extraneous information which could distract from those primary details; hence why we’ve omitted everything else from our example above except for those two specific pieces since otherwise none would fit within any given page limit anyway 🙂 Consider who’s hosting. Traditionally, wedding reception invitation wording includes the name of the person hosting (i.e. paying for) the wedding. Nowadays, this could be the couple themselves, loved ones (such as parents) or a combination of the two. It’s respectful to list anyone contributing to your big day on your invites, either by name or in the form of a short line, such as, “Together with their families.” Reflect your wedding’s formality. How you word your wedding invitations is an indication of the overall formality of the occasion. If you want guests to wear black tie attire, opt for traditional wording. Or if you’d prefer to keep it casual on your wedding day, feel free to explore modern and playful wording examples. Choosing the appropriate type of wording is especially important if you don’t plan to explicitly state the dress code. Include an insert card. There are certain pieces of information that don’t belong in a wedding invitation suite—most notably, your registry details. Instead, provide guests with a link to your wedding website on a separate insert card. You can also use an insert card for anything that doesn’t fit on your wedding invites, such as dress code advice or details of a backup venue in case of bad weather.
So what exactly are wedding invitations supposed to say? With that in mind, you should include your date, time, and location, but how do you word it? There’s a lot to consider when deciding on a wedding invitation format. To make things as easy as possible, we’ve broken it down for you into a few simple steps.
Who is hosting the wedding. The request to come to the wedding. An explicit request to attend lets guests know exactly what they are being invited to (cue the squeals of excitement). There are many different ways to word this request depending on the level of formality required. See our examples below for inspiration. The names of the couple. The date and time. Where the wedding will be held. Dress code / What to wear (optional). If there are specific dress requirements for guests, like black tie or formal attire, make sure this information is included in your wording so that guests know exactly how to dress for your big day! Reception information. Separate RSVP card. How to respond if they can’t attend (optional). If someone cannot attend, include information about where you will be registered so that they can send a gift when they are able or choose another way to help celebrate with you.
The following wedding invitation examples and templates can help you find the perfect wording for your own invitations.
When making your final decision on which wording to use, think about how formal or informal the event will be and what kind of tone would fit best with it. If you’re not sure, try writing out several different versions with different levels of formality and see which one feels right for you!
Wedding Invitation Wording If One Set of Parents Is HostingIf one set of parents is hosting your wedding, it’s important to state who is hosting the wedding in your invitation wording. If you hadn’t already guessed this, there are two ways that a couple can host their own wedding:
Parents pay for everything, and the bride and groom simply show up (this is called a “closed” reception) Parents pay for everything while they also invite other people to come celebrate with them (this is called an “open” reception).The wording on your invitation will be a bit more formal than if only one set of parents are hosting. The most formal way to word this is: The host of the wedding celebration (read: the people footing the bill) is listed first, followed by their child’s name, followed by their child’s partner’s name.
Formal Wedding Invitation Wording Sample:
Sample 1: – Groom’s Parents
Mr. and Mrs. John L. Smith
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their son
Jack Alexander
to
Mason Jacob Kim
Saturday, the seventeenth of May
two thousand twenty-three
at half after four
Sample 2: – Bride’s Parents
Kenzie M. Smith and Jennifer L. Smith
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their daughter
Olivia Rose
to
John Michael Reyes
Saturday, the seventeenth of May two thousand twenty-three
at half after four
Casual Wedding Invitation Wording Sample:
Sample 1: – Groom’s Parents
John and Eliza Smith
invite you to share in their joy at the marriage of their son
Jack Alexander
to Mason Jacob Kim
Saturday, May 17, 2023
at 4:30 in the afternoon
Sample 2: – Bride’s Parents
Kenzie and Jennifer Smith
invite you to share in their joy at the marriage of their daughter
Olivia Rose
to John Michael Reyes
Saturday, May 17, 2023
at 4:30 in the afternoon
Wedding Invitation Wording If Both Sets of Parents Are HostingIf you he both parents hosting, their names should each be listed on separate lines. Since both last names are included in the greeting, there’s no need to use last names for the to-be-weds—unless, again, if either of them has a different last name than their parents. In that case, list out their full name, in addition to the full names of their parents.
Formal Wedding Invitation Wording Sample:
Sample 1:
Mr. and Mrs. John L. Smith &
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Franklin Kim
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Jack Alexander
to
Mason Jacob
Saturday, the seventeenth of May
two thousand twenty-three
at half after four in the afternoon
Sample 2:
Kenzie M. Smith and Jennifer L. Smith
Mark Franklin and Mary Elizabeth Reyes
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Olivia Rose
and
John Michael
Saturday, the seventeenth of May
two thousand twenty-three
at half after four in the afternoon
Casual Wedding Invitation Wording Sample:
Sample 1:
John and Eliza Smith
along with Mark and Sally Kim
invite you to share and celebrate the marriage of their children
Jack Alexander
and Mason Jacob
Saturday, May 17, 2023
at 4:30 in the afternoon
Sample 2:
Kenzie and Jennifer Smith
along with Mark and Sally Reyes
invite you to share and celebrate the marriage of their children
Olivia Rose
and John Michael
Saturday, May 17, 2023
at 4:30 in the afternoon
Wedding Invitation Wording If the Couple Is HostingIf you’re paying for the wedding yourselves, the wedding invitation format will look slightly different. Essentially, the greeting will skip the host line and begin with the request line—here’s an example.
Formal Wedding Invitation Wording Sample:
The honor of your presence
is requested at the marriage of
Jack Alexander Smith
to Mason Jacob Kim
Saturday, the seventeenth of May
two thousand twenty-two
at half after four
Casual Wedding Invitation Wording Sample:
Jack Alexander Smith &
Mason Jacob Kim
invite you to share in their joy at their wedding
Saturday, May 17, 2022
at 4:30 in the afternoon
Wedding Invitation Wording If Another Family Member Is HostingMultiple parties are invited to the wedding, and the invitation starts with the bride’s name, followed by the groom’s names, and finally the parents’ names, beginning with the groom and the groom. Or go ahead and list the couple’s names in alphabetical order, followed by their parents’ names in corresponding order.
Formal Wedding Invitation Wording Sample:
Sample 1:
Mr. Jack Alexander Smith
and
Mr. Mason Jacob Kim
together with their parents
Mr. and Mrs. John L. Smith &
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Franklin Kim
request the honor of your presence
at their wedding
Saturday, the seventeenth of May
two thousand twenty-two
at half after four in the afternoon
Sample 2:
Olivia Rose Smith
and
John Michael Reyes
together with their parents
Kenzie M. Smith and Jennifer L. Smith
and Mark Franklin and Mary Elizabeth Reyes
request the honor of your presence
at their wedding
Saturday, the seventeenth of May
two thousand twenty-two
at half after four in the afternoon
Casual Wedding Invitation Wording Sample:
Jack Alexander Smith &
Mason Jacob Kim
together with their parents
invite you to their wedding
Saturday, May 17, 2022
at 4:30 in the afternoon
How to Include Divorced Parents on Your InvitationTo begin, you’ll want to talk to your parents (separately or together, depending on their relationship with each other). Find out if they he ideas on how their names should appear on the wedding invitation. Ask if they he opinions about including the names of their new spouses, if they he remarried.
Remarried ParentsYou can use a similar format when one parent has remarried
Ms. Noelle Miller Mr. and Mrs. Sean Cartwright request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Sophia to Joshua The twentieth of June two thousand twenty four at six o’clock in the evening Midtown Loft & Terrace 267 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY reception to follow
If your parents or the groom’s parents are divorced, the mother and father’s names are written on separate lines with no conjoining “and”. The mother is always listed first:
Divorced ParentsBoth parents’ names on separate lines
Ms. Elaine Robbins Mr. Bradley Hunter request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Candace and Emerson May 15th, 2023 at six in the evening The Frick Collection New York, NY dinner and dancing to follow
[better-ads type=”banner” banner=”35737″ campaign=”none” count=”2″ columns=”1″ orderby=”rand” order=”ASC” align=”center” show-caption=”1″ lazy-load=””][/better-ads] How to Include Deceased Parents in Your Invitation WordingYou can include deceased parents and grandparents in your invitation by using the following format:
In the body of your wedding invitation wording, mention them in a sentence that precedes their names, e.g., “The wedding of our daughter/son is blessed with the presence of her/his grandparents(s).” If you would like to mention your deceased grandparents in the main invitation, please remember that they can bless the occasion but cannot invite. For example, writing “Late Smt ABC and Late Shri XYZ invite you to the wedding of” is incorrect. It should be “With the blessings of Late Smt ABC and Late Shri XYZ, Mrs.Given below are some examples:
How to Include a Parent Who Has Passed Away: Formal Wording Examples When the Bride’s Parent is DeceasedMrs. Sharon Henderson and the late Mr. Nathan Henderson request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Monica May to Preston John Brackman on Saturday, the twenty-first of July Two-thousand and twenty-four at fix o’clock in the evening Magnolia Fields 1821 Western Road Dripping Springs, Texas
Another way to word your invitation is:
Monica May daughter of Mrs. Sharon Henderson and the late Mr. Nathan Henderson and Preston John son of Mr. and Mrs. James Brackman request the honor of your presence at their marriage on Saturday, the twenty-first of July Two-thousand and twenty-four at fix o’clock in the evening Magnolia Fields 1821 Western Road Dripping Springs, Texas
When the Groom’s Parent is DeceasedMr. and Mrs. Nathan Henderson and Mrs. Hope Brackman and the late James Brackman request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their children Monica May and Preston John on Saturday, the twenty-first of July Two-thousand and twenty-four at fix o’clock in the evening Magnolia Fields 1821 Western Road Dripping Springs, Texas
[better-ads type=”banner” banner=”35737″ campaign=”none” count=”2″ columns=”1″ orderby=”rand” order=”ASC” align=”center” show-caption=”1″ lazy-load=””][/better-ads] How to Include a Parent Who Has Passed Away: Informal Wording ExamplesIf traditional wording isn’t your style, you can still honor your parents as wedding hosts by including one or both sets at the bottom of your invitation:
With joyful hearts we ask you to be present at the ceremony uniting Monica May and Preston John Brackman on Saturday, the twenty-first of July two-thousand and twenty-four at six o’clock in the evening Bluxome Street Winery 53 Bluxome Street San Francisco, California
Mrs. Sharon Henderson and the late Nathan Henderson Mr. and Mrs. James Brackman
Another way to wording your invitation in casual style is:
Sharon and the late Nathan Henderson invite you to join the families and friends of Monica May and Preston John Brackman at the celebration of their marriage on Saturday, July 21st, 2024 at 6:00pm Bluxome Street Winery 53 Bluxome Street San Francisco, California
Wedding Invitation Wording When a Parent is a Widow or WidowerIf your living parent has remarried, or if your parent passed away a long time ago, you may not want to include his or her name on the wedding invitation and choose to honor their memory in another way.
Here are some simple examples for wording your invitations from a living parent only:
Invitation Wording from a WidowMrs. Sharon Henderson requests the honor of your presence at the marriage of her daughter Monica May to Preston John Brackman on Saturday, the twenty-first of July Two-thousand and twenty-four at fix o’clock in the evening Magnolia Fields 1821 Western Road Dripping Springs, Texas
Invitation Wording from a WidowerMr. Nathan Henderson invites you to the marriage of his daughter Monica May to Preston John Brackman on Saturday, the twenty-first of July Two-thousand and twenty-four at fix o’clock in the evening Magnolia Fields 1821 Western Road Dripping Springs, Texas
How to Include a Step-Parent in Your Invitation WordingIf you he a step-parent or an adoptive parent, you can use their names as well. If both biological parents are deceased, the step-parent may be invited to participate in wedding planning and attend the ceremony.
If the step-parent has remarried and they he children together with their current spouse, they will likely want to invite those children as well. A good rule of thumb is to treat a stepparent in much the same way as you would treat your own parent (or parents).
Sharon and Michael Tanke request the honor of your presence at the marriage of her daughter Monica May Henderson to Preston John Brackman on Saturday, the twenty-first of July Two-thousand and twenty-four at fix o’clock in the evening Magnolia Fields 1821 Western Road Dripping Springs, Texas
Adding a Step-Parent and Deceased Parent on Your Wedding InvitationSharon and Michael Tanke request the honor of your presence at the marriage of her and the late Nathan Henderson’s daughter Monica May Henderson to Preston John Brackman on Saturday, the twenty-first of July Two-thousand and twenty-four at fix o’clock in the evening Magnolia Fields 1821 Western Road Dripping Springs, Texas
[better-ads type=”banner” banner=”35737″ campaign=”none” count=”2″ columns=”1″ orderby=”rand” order=”ASC” align=”center” show-caption=”1″ lazy-load=””][/better-ads] Complete Your Suite RSVP CardsRSVP cards are a great way to get guests to respond to your wedding invitation. They are usually included with the invitation and let guests know when the wedding is, as well as when they should respond by. RSVP cards should be sent out at least 3 weeks before the wedding date.
In addition to providing this information, RSVP cards also allow you to personalize them by including your names, wedding date(s), location(s) and any special requests (such as renting formalwear).
RSVP date: The first piece of information on the card is the reply-by date, which is typically three to four weeks before the wedding. This will give you enough time to get a final head count to the caterer (one week before) and to finalize your seating chart.
Remember to keep the wording consistent with the invitation: For example, “the for or a reply” typically matches the invitation wording “the honor of your presence.” For less formal wedding invitation wording, such as “request the pleasure of your company,” the RSVP wording would typically be “Kindly reply by” or “Kindly respond by.”Guest(s) names: Next is a line for guests to write their names, along with checkboxes for accepting or declining the invitation.
The M line: The “M” line on the RSVP card is the place where guests will write in their names. The “M” itself is meant to designate the first letter of the formal salutation (Mr., Mrs., Miss or Ms.), which the guest would write along with their name(s). The most traditional weddings might use the “M” line; for less formal celebrations, we suggest the more straightforward “Name(s)” instead.Additional information you can include:
Meal choices may also be included on the reply card, along with checkboxes or illustrated icons. It’s becoming more popular to include a song request line, something along the lines of, “We promise to dance if you play __________.” Example: FormalA reply is requested by the tenth of July
__________ [Insert Name(s)] ______ __________ accepts with pleasure __________ declines with regret
Example: CasualPlease respond by the thirteenth of June
__________ [Insert Name(s)] ________ __________ happily accepts __________ regretfully declines
Example: with MealsPlease reply by March 27
__________M [Insert Name(s)] _____ __________ will attend __________will not attend
Meal choices: __________ chicken __________ salmon __________ vegetarian
Reception CardsReception cards are similar to the invitation, except they’re more casual and contain more details about the reception. So if you want to include a map or directions to your venue, for example, this is where it belongs.
Reception card wording should be similar to that of an invitation: formal but warm; respectful of the couple (especially if they’ve been married before); and celebratory without being overly enthusiastic or gushing. Here are some examples:
Example: Reception CardPlease join us for an dinner and dancing immediately following the ceremony in the Allegro Ballroom
Activity CardActivity cards are a great way to share information with guests that they might find useful. Common ideas include directions to the venue, details about the rehearsal dinner and wedding day schedule, or even a map of the property if you’re hing your wedding at a venue with multiple buildings. Activity cards can also be used to provide information about transportation (e.g., how to get from point A to point B), where on site parking is located, or where guests should go for breakfast or lunch on the day of your wedding.
Activity cards can be included as part of your invitation suite or added separately in an envelope or pocket folder (be sure not to confuse this with RSVP cards). They’re also sometimes referred to as “backup” envelopes because you might use them if something happens during printing where one of your actual invitations is damaged.
Example: Activity CardActivities A wedded weekend
Friday Meadowood Winery Tour | 1:00 pm | Please meet in the hotel lobby Rehearsal Dinner | 7:00 pm | Meritage Resort | 875 Bordeaux Way
Saturday Ladies Tea | 11:00 am | Churchill Tea Room | Please meet in the hotel lobby
Sunday Farewell Brunch | 11:00 am | Bouchon Bistro | 6534 Washington Street
Information CardAn information card is a card that you include with your wedding invitations that provides all of the details of your event. This includes things like the time and location, any dietary restrictions, what to wear and how to get there.
You should include an information card with every invitation. It may seem redundant since you’ve already sent out a formal invitation, but there are many people who don’t want to use email or text messaging for RSVPs (and others who don’t he access). An information card gives them another option while giving you peace of mind that they he all the information they need to plan their day.
Information cards are typically printed on hey-stock paper and folded in half before being inserted into envelopes for mailing—some couples choose not to fold them at all so that guests can write comments on the back rather than writing on their invitations directly.
Example: Information Card (directions)More details
If you would like to book a room at the hotel, please call The Ivy Reservations 0712 334 4444, quote ‘Stewart-Long wedding accommodation June 17th’ to receive the discounted rates ailable for a one or two night stay at our hotel.
For more info, visit our website: rayandphoenix.minted.us or call Jane on 0403 333 444
[better-ads type=”banner” banner=”35737″ campaign=”none” count=”2″ columns=”1″ orderby=”rand” order=”ASC” align=”center” show-caption=”1″ lazy-load=””][/better-ads] Wedding Invitation Etiquette FAQ How far in advance should I send out my wedding invitations?Typically, most couples send out wedding invitations six to eight weeks prior to their wedding date. While se the date cards are not required, those can be sent out as early as a year before the wedding.
Where should I purchase my wedding invitations?Using a website to design your wedding invitations is currently one of the most popular methods for buying wedding invitations. Etsy, Minted, Zola, and Papersource are all great places to start your wedding invitation search.
Whose name goes first on wedding invitations?If you’re following traditional etiquette, the bride’s name always goes first on wedding invitations. That said, it’s really up to you to decide whether or not this tradition is something you want to follow. For couples that don’t identify as a bride and groom, or if there are two brides, names are typically listed in alphabetical order. But again, it’s your choice if you want to embrace tradition or forge your own unique path.
How do you word a reception-only invitation?It’s important to use the proper wedding invitation wording when requesting guests’ attendance at a reception-only celebration. Make some small tweaks to the wedding invitation copy, such as replacing “request the honor of your presence at the wedding of” with “request the honor of your presence to celebrate the wedding of.” If the couple has already held the ceremony, the invites can double as wedding announcements. Feel free to add a line at the top stating that they’ve tied the knot, followed by a request to attend the reception.
How do you word dress code information?Stuck on wedding invitation verbiage etiquette for requesting a specific dress code? As we mentioned earlier, this should be stated at the bottom of your invitations or on a separate insert card or your wedding website. There are a few different ways to phrase this information. Try using one of these simple wedding invitation wording ideas:
Black tie optional. Cocktail attire Dress casual.
Where do you include information such as your wedding website and wedding registry?”Traditionally, it is not advised to include your wedding website URL and wedding registry information on the actual invitation itself. For your wedding website, we suggest including an additional insert card that lists the website details. If you’re already including an insert card with trel information or additional wedding details, you can print the URL on the bottom of that card. As for registry details, you can include that information on your wedding website, with links to each online store, if possible, for added convenience.
[better-ads type=”banner” banner=”35737″ campaign=”none” count=”2″ columns=”1″ orderby=”rand” order=”ASC” align=”center” show-caption=”1″ lazy-load=””][/better-ads] Do you write guests’ full names on the wedding invitations?If following proper wedding invitation etiquette, yes. When you are addressing your invitation envelopes, you should spell their names out in full (title, first name, middle name (optional), and last name). Avoid using nicknames or initials. Be sure to use appropriate social titles as well, addressing married couples as “Mr. and Mrs.” or “Mr. and Mr.”
How much time should we give guests to RSVP for the wedding?Set your RSVP deadline for three to four weeks before the wedding date. This timeframe will give you enough time to provide your caterer with a final head count, which is usually needed one week before the wedding. An accurate headcount will also allow you to finalize your wedding seating chart.
If some guests still he not responded by your RSVP deadline, give them a quick phone call to follow up.
Who should get a plus-one and who doesn’t?This is a tricky question, so be sure to tread carefully as you and your partner determine what makes the most sense for your wedding guest dynamics. Here are our general wedding etiquette rules on plus-ones and whether or not you should give guests the opportunity to bring a date to the wedding:
– Married, engaged, and cohabitating guests should get a plus-one. – Wedding-party members (bridesmaids, groomsmen, etc.) should get a plus-one. – Guests who he been with their partner for a lengthy amount of time should get a plus-one. This, of course, is tricky. What constitutes a long enough period of time? While this varies for everyone, in general, our rule of thumb is that anyone who has been coupled up with their partner for so long that it would be awkward not to invite them should get a plus-one. – For everyone else, make a blanket rule, such as “only immediate family members can bring a date” and stick to it.
How to Word a Same-Sex Couple’s Wedding Invitation?When you’re writing a wedding invitation for a same-sex couple, there are some things to keep in mind. You may need to use gender-neutral language when addressing the invitees—for example, instead of saying “Mr. and Mrs.” or “Mr. and Mr.” (or “Ms.” and “Mrs.”) and including both names on the labels, you might choose to list only one person’s name at a time and include their title followed by their last name (e.g., Dr./Ms., Professor/Professor). This can help oid confusion about which partner is being invited along with the spouse or significant other who’s not invited but happens to live with them—or even if it was meant as an actual wedding invitation at all!
Wedding Invitations 2023
Conclusion
It can be easy to feel overwhelmed when trying to put together your wedding invitation wording. But after reading through this guide and seeing all the examples, we know you’re even more excited than ever! We hope this has helped you understand how to word an invitation that fits your style and makes everyone feel included in your celebration. Now go forth into the world with confidence that all those little details are taken care of for you 🙂
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