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You picked your color scheme, artsy details and font, now comes your wedding invitation wording. And, good news: It’s not nearly as hard to decide what to write on wedding invitations as it is to pick a design. But just to ensure you’re headed in the right direction, we’re sharing wedding invitation wording etiquette (with wedding invitation examples), below.
First and foremost, the text on your wedding invitations should be informative. It should spell out all the important details of your big day like who’s getting married, who’s hosting and where and when the ceremony and reception will take place. (Psst, everything else—like your registry and travel info—goes on your wedding website.) Your invites can also offer a sneak peek of your wedding aesthetic and style as a couple. For instance, if you’re planning a black-tie affair, formal verbiage would be most appropriate. However, don’t be afraid to go with casual or unique wedding invitation wording if that suits your relationship and nuptial plans better.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to do what you want with your invitations. (Read more about stationery traditions you can leave behind to see what we mean.) That’s why we’ve included both informal and formal wedding invitation wording samples below that fit all types of celebrations. Plus, read up on the biggest wedding invitation wording FAQs so you can nail every line.
In this article:
- What to Put on Your Wedding Invitations
- Wedding Invitation Wording Examples
- Wedding Invitation Wording Etiquette
- Wedding Invitation Wording FAQ
What to Put on Your Wedding Invitations
So what should wedding invitations say, exactly? Of course, you’ll want to include the who, what, where and when, but how and in what order? There’s a lot to consider when deciding on a wedding invitation format. To make things as easy as possible for you, we’ve broken it down into a few simple steps.
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The host line. The opening line on a wedding invitation is typically reserved for the hosts of the event. If multiple parties are hosting, it’s only necessary to include names if you want formal invitations. If you’re hosting the wedding yourselves, this line can be omitted.
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The request to attend. An explicit request to attend lets guests know exactly what they’re 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.
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The couple’s names. Next comes the most important information of all: the names of the couple. These are usually printed in a larger font than the rest of the wedding invitation text. Feel free to play around with fancy typefaces here, too.
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The date and time. When stating the wedding date and time, there are two things to keep in mind: formality and clarity. Traditional wedding invitation wording requires the date and time format to be spelled out in full, while figures are often used on modern invites. If you’re using figures, make sure the font you choose is clearly legible—a “2” that’s easily mistaken for a “5” could cause a lot of confusion.
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The venue location. Be as specific as possible when writing the name and full street address of your wedding venue, including the state and zip code. If your wedding is taking place abroad, include the country as well. It’s important that guests know exactly where they are expected to be so they can organize travel and nearby accommodations if necessary. Plus, you don’t want anyone lost and, thus, late to the ceremony.
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The reception details. Finally, you need to let guests know whether or not the reception is taking place at the same location as the ceremony. If that’s the case, you can simply state, “Reception to follow.” If it’s in a different location, you can include that information on your invites or on a separate details card.
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The dress code. Including dress code information isn’t compulsory, but it can be very helpful for guests. You can state the dress code in the lower corner or centered at the bottom of the invite. Alternatively, use a details card or your wedding website.
Wedding Invitation Wording Examples
So you’ve picked your stationery design (if you haven’t, be sure to check out The Knot Invitations for hundreds of stunning and affordable options)—next comes figuring out how to write a wedding invitation. Here are a few basic tips before we get into wedding invite examples: If one person’s parents are hosting, it’s customary to leave off that person’s last name. However, if the person getting married has a different last name from their parents, write their full name. The person’s last name should also be included if their partner’s parents are involved in hosting.
Formal Wedding Invitation Wording Samples
The biggest difference between formal wording on wedding invitations and informal or casual wording is that you have to spell everything out. Specifically, the date and time should be written as words, not numbers. Additionally, remember that you should use the full name of the hosts and include the middle names of the individuals getting married.
Wording when parents are hosting
One set of 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 August
two thousand twenty-four
at half after four
Both sets of parents:
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 August
two thousand twenty-four
at half after four in the afternoon
Wording if the couple is hosting
The honor of your presence
is requested at the marriage of
Jack Alexander Smith
to Mason Jacob Kim
Saturday, the seventeenth of August
two thousand twenty-four
at half after four
Together with their families wording
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 August
two thousand twenty-four
at half after four in the afternoon
Casual Wedding Invitation Wording Samples
Whether you’re having a small, laid-back wedding or your style is just short and sweet, informal wedding invitation wording is an appropriate choice. The request to attend can feel more casual and conversational and numbers should be used to convey the date and time.
