Wedding Invitation Wording Examples
Wedding invitation wording follows the hosts: whoever is hosting is named first, followed by the request line, the couple's names, the date and time written out, the venue and city, and the reception line. "Request the honour of your presence" is used for religious ceremonies; "request the pleasure of your company" for everything else.
When the bride's parents are hosting
The traditional format. The bride is listed by first and middle name only; the groom by his full name.
[Bride's parents] request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter [Bride's name] to [Groom's name] [Date] at [Time] [Venue] [City] Reception to follow
[Bride's parents] request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter [Bride's name] and [Groom's name] [Date] · [Time] [Venue], [City] Dinner and dancing to follow
Together with their families
The most popular modern format — it honours everyone without naming who paid.
Together with their families [Bride's name] and [Groom's name] invite you to celebrate their marriage [Date] at [Time] [Venue], [City]
Together with their parents [Bride's name] & [Groom's name] request the pleasure of your company as they begin their life together [Date] [Venue] · [City]
When both sets of parents host
List the bride's parents first, then the groom's.
[Bride's parents] and [Groom's parents] request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their children [Bride's name] and [Groom's name] [Date] at [Time] [Venue], [City]
When the couple is hosting
[Bride's name] and [Groom's name] request the pleasure of your company at their marriage [Date] at [Time] [Venue], [City]
We're getting married! [Bride's name] & [Groom's name] [Date] · [Time] [Venue], [City] Join us for vows, dinner and a whole lot of dancing
Love, laughter and happily ever after. Join [Bride's name] & [Groom's name] as they say "I do" [Date] · [Venue], [City]
Divorced, remarried or late parents
Each parent is listed on their own line; a late parent is honoured with "the late" or a line of remembrance.
[Mother's name] and [Stepfather's name] and [Father's name] request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter [Bride's name] to [Groom's name] [Date] · [Venue], [City]
[Mother's name] and the late [Father's name] request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter [Bride's name] to [Groom's name] [Date] · [Venue], [City]
Together with their families and in loving memory of [Name] [Bride's name] & [Groom's name] invite you to their wedding [Date] · [Venue], [City]
Reception, RSVP and website lines
Short lines for the bottom of the card or a separate details card.
Reception to follow
Dinner and dancing to follow
Kindly reply by [RSVP deadline]
Please RSVP online by [RSVP deadline] at [Invitation link]
Details, travel and registry at [Invitation link]
Adults-only reception
Formal vs casual: the same invitation two ways
Formality comes from three choices: spelled-out dates and times, the request line, and whether the hosts are named. Compare these pairs and pick one tone for every printed and digital piece.
Formal: "Mr. and Mrs. James Carter request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Emily Rose to Daniel James Hughes, Saturday, the fourteenth of June, two thousand twenty-seven, at four o'clock in the afternoon."
Casual: "Emily & Dan are getting married! Saturday 14 June 2027, 4 PM. Come celebrate with us at [Venue], [City]."
Formal reception line: "and afterward at the reception" · Casual: "Party to follow!"
Formal RSVP: "The favour of a reply is requested by the first of May" · Casual: "Let us know you're coming by May 1!"
Same-sex couples and modern families
There is no fixed order — choose what reads best and stay consistent across the invitation, website and signage.
Together with their families [Bride's name] and [Groom's name] invite you to celebrate their marriage [Date] · [Venue], [City]
[Name] & [Name] are tying the knot! Join us on [Date] at [Venue], [City]
With joy, [Parent names] and [Parent names] invite you to the wedding of their children [Name] and [Name] [Date] · [Venue], [City]
Two hearts, one home, one big party. [Name] & [Name] · [Date] · [City]
Ceremony-only, elopement and later-celebration wording
[Bride's name] and [Groom's name] were married in an intimate ceremony on [date] and invite you to celebrate with them [Date] · [Venue], [City]
We eloped! 💍 Now let's celebrate properly. Join [Bride's name] & [Groom's name] for dinner, drinks and dancing [Date] · [Venue], [City]
Please join us for the ceremony [Date] at [Time] [Venue] A private reception for immediate family will follow.
Etiquette tips
- Formal invitations spell out dates and times ("Saturday, the fourteenth of June, two thousand twenty-seven, at four o'clock in the afternoon").
- British English uses "honour" and "favour"; American English uses "honor" — match your guests.
- Never print registry information on the invitation — put it on the wedding website.
- Send invitations 6–8 weeks before the wedding (10–12 weeks for destination weddings), with the RSVP deadline 3–4 weeks before the day.
Frequently asked questions
What is the correct order of wording on a wedding invitation?
Hosts, request line, couple's names, date, time, venue, city, then the reception line and RSVP details.
What does "together with their families" mean?
It signals that the couple and both families are hosting together, without specifying who is paying. It is the most common modern format.
Should the bride's or groom's name go first?
Traditionally the bride's name goes first. For same-sex couples, either order works — many choose alphabetical order or whichever reads best.
How do you include a deceased parent on a wedding invitation?
Write "the late [Name]" alongside the living parent, or add "in loving memory of [Name]" beneath the hosts' line.