Wording your wedding invitations can be tricky. More specifically, addressing your diverse circle of friends and family in the same way requires a delicate hand. The process may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. We’re here to help! Follow our 5-step how-to guide to nail your ideal wedding invitation wording and keep your wedding planning on track.
Table of Contents
Wedding Invitation Wording: Five Simple Steps
Step 1: Start with the hosts.
Host names are placed at the top, where they “request” or “invite” guests to the ceremony. Although this may seem a bit outdated, it’s still the norm for wedding invitations. In the old days, parents of the bride were normally the hosts. Today, it’s really up to you. This is great in terms of equality, but it can make things confusing!
There are different ways to list your hosts on the invite. If you and your soon-to-be are hosting, you can write out your full names. On the other hand, parents can be trickier. Make sure you personally ask the hosts what titles they prefer before sending out any invitations.
Step 2: Invite your guests.
The second line is the reason you’re sending out these colorful, stuffed envelopes in the first place — to invite loved ones to your wedding. Thankfully, there’s traditional wording here if you want to play it safe. “The honor of your presence” signifies that the ceremony will be held in a church or place of worship. “The pleasure of your company” implies that the wedding will take place at a non-religious venue. You can use your own tone here, just be conscious of your audience. If your family is conservative, I’d advise against experimenting with informal language and risqué jokes.
Step 3: Arrange the names.
The third part of your invitation conveys the most important information of all: names of the people tying the knot. Traditionally the bride’s name is listed before the groom’s, but the 21st-century world of marriage is much more colorful than in days of old. Marriage is a team effort, so talk with your fiancée to iron out any possible problems with whose name is placed where.
Step 4: Time, date, location.
After getting formalities out of the way, it’s time to lay out the concrete details. Specifically, you’ll want to list the time, date, and location — info that will help your guests arrive at the event in a timely manner. Having an elaborate wedding invitation is great, but if it doesn’t relay these details it’s no longer an invite (more of a glorified Facebook notification). Make sure it’s obvious where and when the event is being hosted to assure your guests do in fact make it to the ceremony.
Step 5: Post-wedding plans.
What’s going on after the ceremony? Is it time to exchange high heels for dancing flats, or should we go home and watch romantic comedies on Netflix? Wedding ceremonies often occur on weekends, and people want to know if they should be ready for a party or if they need to arrange their own plans. If there’s a time to be creative with your writing it’s here!
Sample Wedding Invitations
Step-by-step instructions are great, but sometimes it’s easier to look at examples. We’ve divided wedding invite wording into three main categories: formal (or traditional), semi-formal and casual/humorous. Feel free to tweak your invitations to fit your particular needs — these are not concrete rules. We are just here to help get the ball rolling! Our color-coded samples make it easy to keep track of any minor formatting differences based on a variety of host/family scenarios. If we missed yours please leave a comment below, we’d be happy to help.
Formal
Formal wedding invitation wording is great if you’d like to keep your ceremony traditional. Marriage has a lengthy history, and many people prefer staying faithful to these established traditions. Formal invitation wording is both easier and harder than casual wording—it’s easier because you don’t need to get too creative, but it’s harder because you must adhere to the rules. For instance, don’t use exclamation marks. Spell out numbers, including the year and date (the address section is the sole exception). Also, the hosts must be titled properly and no frills are acceptable. Following proper etiquette for writing and sending out wedding invitations and you’ll be able to make most people happy.
Check out our various examples to get a clear idea of how this should look.
Mr. & Mrs. Roger Morris
Request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Meredith Claire
to
Edward John Cullen
On Saturday, the twentieth of June
Two thousand seventeen
At half past seven o’clock in the evening
512 South Virginia Street
Reno, Nevada
Reception to follow
Mr. & Mrs. Allen Cullen
Request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of
Meredith Claire
to their son
Edward John Cullen
On Saturday, the twentieth of June
Two thousand seventeen
At half past seven o’clock in the evening
512 South Virginia Street
Reno, Nevada
Reception to follow
Meredith Claire
&
Edward John Cullen
Request the honor of your presence
At the celebration of their union
On Saturday, the twentieth of June
Two thousand seventeen
At half past seven o’clock in the evening
512 South Virginia Street
Reno, Nevada
Reception to follow
Together with their parents
Meredith Claire
&
Edward John Cullen
Request the honor of your presence
At the celebration of their union
On Saturday, the twentieth of June
Two thousand seventeen
At half past seven o’clock in the evening
512 South Virginia Street
Reno, Nevada
Reception to follow
Mr. & Mrs. Roger Morris
And Mr. & Mrs. Allen Cullen
Request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Meredith Claire
&
Edward John Cullen
On Saturday, the twentieth of June
Two thousand seventeen
At half past seven o’clock in the evening
512 South Virginia Street
Reno, Nevada
Reception to follow
Mr. & Mrs. Roger Morris
And Mr. & Mrs. Marco DeSoto
Request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Meredith Claire
to
Edward John Cullen
On Saturday, the twentieth of June
Two thousand seventeen
At half past seven o’clock in the evening
512 South Virginia Street
Reno, Nevada
Reception to follow
Mr. & Mrs. Edward Cullen
And Mr. & Mrs. Adam Orwell
Request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of
Meredith Claire
to their son
Edward John Cullen
On Saturday, the twentieth of June
Two thousand seventeen
At half past seven o’clock in the evening
512 South Virginia Street
Reno, Nevada
Reception to follow
Mr. & Mrs. Roger Morris
And Mr. Allen Cullen & the late Mrs. Eilene Cullen
Request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Meredith Claire
&
Edward John Cullen
On Saturday, the twentieth of June
Two thousand seventeen
At half past seven o’clock in the evening
512 South Virginia Street
Reno, Nevada
Reception to follow
Semi-Formal
Semi-formal wedding invitation wording is excellent for people who want to convey the necessary information, but don’t want to sound too serious. It’s a more flexible style than its formal counterpart, but still avoids silliness. Listing hosts is optional, titles aren’t set in stone – it’s up to you. Let your personality shine, but don’t forget the key details!
There aren’t many rules for the semi-formal style. The invite line can be written however you want, and swapping words for numbers is perfectly fine. Exclamation marks are okay, but don’t go overboard.
If you’re hosting your own wedding, listing “together with their families” is a way that you can appeal to family members on both sides.
Mr. & Mrs. Roger Morris
Would like to invite you
To the marriage of their daughter
Meredith Claire
to
Edward John Cullen
On Saturday, June 20, 2017
At half past seven in the evening
512 South Virginia Street
Reno, Nevada
Reception immediately to follow. Let’s celebrate!
Mr. & Mrs. Allen Cullen
Would like to invite you
To the marriage of
Meredith Claire
To their son
Edward John Cullen
On Saturday, June 20, 2017
At half past seven in the evening
512 South Virginia Street
Reno, Nevada
Reception immediately to follow. Let’s celebrate!
Meredith Claire
&
Edward John Cullen
Request the presence of your company
At their upcoming wedding ceremony
On Saturday, June 20, 2017
At half past seven in the evening
512 South Virginia Street
Reno, Nevada
Reception immediately to follow. Let’s celebrate!
Together with their families
Meredith Claire
&
Edward John Cullen
Request the presence of your company
At their upcoming wedding ceremony
On Saturday, June 20, 2017
At half past seven in the evening
512 South Virginia Street
Reno, Nevada
Reception immediately to follow. Let’s celebrate!
Mr. & Mrs. Roger Morris
And Mr. & Mrs. Allen Cullen
Would like to invite you
To the marriage of
Meredith Claire
To their son
Edward John Cullen
On Saturday, June 20, 2017
At half past seven in the evening
512 South Virginia Street
Reno, Nevada
Reception immediately to follow. Let’s celebrate!
Mr. & Mrs. Roger Morris
And Mr. & Mrs. Marco DeSoto
Would like to invite you
To the marriage of their daughter
Meredith Claire
to
Edward John Cullen
On Saturday, June 20, 2017
At half past seven in the evening
512 South Virginia Street
Reno, Nevada
Reception immediately to follow. Let’s celebrate!
Mr. & Mrs. Allen Cullen
And Mr. & Mrs. Adam Orwell
Would like to invite you
To the marriage of
Meredith Claire
To their son
Edward John Cullen
On Saturday, June 20, 2017
At half past seven in the evening
512 South Virginia Street
Reno, Nevada
Reception immediately to follow. Let’s celebrate!
Mr. & Mrs. Roger Morris
And Mr. Allen Cullen & the late Mrs. Eilene Cullen
Would like to invite you
To the marriage of their children
Meredith Claire
&
Edward John Cullen
On Saturday, June 20, 2017
At half past seven in the evening
512 South Virginia Street
Reno, Nevada
Reception immediately to follow. Let’s celebrate!
Casual/Humorous
Casual/humorous wedding invitation wording is a good choice if you find weddings to be too stuffy (but you still plan on hosting one). You want your guests to come in relaxed attire, and you prefer a laid back atmosphere. Since you plan on putting a wedding invitation together though, don’t get too crazy– you still have to include the pertinent info! With that said, it’s your big day; write something that suits you and your soon-t0-be spouse. Nicknames, cute expressions, personal quips are all on the table. The way you address yourself, your guests and even the event to which you’re inviting them can be stylized however you want.
Mr. & Mrs. Roger Morris
Are happy to announce that
Meredith “Apple” Claire
&
Edward “The Vampire” Cullen
Have finally made the leap
And are set to get married!
Join them on Saturday, June 20, 2017
7:30pm in the evening
512 South Virginia Street
Reno, Nevada
Prepare for some mayhem – dinner, dancing and drinking
will commence immediately following the ceremony,
bring your own booze (just kidding, we got you covered)
Mr. & Mrs. Allen Cullen
Are happy to announce that
Meredith “Apple” Claire
&
Edward “The Vampire” Cullen
Have finally made the leap
And are set to get married!
Join them on Saturday, June 20, 2017
7:30pm in the evening
512 South Virginia Street
Reno, Nevada
Prepare for some mayhem – dinner, dancing and drinking
will commence immediately following the ceremony,
bring your own booze (just kidding, we got you covered)
Meredith “Apple” Claire
&
Edward “The Vampire” Cullen
Have finally made the leap
And are set to get married!
Join them on Saturday, June 20, 2017
7:30pm in the evening
512 South Virginia Street
Reno, Nevada
Prepare for some mayhem – dinner, dancing and drinking
will commence immediately following the ceremony,
bring your own booze (just kidding, we got you covered)
Together with their fam,
Meredith “Apple” Claire
&
Edward “The Vampire” Cullen
Would like to invite you
In joining them for their wedding festivities!
Join them on Saturday, June 20, 2017
7:30pm in the evening
512 South Virginia Street
Reno, Nevada
Prepare for some mayhem – dinner, dancing and drinking
will commence immediately following the ceremony,
bring your own booze (just kidding, we got you covered)
Mr. & Mrs. Roger Morris
And Mr. & Mrs. Allen Cullen
Are happy to announce that
Meredith “Apple” Claire
&
Edward “The Vampire” Cullen
Have finally made the leap
And are set to get married!
Join them on Saturday, June 20, 2017
7:30pm in the evening
512 South Virginia Street
Reno, Nevada
Prepare for some mayhem – dinner, dancing and drinking
will commence immediately following the ceremony,
bring your own booze (just kidding, we got you covered)
Mr. & Mrs. Roger Morris
And Mr. & Mrs. Marco DeSoto
Are happy to announce that
Meredith “Apple” Claire
&
Edward “The Vampire” Cullen
Have finally made the leap
And are set to get married!
Join them on Saturday, June 20, 2017
7:30pm in the evening
512 South Virginia Street
Reno, Nevada
Prepare for some mayhem – dinner, dancing and drinking
will commence immediately following the ceremony,
bring your own booze (just kidding, we got you covered)
Mr. & Mrs. Allen Cullen
And Mr. & Mrs. Adam Orwell
Are happy to announce that
Meredith “Apple” Claire
&
Edward “The Vampire” Cullen
Have finally made the leap
And are set to get married!
Join them on Saturday, June 20, 2017
7:30pm in the evening
512 South Virginia Street
Reno, Nevada
Prepare for some mayhem – dinner, dancing and drinking
will commence immediately following the ceremony,
bring your own booze (just kidding, we got you covered)
Mr. & Mrs. Roger Morris
And Mr. Allen Cullen & the late Mrs. Eilene Cullen
Are happy to announce that
Meredith “Apple” Claire
&
Edward “The Vampire” Cullen
Have finally made the leap
And are set to get married!
Join them on Saturday, June 20, 2017
7:30pm in the evening
512 South Virginia Street
Reno, Nevada
Prepare for some mayhem – dinner, dancing and drinking
will commence immediately following the ceremony,
bring your own booze (just kidding, we got you covered)
Conclusion
Remember that at the end of the day, your wedding invitation and how you word it is up to you. If it’s important to appease your family and friends, take the traditional approach (and make sure you know how to address your wedding invitations correctly too). If you’re feeling rebellious, get creative and let your personality shine! Just remember to touch upon the five steps from earlier, and more importantly — have fun!
