The wording for your wedding invitations can be formal as you like
Once you've chosen your stationery, so begins the wording. Whether you decide on stationery that is whimsical, classic, and traditional or something more creative, there are a few elements that stand. This ensures your invite will work and although guests expect a level of formality for such an important occasion, the good news is that wedding invitation etiquette really isn’t that complicated.
Line by line – who is hosting?
In essence, the name of the host goes at the top of the invitation. There is standard traditional wording for wedding invitations, for example, if the bride's parents are married they host the occasion. And with second marriages it is not uncommon for the hosts to be the couple themselves, or do so together with their parents. And no matter who is paying the bill, including names of both sets of parents as hosts is gracious. When considering your wedding invites, remember to leave space for your guests' names so that you can write them if they're not being printed on.
Who goes first on the invitation?
Traditional the bride's name proceeds the bridegroom on the invitation. For same-sex couples you can choose to go alphabetically as the woman or man name-first-rule doesn't apply. Here are some general formats to help you to consider. Feel free to use the rules below to tailor your own individual creations.
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Who is hosting (not necessarily the bill payer)
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A request to attend the wedding
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The names of the special couple
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The date and time of the ceremony
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The location
To keep your invite clutter-free, include a small enclosure or information sheet to clarify the following:
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Reception information
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Dress code
All accompanied by a very important accessory – the response or RSVP card. The envelope with the reply address and postage paid.
There are many ways to say please be our guest, try some of these...
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'the pleasure of your company'
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'would love for you to join them'
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'honor of your presence'
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'at the marriage of their daughter/son'
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'invite you to celebrate with them'
Traditional wording where both parents are married:
Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Bell request the honour of your presence on the occasion of the marriage of their daughter
Lily Anna Rose to Mr. Finlay Goodman
at St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge on
Saturday fifth of November 2021 at one o'clock and afterward at
The Bingham Hotel, London SW1
Thermograph printed wedding layered wedding invitation for St Audries Park
Bride and Bridegroom are hosting:
Miss Lily Anna and Mr. Alan Brady request the pleasure of your company
Bride's Father is host:
Mr. Gordon Bell requests the pleasure of your company at the marriage of his daughter Lily
Concertina style postcard invitation with perforated self-addressed reply card
Bride's Mother and Stepfather are the joint hosts:
Captain and Mrs. Alan Brady request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of her daughter Lily Bell
Bride's Father and her Stepmother are the joint hosts:
Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Bell request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of his daughter Lily
Pocket folder invitation set with belly band
Bride's Stepmother is the host:
Mrs. Gordon Bell requests the pleasure of your company at the marriage of her stepdaughter Lily
Bride's parents are divorced but are co-hosting:
Mr. Gordon Bell and Mrs. Tara Bell* request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Lily 'Mrs. Tara Brady' if she has not remarried.
Thermographed with Pantone silver and gold ink and mounted on board
Bride's relatives, guardian, godparents are hosts
Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Turner request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their ward Lily Bell*
*The bride's surname may be included if it is different to the host's/hostess'
Bride is hosting:
Miss Lily Bell requests the pleasure of your company at her marriage to Mr Finlay Goodman
Handmade invitation set Maurice, photo by Lauren Hughes, 2019
Bridegrooms are hosting:
Mr Finlay Goodman and Mr Gordon Bell request the pleasure of your company at their marriage
Brides are hosting:
Miss Lily Bell and Miss Sophia Mancini request the pleasure of your company at their marriage
Bespoke design wedding set package, Goodwood collection, photo by Lauren Hughes, 2019
Design adapted from the Couture Love Jasper collection with calligraphy envelope
What wording do I have if my parents have remarried or divorced?
As if planning a wedding wasn't complicated enough, best way to tackle this is to keep set's of parents on each line – and it may sound obvious, place the step-parent with their partner. Mum's name first (even if she's your step-mum). You can try a twist on this:
Mrs. Kristine Walker and Spencer Marks
and Mrs. Claire and Calvin Turner
and Mr. Rebecca Bell and Fred Dawes
invite you to the wedding of their children
Eden Turner and Lewis Dawes
on the First of September 2021
St. Marys Church, Portchester
Hampshire
Some other alternatives:
Roxy Days and Mark Gentle
Together with their families
invite you as they tie the knot
on the First of September 2021
Gosfield Hall
Essex
Louise Porteous and Danielle Inglebrett
would love your presence in celebrating their marriage
on the First of September 2021
at Leez Priory
Chelmsford
Together with their families
Diana Maplesden and Miles Notley
Have the honour of announcing
their marriage on
the 01.09.2020 at
Chateu du Bijou
France
Please join
Suella and Boris
as they tie the knot
House of Commons
June 8th 2021
We're getting married
Rachel Hillier & Jade Beer
Please join us on
the 01.09.2020 at
Botleys Mansion
We're getting married
Pierre and Garth
Invite you to join them as they say ' Do!'
on the 01.09.2020 at
Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth
Calvin and Claire Turner
Request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their daughter
Sophia & Toby
the third of September twenty-twenty
St. Marys Church, Portchester
Dinner and dancing to follow
Some other examples you can use for the invite wording:
'Get hitched'
'Tying the knot'
'Be our guest'