What to include on a wedding invitation
Almost every wedding invitation follows the same order, whatever its style. Keep these lines, in this order, and the wording will read naturally:
| Line | What it says | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Host line | Who is inviting | Mr and Mrs David Harper |
| 2. Request line | The invitation itself | request the pleasure of your company |
| 3. The couple | Who is getting married | Emily Rose Harper and James Lee Carter |
| 4. Date and time | When | on Saturday, the fourteenth of June, at four o’clock |
| 5. Venue | Where, with the city | The Grand Conservatory, Boston, Massachusetts |
| 6. Reception line | What follows the ceremony | Dinner and dancing to follow |
| 7. Reply | How and by when to RSVP | Kindly reply by the first of May |
Two small choices set the tone. “Request the honour (honor) of your presence” is traditionally used when the ceremony is in a place of worship; “request the pleasure of your company” is used for any other venue. On formal invitations, dates and times are spelled out in words; on modern ones, numerals are fine.
Traditional and formal wedding invitation wording
Formal wording names the hosts first. Traditionally these were the bride’s parents; today it is just as often both families or the couple themselves.
Mr and Mrs David Harper
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Emily Rose
to
James Lee Carter
Saturday, the fourteenth of June
two thousand twenty-seven
at four o’clock in the afternoon
Saint Mary’s Church
Boston, Massachusetts
Together with their families
Emily Rose Harper
and
James Lee Carter
request the pleasure of your company
at the celebration of their marriage
Saturday, June 14, 2027
at four o’clock
The Grand Conservatory
Boston, Massachusetts
Dinner and dancing to follow
Mr and Mrs David Harper
and
Mr and Mrs Michael Carter
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their children
Emily Rose and James Lee
Saturday, the fourteenth of June
at four o’clock
The Grand Conservatory, Boston
Emily Harper and James Carter
invite you to celebrate their marriage
Saturday, June 14, 2027
at four in the afternoon
The Grand Conservatory
Boston, Massachusetts
Reception to follow
“Together with their families” has become the most popular modern-traditional line: it honours both families without naming everyone, and it works when parents are divorced, remarried or contributing in different ways.
Modern, simple and casual wording
Relaxed weddings call for relaxed words. Keep the order of the details, but write the way you talk.
Emily and James
are getting married
Saturday, June 14, 2027
4 pm
The Grand Conservatory, Boston
Reception to follow
Join us as we say “I do”
Emily Harper & James Carter
June 14, 2027 · 4 pm
The Grand Conservatory, Boston
Dinner, drinks and dancing to follow
We’re getting married!
Come celebrate with Emily & James
Saturday, June 14 at 4 pm
The Grand Conservatory, Boston
Good food, great music, comfy shoes
Emily & James
are tying the knot
and it wouldn’t be a party without you
June 14, 2027 · 4 pm
Boston
Eat, drink and be married
Wording for special situations
Add a final line after the venue: “Reception to follow” if it is at the same place, or “Reception immediately following at The Harbor Club” if it is elsewhere.
Emily and James were married in a private ceremony and invite you to celebrate with them at a reception on Saturday, June 14, at seven o’clock.
Put it on the details or RSVP line, not in the main wording: “We love your little ones, but our celebration will be adults only.”
Name each parent on their own line, without “and”: “Ms Laura Harper / Mr David Harper / request the pleasure of your company…”. Or use “Together with their families”.
Name them with “the late”: “Emily Rose, daughter of Laura Harper and the late David Harper, and James Lee Carter…”.
Give the date early and the country clearly: “Join us in Santorini, Greece, for the wedding of Emily and James, June 14, 2027. Details and travel information to follow.”
Christian invitations often open with a verse, such as “Many waters cannot quench love” (Song of Songs 8:7). Muslim invitations often open with “In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful” and may quote Surah Ar-Rum 30:21.
Write the main lines in both languages, one under the other, or send each side of the family a version in its own language. Keep names and dates identical in both.
RSVP and plus-one wording
The reply line should say how to answer and by when. On a printed invitation it often sits on a separate reply card; on a digital invitation it goes at the end, next to the reply button.
The favour of a reply is requested by the first of May.
Please RSVP by May 1.
Kindly reply by May 1 using your personal link.
We have saved a seat for you and a guest.
We have reserved one seat in your honour.
Please let us know about any dietary requirements when you reply.
Save-the-date wording
A save the date only needs the names, the date and the place. It does not ask for a reply. Send it 6 to 8 months before the wedding, or 8 to 12 months before a destination wedding.
Save the date
for the wedding of
Emily Harper & James Carter
June 14, 2027
Boston, Massachusetts
Formal invitation to follow
Mark your calendar!
Emily & James are getting married
06.14.2027
Boston
Invitation and details coming soon
Wording for digital invitations and messages
A digital invitation can say the same things as a printed one, but it does not have to fit everything on one card. Keep the invitation itself short and put the extra details where guests look for them: the programme, the dress code, a map link and the RSVP form.
When you send the link by WhatsApp, email or text, add a short personal message:
Dear Aunt Sarah, we would love for you to celebrate with us. Here is your invitation, with all the details and a link to reply: [link]
It’s official! Here’s your invite to our wedding on June 14. Let us know if you can make it by May 1: [link]
Short quotes and verses for wedding invitations
A single line above or below the invitation adds warmth. Choose one that sounds like the two of you, and keep it short.
- “Two hearts, one love.”
- “And so the adventure begins.”
- “Love is patient, love is kind.” (1 Corinthians 13:4)
- “Many waters cannot quench love.” (Song of Songs 8:7)
- “He placed between you affection and mercy.” (Surah Ar-Rum 30:21)
- “Today, tomorrow and always.”
- “Together is our favourite place to be.”
Wedding invitation etiquette
- Use full names on formal invitations, including middle names if you like; first names are fine on casual ones.
- Traditionally the bride’s name comes first. When the couple hosts, either order is correct.
- Spell out dates and times on formal invitations, and avoid abbreviations such as “St.” or “Ave.” where you can.
- Do not print gift registry details on the invitation itself. Share them on a details card or your wedding website.
- Say clearly who is invited. The names on the envelope or the personal link tell guests whether partners or children are included.
- Send invitations 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding, or 10 to 12 weeks before a destination wedding, and set the RSVP date 3 to 4 weeks before the day.
- Have two people proofread names, dates, times and addresses before you send anything.
Wedding invitation wording questions
What is the correct wording for a wedding invitation?
In order: who is hosting, the request (“request the pleasure of your company”), the couple’s names, the date and time, the venue and city, what follows the ceremony, and how to reply.
Should I write “honour of your presence” or “pleasure of your company”?
“Honour of your presence” is traditionally used for ceremonies in a place of worship. “Pleasure of your company” is used for all other venues.
Whose name goes first on a wedding invitation?
Traditionally the bride’s name comes first, because her parents were the hosts. If you are hosting yourselves or with both families, either order is fine.
How do you word a wedding invitation from both families?
The simplest way is “Together with their families, [names] request the pleasure of your company at the celebration of their marriage”. You can also name both sets of parents at the top.
How do I say “adults only” politely?
Address the invitation only to the adults invited, and add a gentle line on the details or RSVP card, such as “Our celebration will be adults only.”
Is it OK to put the registry on the wedding invitation?
Traditional etiquette says no. Share registry details on your wedding website or a separate details card instead.
What should the RSVP line say?
How to reply and by when, for example “Kindly reply by May 1” or “Please RSVP using your personal link by May 1”.
When should wedding invitations be sent?
About 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding, or 10 to 12 weeks before for a destination wedding. Save the dates go out 6 to 8 months ahead.