How to Word Your Wedding Invitations

How do I word my wedding invitations? What even makes up a wedding invitation? Wording your wedding invitations can be complicated and confusing, but it doesn’t have to be. Below, I’ve broken out the different parts of an invitation and how to word them.

Please note these guidelines are proper etiquette. If you want to do something unique and out-of-the-box – by all means, do it! Your wedding invitation is about YOU as a couple and doesn’t have to abide by all the rules.

Elements of an Invitation

While arrangement and wording on an invitation may differ, the elements typically remain the same:

  • The Hosts – Who is hosting the wedding?
  • The Request – What are you inviting guests to?
  • The Couple – Who is getting married? 
  • The Details – When & where is the wedding?
  • The Reception – Is it at the same location or different?

The Hosts – Who is hosting the wedding?

A wedding invitation is typically issued/given by the host(s). Start with the names of those issuing the invitation, traditionally the bride’s parents. Be sure to spell the hosts’ name(s) out and include titles where necessary. 

If you do not want to list the names of the host(s), putting “Together with their families” or “Together with their parents” is okay too.

If the couple is hosting, this “host line” would be left off of the invitation.

The Request – What are you inviting guests to?

A wedding of course! Right? Let your guests know this.

Are you having your wedding at a church? Use the request line: “request the honor of your presence.” Are you having your wedding at a non-religious, secular location? Use the request line: “request the pleasure of your company.”

The two above are definitely most traditional, but don’t be afraid to step outside the box. Request lines can also be an area where the personality of the couple shows! I’ve used “joyfully invite you to the wedding of…” for a simple and sweet request line.

The Couple – Who is getting married? 

The bridal couple are the stars of the invitation and their names are set off, on separate lines. “And” or “To” typically goes on its own line between the couples names.

Do I include the Bride’s last name on the invitation?

If the bride’s last name is the same as her parents’ above, it does not need to be repeated. If the couple or both sets of parents are to host, treat the names equally. Having the groom’s first and middle name? Then only use the bride’s first and middle.

There are times, as a designer, I find that the balance of the names is quite off if only the bride’s first and middle is used, but the groom uses his full name. This is where some wiggle room comes in – it is also okay to have the bride’s last name if it is already listed above with her parents and sometimes it looks much better this way! Trust your designer unless you have a set preference.

The Details – When & where is the wedding?

When – Date and Time

The date on the invitation should be spelled out with the year being spelled out on its own line. For example:

“Saturday, the tenth of August
two thousand twenty”

Notice, there is not an “and” in the year. It is also okay to write out “twenty twenty” if you want to have a more modern approach to the wording.

Want to be a little more modern and fun? Write your day only using numbers or be a little creative.

Where – Location

List the location on it’s own line with the address on the line below. You do not need to include street addresses of houses of worship or well-known locations. However, it’s becoming more common to include the street address especially for GPS navigating ease for your guests.

Note: You do not need to include a zip code of your location on your wedding invitations. Zip codes are for mailing purposes only. Don’t forget to spell out the state – never abbreviate!

The Reception – Is it at the same location or different than the ceremony venue?

Same location? Include a line at the bottom of your invitation such as “reception to follow” or “dancing and merriment to follow.”

Different location? Include a separate “reception card” that details where the reception is and when it begins.

Notes and extra guidance

ARE YOU HAVING AN ADULT ONLY EVENT?

This is one of the most common questions I receive about invitation wording. How do I tell my guests that I am having an adult only wedding?

The most proper way to signify who’s invited and who’s not is to use an inner envelope.  The outer envelope is addressed to the guests is a formal, proper manner, while the inner is addressed a little more informally to the requested attendees. For example, the outer envelope would have “Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Smith” and the inner envelope would have “John and Suzy.” You could also have “Jonathan and Susan” on the inner envelope if you wish to remain a little more proper/formal. It is clear to your guests who is invited.

A second way to indicate adults only is to have a place on your reply card that reads “____ of ____ attending”. You write in the number of guests invited in the second line and they will out the first line when they reply back. Don’t want to write them out? Variable numbers can be printed by your invitation designer!

Thirdly, have it on your wedding website! It’s super easy to include a link to your wedding website on a details card with your invitation. Direct guests there for more information and include the information there.

Using the wording “adult only” isn’t considered proper etiquette on your invitation. Having said all of that, if you are still worried about certain guests not following or understanding without it being directly worded, by all means, include it. This is your wedding and in the end you need to do what is going to make you feel the best.

SHOULD I USE HONOR OR HONOUR?

The British spelling “honour” is most traditional, but if you’d like to use the American spelling (“honor”) it’s still just as correct. Just make sure to be consistent throughout your wedding suite. For example, if you use “honour” on your invitation, spell “favour” on the reply card the British way.

RSVP CARD

You can personalize how you ask for replies, but remember to keep the wording consistent with the invitation. For example “the favor of a reply” typically matches the invitation wording “the honor of your presence”. For less formal invitation wording, such as “request the pleasure of your “, the RSVP wording would typically “Kindly reply by” or “Kindly respond by”.

DETAIL CARD(S)

Detail cards include any additional information for your guests. Examples include map/directions, accommodations, activities, or general details. 

This is a great place to include the website address to your wedding website! “For more details, visit…”

Final words

Ultimately, how to word your wedding invitations comes down to what you are looking for in your invitation. Formal? Go with a more traditional route. Casual? Go with a wording that is a little more fun and not as traditional. Fun? Be creative! Show your personality. At the end of the day – your invitation is about who you are as a couple – showcase that!

Until next time! xoxo,