Proper wedding invitation wording etiquette is a topic that every couple wonders how to do at one point or another, and ideally, no one wants to mess up or make a mistake when wording and sending out their invitations.

Since you never have to worry about wording invitations correctly until it’s actually time to order them, you probably never even really thought about it until this point.

At last… it’s time to word your invitations and we’re here to keep you from making any mistakes. :)

Learning how to word wedding invitations is easy once you know where to start.

Since wedding invitation wording and proper etiquette go hand-in-hand, this post will show you wording etiquette for wedding invitations and inspire you with customizable, easy-to-edit invites to make wedding invitation wording easier than ever before.

And here’s a little extra tip: if you run into questions along the way, ask an expert! Schedule a FREE 30-minute virtual wedding consultation with a professional at Minted and ask questions on wedding invitation wording, etiquette, design help, and more. It’s free + easy!

Ok, now let’s get started: invitations await!

For starters, let’s talk about what is included in the wedding invitation itself. It’s not just one card and an envelope: there are a few parts to the invitation you’ll want to know about for proper wording.

An invitation includes:

• Wedding Invitation Card

• RSVP Card

• Envelopes

Your invitation will include one outer envelope that is addressed; one inner envelope that keeps everything assembled nicely; one RSVP card envelope

• Map (optional)

• Reception Card (optional)

• Enclosure Cards

Any additional enclosure cards, as needed, can be included with your invitations.

Some couples use these cards for hotel accommodations, wedding weekend itineraries, things to do around town, a card to display the wedding website, and more.

If you already eloped and you’re planning a reception only, your wedding invitation wording will vary slightly. You can find out more aboutreception only invites here.

Here’s an example of reception-only invitation wording:

Now that you know the parts of the invitation, let’s talk about proper wedding invitation wording and what to include on your invites.

What Should Be Included in a Wedding Invitation

Your wedding invitation needs to include wording with these main points.

– The Host(s)

– A Formal Request to Attend Your Wedding

– The Names of the Couple (First and Last)

– The Wedding Date and Time

– Location of the Ceremony

– Reception Information Including Time and Location

– RSVP Card For Guests to Respond

Optional

– Dress Code, If Applicable

– Wedding Website

Let’s talk about each point, beginning with the host or hosts of the wedding.

What Is The Correct Wording for a Wedding Invitation?

Here are a few different scenarios to outline the correct wording for a wedding invitation, depending on who is hosting.

Wedding Invitation Wording for Bride’s Parents Hosting

If the bride’s parents are hosting the wedding, proper wedding invitation wording begins with:

“Mr. and Mrs. Michael Smith joyfully invite you to the wedding of…”

or

“Mr. and Mrs. Frank Wright request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter…”

You can see the wedding invitation wording here:

Wedding Invitation Wording with Both Parents Hosting

If both parents are hosting, you would word wedding invitations like this:

“Together with their parents, Avery and Blake request the honor of your presence….”

Or

“Mr. and Mrs. Michael Smith with Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gold joyfully invite you to the wedding of their children…”

This is, in my opinion, the best wedding invitation wording for both parents hosting. I just love the way it sounds!

“With great joy, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Westfield and Mr. and Mrs. Michael Franklin invite you to the wedding of their children, Annabelle Westfield and Jordan Franklin…”

You can see this invitation wording come to life on this example:

You can alternately make it all in one fell swoop with invitation wording like this:

“Together with their loving families, Avery Green and Blake Taylor invite you to witness and celebrate their wedding day…”

Here’s an example of this wedding invitation wording on paper:

Or this style, with wedding invite wording including “together with their families”:

Wedding Invitation Wording with Couple Hosting

If the couple is hosting (as many often do these days), you can include the inclusion of the families in the wording and it is customary to do so.

For instance:

“Kindly join us with our families for the wedding of…”

Or simply,

“You’re invited to the wedding of…”

as illustrated here:

Prefer to leave that portion out? Go for simpler wording by including just the names of you as the couple, like so:

“The wedding of ______ and _______ on September 24, 2024…”

as illustrated on the wedding invitation wording below:

Or simply,

“Kindly join us for the wedding of ______ and _______”

This easy wording begins with the couple’s names at the top, signifying they are hosting the wedding. The invitation wording would say something like,

“Meghan and Arnold kindly request the honor of your presence at their wedding…”

You can also make it easy with this invitation wording when the couple is hosting:

“Abigail and Jonathan invite you to join them as they exchange vows”

Once you have the proper invitation wording for hosting down pat, along with a formal request to attend, be sure to follow protocol for the wedding date, time, and location.

Invitation Wording for Date and Time

The wedding date is usually spelled out like this:

August 23, 2024

Simple enough! Month, day, and year. Perfect.

But for the time, it is customary — even for informal weddings — to include the time written-out, like this:

“One o’clock in the afternoon”

At the end: “Reception to follow”.

Or, for fun, “Dinner and dancing to follow”. :)

A separate enclosure card can include the details of the reception.

You can browse wedding invitation wording for reception cards and enclosure cards here and get inspiration, find matching directions cards, and reception cards of all kinds.

To recap, here is one full wedding invitation wording, with this example including both families hosting:

Together with their families

Mary Robison

and

Taylor Carson

Invite you to celebrate their wedding

August 23, 2024

4 o’clock in the evening

St. Michael of the Hills Church

Willbanks, North Carolina

Reception to Follow

Capitalize the first letter of each line and make sure the spacing is adequate for easy ready.

And be sure to follow this HUGE rule when it comes to wedding invitation wording: PROOFREAD!

Frequently Asked Questions About Wedding Invitation Wording

Here are some FAQs couples ask about wording.

Wedding Invitation Wording During Covid

Is wedding invitation wording during Covid different?

No, not necessarily. During covid, wedding invitation wording remains the same; however, you can include an enclosure card informing guests about social distancing, masks provided, etc. if you wish.

Wedding Invitation Wording for Friends

Do I write less formal invitation wording for friends?

No, all invitation wording should be the same whether mailed to family members or friends, colleagues, or co-workers.

Should I Include Wedding Registry or Gift Information?

No, never include anything about your wedding registry or gifts on the invitation itself OR in any enclosures.

Wedding Invitation Wording Templates

Are there places I can find wedding invitation wording templates or examples?

Yes! A great place to find invitation wording templates is by looking at invitation samples themselves here. When I was planning my wedding, I turned to actual invitations to see how they were worded for inspiration, along with invitation wording etiquette, to see how to do it correctly. Wording invitations isn’t tough, you just need to find the right formula that works best for your event.

Here are a few more examples to inspire you with wedding invitation wording templates you can use or customize. The best part? You’ll get to see exactly the proper wording you want and need, along with designs and colors, for a one-of-a-kind invite design. And then you can order it, all ready to go! Browse designs here.

And if you’re not feeling the formal vibe, and you just want to let loose and have fun with it, you can browse some informal wedding invitation wording examples here! It’s OK to have fun with it. Just be sure to properly include those who are hosting and, if not, then you may by all means word your wedding invitations however you see fit!

You’ll find get examples of formal and informal wedding invitation wording here. You’ll also find some creative and unique wording examples for invitations here.

And don’t forget: you can get FREE envelope addressing (what?! how easy is that!) and free custom envelopes ONLY at Minted. So, don’t miss it!

See? It’s not so hard! Now you’re a wedding invitation pro when it comes to wording! :) Want to keep the wedding invitation etiquette going? Read: Invitation Etiquette from A to Z.

Hope it helps!

XO
Emma

This is a partnered post with Minted.