How to Write a Chinese Wedding Invitation According to an Expert

Wedding planning has never been easy, and when you're figuring out how to incorporate two (or more!) cultures and languages, it can get that much trickier. This is clearly seen when couples are working on a Chinese wedding invitation. From including the double happiness symbol somewhere to ensuring their elders are properly honored and addressed, it's not a simple thing to do.

Thankfully, we spoke with Sarah Wang, principal planner at My Wedding Songbird, based in Arcadia, California, to help with this aspect of Chinese wedding planning. Wang is also an emcee and officiant, allowing her to help couples with more than just planning. She is Taiwanese and is fluent in both English and Mandarin.

In this article: What Is a Chinese Wedding Invitation? | Chinese Wedding Invitation Template | What to Write on Chinese Wedding Invites | How to Write Bilingual Chinese Wedding Invitations | Where to Buy Chinese Wedding Invitations

What Is a Chinese Wedding Invitation?

Wang says "Chinese wedding invitations are deeply rooted in cultural symbolism. Red and gold are the predominant colors, symbolizing joy, prosperity and celebration. Invitations are often issued formally in the names of the parents, especially in more traditional families, though modern couples sometimes host in their own names." This coincides with Chinese culture's heavy influence on respect for elders and family structure.

"Polite wording such as '敬邀' (respectfully invite) is preferred," Wang adds, mentioning how "dates may also be listed in both the Gregorian and lunar calendars, and the focus is typically on the wedding banquet."

Chinese Wedding Invitation Template

A Chinese wedding invite's focus on respectful requests and honoring elders is similar to many other worldwide wedding traditions. While this looks different depending on the couple, the following items are usually included in any Chinese wedding invitation card design.

1. Parents and Couple's Full Names

Most Chinese invitation cards for a wedding will include the parents' full names and the couple's full names, often with Chinese given names too. This shows respect for the parents who put in the work to raise the children to adulthood and acknowledges their financial contribution and desire to host the wedding.

2. Wedding Date, Time and Venue

It is common to include the wedding date and time in both solar and lunar calendars. This is especially fun to do if it lines up with lucky dates in the Chinese zodiac calendar. Chinese wedding invitations should also include the time of the wedding banquet, the venue's name and the address.

3. Double Happiness Symbol

Wang notes, "the 'double happiness' (囍, pronounced shuāngxǐ) character is nearly always included as it represents marital bliss." Most typically found at the top of the Chinese wedding invitation card, it wishes joy to the couple and all who attend the wedding.

4. A Polite Invitation Phrase

While many wedding invitations can get quite casual these days, nearly every Chinese wedding invitation wording template you find has a very "polite invitation phrase," according to Wang. A common way to write it is "敬備喜筵 恭請光臨—We respectfully prepare a banquet and request your honored presence."

5. RSVP Details

For a more modern touch, the RSVP details are requested using a WeChat QR code. This streamlines the RSVP and planning process for the couple.

What to Write on Chinese Wedding Invites

When it comes to Chinese wedding invitation card wording, couples will want to write the full names of their parents or hosts and themselves, along with all the details for the wedding and banquet. This follows similar customs set forth in Chinese wedding traditions. Here's a deeper dive into what this could look like.

Traditional Chinese Wedding Invitation Wording With Parents Hosting

謹訂於公曆二零二六年一月十日（農曆臘月二十二日，星期六）
為長女 王美玲 與 張偉 先生 舉行結婚典禮
敬備喜筵 恭請閣下蒞臨
王大明 王李秀蘭 敬邀

English: Mr. and Mrs. David Wang cordially request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Mei-Ling to Mr. Wei Zhang on Saturday, January 10, 2026. Banquet to follow.

Modern Chinese Wedding Invitation Wording With Couple Hosting

我們將於二零二六年一月十日（星期六） 舉行婚禮並設宴同慶 誠摯邀請您與我們一同分享喜悅
王美玲 & 張偉 敬邀

English: Together with our families, Mei-Ling Wang & Wei Zhang invite you to celebrate their wedding on Saturday, January 10, 2026. Reception to follow.

Casual or Simple Chinese Wedding Invitation Wording

It is easy to "include playful notes such as '我們要結婚啦! We're getting married!' with banquet details," Wang says. By adding this to either of the Chinese wedding invitation card templates above, a couple can bring a more light, festive feel to the celebration.

How to Write Bilingual Chinese Wedding Invitations

Wang shares some of the best multicultural wedding advice when it comes to writing a wedding invitation card in Chinese. First, bilingual wedding invites "are ideal for inclusivity." Use "Chinese for parents and elders, English for friends and colleagues." For the design layout, Wang advises "Chinese text can be placed on the right, English on the left (in keeping with traditional Chinese book flow) or separated top/bottom." She also emphasized that the "formal honorifics, equivalent to Mr. or Ms., should be carefully checked in Chinese, and name order always places the family name first." If you're struggling with any of this, go directly to the guest and ask how to properly address them or work with a trusted professional who is fluent in Chinese.

Another element to traditional Chinese wedding invitations is that they "were traditionally hand-delivered, though mailing is now more common." If a couple is able, hand-delivering is a wonderful way to honor the recipient and a chance for everyone to share the excitement together.

Where to Buy Chinese Wedding Invitations

When it comes to finding a traditional or modern Chinese wedding invitation card, there are a few places to look for the best options. Wang shares some of her go-tos below.

• The Knot Invitations: Curated by wedding experts, couples will find gorgeous invitations to customize in our online shop. If you've got your own design, you can upload that too. Options like our Double Happiness Wedding Invitation reflect respect and beauty with ease.
• Local Chinese Print Shops: Wang shares how couples can find a wide variety of ideas at local Chinese-owned and operated print shops. They're most commonly found "in cities with large Chinese communities, like Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Toronto and Vancouver." These spots are usually rich with experienced professionals ready to help couples perfect their designs and wording.
• Etsy: As an online marketplace made to showcase various artists, this is a great place to search for custom bilingual designs. Lots of stationers and calligraphers have storefronts here, giving couples a myriad of options that will bring their bilingual Chinese wedding invitations to life.
• Zazzle: This is Wang's go-to website for templates that can easily be edited and customized for a couple. With dozens of designs, it's another great place to peruse for ideas.
• Boutique Designers: Lastly, Wang encourages couples to go to "high-end options like Ceci New York or Bliss & Bone" if their budget allows. These designers "can create custom bilingual invitations" that will reflect a couple's heritage, hopes and themes all in one beautiful package.