Congratulations on your engagement! Planning your wedding can be an exciting and overwhelming experience, but don’t let the stress of invitation wording weigh you down. Your wedding invitations are the first glimpse your guests will have of your special day, so it’s essential to get them right. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through everything you need to know about wedding invitation wording, including traditional etiquette and modern twists to make your invites unique.

Wedding Invitation Wording

The wording on your wedding invitation sets the tone for your big day. It should be clear, concise, and informative while reflecting your style and personality. Here are some essential guidelines to consider when crafting your wedding invitation wording:

Include Host Line

The first line of your invitation should include the host line, indicating who is hosting the wedding. If the bride’s parents are hosting the wedding, the line should read “Mr. and Mrs. John Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter…” If the couple is hosting the wedding, the line should read “Together with their families, Sarah and Tom request the honor of your presence at their wedding…”

Mention the Couple

Your wedding invitation should mention the names of the couple getting married. It’s also essential to consider including the middle names if you’d like them to be included.

Date and Time

The date and time of your wedding should be stated clearly on the invitation. Make sure you include the day, date, and year. If you’re having a formal wedding, consider using “Saturday, the twenty-first of June, two thousand and twenty-four, at half past six in the evening.” For a more casual wedding, you can simply say “Saturday, June 21, 2024, at 6:30 pm.”

Mention the Wedding Venue

It’s important to include the location of your wedding on the invitation. If you’re getting married at a church, include the name of the church and the address. If you’re getting married at a venue, include the name of the venue and the address.

Dress Code Information

If you have a specific dress code for your wedding, make sure you include it on the invitation. For a formal wedding, you might want to include “Black Tie” or “Black Tie Optional.” For a more casual wedding, you might want to include “Cocktail Attire” or “Casual Attire.”

RSVP Card

Your invitation can include an RSVP card with a date for guests to respond by. It’s also helpful to include a stamped, addressed envelope to make it easier for guests to respond.

Traditional Wedding Invitation Wording

If you’re planning a traditional wedding, you might want to follow some of the old-school wedding invitation wording rules. Here are some essential guidelines to follow:

1. The Bride’s Parents Host the Wedding

If the bride’s parents are hosting the wedding, the invitation should read “Mr. and Mrs. John Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter…”

1. The Groom’s Parents Host the Wedding

If the groom’s parents are hosting the wedding, the invitation should read “Mr. and Mrs. John Smith request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their son…”

1. Both Sets of Parents Host the Wedding

If both sets of parents are hosting the wedding, the invitation should read “Mr. and Mrs. John Smith and Mr. and Mrs. William Jones request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their children…”

1. No Mention of Parents

If the couple is hosting the wedding, the invitation should read “Together with their families, Sarah and Tom request the honor of your presence at their wedding…”

H2: Modern Wedding Invitation Wording

Now that you have a general understanding of the elements that make up wedding invitation wording, let’s delve deeper into some of the specific phrases and details you may want to include in your own invitations.

Wedding Invitation Wording Guidelines

The following is a comprehensive list of wedding invitation wording guidelines to help ensure that your invitations are both beautiful and informative:

1. Start with the Basics

• The bride and groom’s full names
• The date and time of the wedding
• The location of the wedding ceremony and reception
• Dress code (if applicable)
• RSVP information (including deadline and contact information)

1. Add a Personal Touch

• Include a quote, song lyric, or poem that holds special meaning to you as a couple.
• Mention any special requests, such as asking guests to bring a dish to share for a potluck-style reception.

1. Consider the Hosts

• If the bride’s parents are hosting the wedding, traditional etiquette dictates that their names appear first on the invitation.
• If both sets of parents are hosting the wedding, include all of their names on the invitation.
• If the bride and groom are hosting the wedding themselves, simply begin with their names.

1. Use Appropriate Language

• Formal invitations typically use the phrase “request the honour of your presence,” while less formal invitations may use “request the pleasure of your company.”
• If the wedding ceremony is being held in a place of worship, use appropriate religious language and titles (e.g., “Reverend,” “Father,” “Rabbi,” etc.).

1. Add Special Details

• If your wedding has a theme or specific color scheme, consider incorporating these details into your invitation design.
• If you’re having a destination wedding, include information about travel arrangements and accommodations for out-of-town guests.

By following these wedding invitation wording guidelines, you can create invitations that are not only beautiful, but also informative and personal.

Formal Wedding Invitation Wording

When it comes to formal wedding invitation wording, there are a few additional guidelines to keep in mind. First and foremost, formal invitations should use formal language and honorific titles for guests.

The following are a few key phrases and terms to consider including in your formal wedding invitations:

• “The pleasure of your company” or “The honour of your presence”
• “Request the honour of your presence at the marriage of”
• Honorific titles (e.g., “Mr.,” “Mrs.,” “Dr.,” etc.)
• Use full names rather than nicknames or shortened versions
• Include the date and time of the wedding spelled out in full (e.g., “Saturday, the sixth of August, two thousand and twenty-two”)
• Use traditional wording for the host line (e.g., “Mr. and Mrs. John Smith request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter, Jane Marie Smith, to Mr. Robert Thomas Brown”)

Casual Wedding Invitation Wording

If you’re having a more casual wedding, you have a bit more flexibility with your invitation wording. That being said, it’s still important to make sure that your guests have all of the necessary information and that the tone of the invitation matches the overall vibe of your wedding.

Consider including the following elements in your casual wedding invitation wording:

• “Join us for the wedding of”
• Use first names or nicknames rather than formal titles
• Include the date and time of the wedding in a more casual, straightforward manner (e.g., “Saturday, August 6th, 2022 at 5:00 p.m.”)
• Include any additional information, such as dress code or directions, in a more casual tone

The Request Line

The request line is where you ask your guests to attend your wedding. The wording is usually more formal and can include phrases such as “request the honor of your presence” or “request the pleasure of your company.”

Traditionally, the request line is followed by the names of the hosts, which can be the parents of the bride and/or groom, or the couple themselves. For example, “Mr. and Mrs. John Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter.”

If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves, they can use “together with their families” or “together with their parents” in the request line. An example of this is “John Smith and Jane Doe together with their families request the pleasure of your company at their wedding.”

Details about the Ceremony and Reception

The wedding invitation should include the date, time, and location of both the ceremony and reception. If the reception is held at a different location than the ceremony, make sure to include both addresses.

The dress code is another important detail to include on the wedding invitation. If it’s a formal wedding, include the dress code on the invitation so that guests can dress appropriately. For example, “Black tie attire requested” or “Formal attire requested.” If it’s a casual wedding, you can use phrases like “Beach casual” or “Semi-formal attire.”

RSVP and Additional Information

The RSVP deadline should be listed on the wedding invitation. You can also include a separate RSVP card or provide an email address or phone number for guests to RSVP.

If you have a wedding website, include the URL on the wedding invitation. This is a great place to provide additional information about the wedding, such as the couple’s story, the wedding party, and travel and accommodation details for out-of-town guests.

The wording on your wedding invitation sets the tone for your big day. Whether you choose traditional or modern wording, make sure it accurately reflects the formality of your wedding and includes all of the necessary details. Use our wedding invitation wording guide and the keywords provided to create the perfect invitation that you and your guests will cherish for years to come.