Everything to Know About Wedding Invitation Wording

You're now well-versed in paper finishes, a font savant and a stationery-design aficionado—likely thanks to the guiding hand of the wedding stationer you found on The Knot Vendor Marketplace. Now comes your wedding invitation wording. Good news: It's not nearly as hard to decide what to write on wedding invitations as it is to choose between a wax seal or ribbon for your belly bands.

Simply put, the proper wording of a wedding invitation provides all the essential details, like the couple's full names, who's hosting the nuptials, the ceremony location and the reception venue. (Other details should be saved for enclosure cards or your wedding website.) The wording you choose can also wink at your wedding's level of formality. If you're telling guests to "come eat cake" with you, it's fair for them to assume they can leave their black-tie ball gown at home.

To point you in the right wordsmithing direction, we're sharing the ins and outs of wedding invitation etiquette when it comes to wording (WITH wedding invitation examples) below. But regardless of the verbiage you use, the only words your loved ones will say are "YES, we'd love to come."

In this article:

• What to Put on Your Wedding Invitations
• Wording Examples: Formal | Fun | Casual | Creative | Modern | Simple
• Etiquette
• FAQ

THE KNOT ORIGINAL VIDEO

What to Put on Your Wedding Invitations

So what should wedding invitations say, exactly? Of course, you'll want to include the who, what, where and when, but in what order? To make things as easy as possible for you, we've broken down the anatomy of traditional wedding invitation wording so you know what's what.

Photo: The Knot Invitations | Design: Tiana Crispino

• Host line: The opening line on a wedding invitation names the hosts of the event. If multiple parties are hosting, you only need to include names if you're going for a formal feel. If you're hosting the wedding yourselves, this line can be omitted.
• Attendance request: The request to attend lets guests know exactly what they're being invited to. (Cue the happy dance at the mailbox.)
• Your names: Now for the main event: your names! The names of the couple are usually displayed in larger text (and oftentimes in a fancy typeface too).
• Date and time: Traditional wedding invitation wording requires the date and time to be spelled out in full, while numerical figures are often used on modern invites. If you're using figures, choose a legible font—a "2" that's easily mistaken for a "5" could cause a lot of confusion.
• Location: Write the name and full street address of your wedding venue, including the state and zip code. If your wedding is taking place abroad, include the country as well.
• Reception details: If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, just say "reception to follow." If the reception is somewhere else, you can include the full address and other pertinent information on a separate details card tucked in with your main invitation.
• OPTIONAL, dress code: Including dress code information isn't compulsory, but it can be helpful. Mention the dress code in the lower corner or bottom center of the invite. Alternatively, use a details card or your wedding website to share these deets.

Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

Seeing wedding invitation phrasing in action is helpful to make sense of the layout and spark some unique wording ideas of your own. (And don't forget to check out the designs at The Knot Invitations if you're not set on stationery yet—the text is fully customizable.) And a quick note: If one person's parents are hosting, it's customary to leave off that person's last name. However, if the person getting married has a different last name from their parents, include it. The person's last name should also be included if their partner's parents are involved in hosting.

Formal Wedding Invitation Wording

The biggest hallmark of formal wording on wedding invitations is that everything is spelled out. Specifically, the date and time should be written, not shown as numbers. Additionally, you should use the full name of the hosts and include the middle names of the individuals getting married.

Photo: The Knot Invitations

When parents are hosting:

One set of parents:

Mr. and Mrs. John L. Smith
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their son
Jack Alexander
to
Mason Jacob Kim
Saturday, the seventeenth of August
two thousand twenty-four
at half after four
at [venue name and address]
Reception to follow

Both sets of parents:

Kenzie M. Smith and Jennifer L. Smith
Mark Franklin and Mary Elizabeth Reyes
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Olivia Rose
and
John Michael
Saturday, the seventeenth of August
two thousand twenty-four
at half after four in the afternoon
at [venue name and address]
Reception to follow

If the couple is hosting:

The honor of your presence
is requested at the marriage of
Jack Alexander Smith
to
Mason Jacob Kim
Saturday, the seventeenth of August
two thousand twenty-four
at half after four
at [venue name and address]
Reception to follow

Together with their families:

Olivia Rose Smith
and
John Michael Reyes
together with their parents
Kenzie M. Smith and Jennifer L. Smith
and Mark Franklin and Mary Elizabeth Reyes
request the honor of your presence
at their wedding
Saturday, the seventeenth of August
two thousand twenty-four
at half after four in the afternoon
at [venue name and address]
Reception to follow

Fun Wedding Invitation Wording

You're the kind of couple that's more about disco balls than ballrooms. And your invite wording should reflect that. These fun wedding invitation suggestions will ensure your phrasing indicates guests are in for the bash of a lifetime.

When parents are hosting:

One set of parents:

John and Betty Smith
invite you to raise a glass
at the marriage of their son
Jack Alexander
to
Mason Jacob Kim
Saturday, August 17, 2024
at 4:30 in the afternoon
at [venue name and address]
Dinner and dancing to follow

Both sets of parents:

Kenzie Smith and Jennifer Smith
Mark Franklin and Mary Reyes
hope you'll join them on the dance floor
to celebrate the marriage of their children
Olivia Rose
and
John Michael
Saturday, August 17, 2024
at 4:30 in the afternoon
at [venue name and address]
Merriment to follow

If the couple is hosting:

Come party with us
Jack Alexander Smith
and
Mason Jacob Kim
are tying the knot
Saturday, August 17, 2024
at 4:30 in the afternoon
at [venue name and address]
Dinner and dancing to follow

Together with their families:

Olivia Rose Smith
and
John Michael Reyes
with their parents
Kenzie Smith and Jennifer Smith
and Mark Franklin and Mary Reyes
Request you to eat, drink and be merry
at their wedding
Saturday, August 17, 2024
at 4:30 in the afternoon
at [venue name and address]
Dinner and dancing to follow

Casual Wedding Invitation Wording

Whether you're having a small, chill wedding or your style is just more casual, informal wedding invitation wording is an appropriate choice. The request to attend can feel more conversational and numbers should be used to convey the date and time.

When parents are hosting:

One set of parents:

John and Eliza Smith
invite you to share in their joy at the marriage of their son
Jack Alexander
to
Mason Kim
Saturday, August 17, 2024
at 4:30 in the afternoon
at [venue name and address]
Reception to follow

Both sets of parents:

Kenzie and Jennifer Smith
along with Mark and Sally Reyes
invite you to share and celebrate the marriage of their children
Olivia Rose
and
John Michael
Saturday, August 17, 2024
at 4:30 in the afternoon
at [venue name and address]
Reception to follow

If the couple is hosting:

Jack Alexander Smith
&
Mason Jacob Kim
invite you to share in their joy at their wedding
Saturday, August 17, 2024
at 4:30 in the afternoon
at [venue name and address]
Reception to follow

Together with their families:

Jack Alexander Smith
&
Mason Jacob Kim
together with their parents
invite you to their wedding
Saturday, August 17, 2024
at 4:30 in the afternoon
at [venue name and address]
Reception to follow

Creative Wedding Invitation Wording

Maybe your wedding has a strong theme, or maybe you just enjoy thinking outside the box as a couple. Either way, feel free to get creative with what to include on a wedding invitation. And as long as you have the essential info, let wording conventions be damned and feel free to add in something quirky for the request to attend.

When parents are hosting:

One set of parents:

It's a wedding!
John and Eliza Smith
invite you to celebrate their son
Jack Alexander
as he weds
Mason Jacob Kim
Saturday, August 17, 2024
at 4:30 in the afternoon
at [venue name and address]
Party to follow

Both sets of parents:

Kenzie and Jennifer Smith
and Mark and Sally Reyes
can't wait to celebrate with you
at the marriage of
Olivia Rose
and
John Michael
Saturday, August 17, 2024
at 4:30 in the afternoon
at [venue name and address]
Party to follow

If the couple is hosting:

Good food, good drinks, good friends
Jack Smith & Mason Kim
Request you celebrate with them as they get hitched
Saturday, August 17, 2024
at 4:30 in the afternoon
at [venue name and address]
Party to follow

Together with their families:

Jack Smith & Mason Kim
together with their parents
invite you as they say "I do"
Saturday, August 17, 2024
at 4:30 in the afternoon
at [venue name and address]
Party to follow

Modern Wedding Invitation Wording

Nowadays, you can change up the order of your details in modern wedding invitations. Put your names front and center at the top. Keep your verbiage sleek and straightforward. Add lines that feel more like a text message than a wedding invitation, if that suits you.

When parents are hosting:

One set of parents:

With much love
John and Eliza Smith
Invite you to celebrate their son
Jack Alexander
At his wedding to
Mason Jacob Kim
Saturday, August 17, 2024
at 4:30 in the afternoon
at [venue name and address]
Reception to follow

Both sets of parents:

Kenzie and Jennifer Smith
and Mark and Sally Reyes
hope you will attend the marriage of
Olivia Rose
and
John Michael
Saturday, August 17, 2024
at 4:30 in the afternoon
at [venue name and address]
Reception to follow

If the couple is hosting:

Jack Smith & Mason Kim
Would love to eat wedding cake with you
Saturday, August 17, 2024
at 4:30 in the afternoon
at [venue name and address]
Reception to follow

Together with their families:

Jack Smith & Mason Kim
and their joyful parents
hope you will attend their wedding
Saturday, August 17, 2024
at 4:30 in the afternoon
at [venue name and address]
Reception to follow

Simple Wedding Invitation Wording

Short, sweet and to the point. You're in love, you're getting married. A good wedding invitation message will convey that simply.

When parents are hosting:

One set of parents:

John and Eliza Smith
request your company
at the wedding of
Jack Alexander
and
Mason Jacob Kim
Saturday, August 17, 2024
at 4:30 in the afternoon
at [venue name and address]
Reception to follow

Both sets of parents:

Kenzie and Jennifer Smith
and Mark and Sally Reyes
invite you to the wedding of
Olivia Rose
and
John Michael
Saturday, August 17, 2024
at 4:30 in the afternoon
at [venue name and address]
Reception to follow

If the couple is hosting:

Jack Smith & Mason Kim
are getting married
Saturday, August 17, 2024
at 4:30 in the afternoon
at [venue name and address]
Reception to follow

Together with their families:

Jack Smith & Mason Kim
and their families
Invite you to their wedding
Saturday, August 17, 2024
at 4:30 in the afternoon
at [venue name and address]
Reception to follow

Wedding Invitation Wording Etiquette

Before you get any further down your wedding invitation checklist, consider these important etiquette tips about the language of your wedding invitations.

• Be concise: Overloading your invites with text can actually result in guests missing something important. Not to mention, it takes away from the gorgeous design you picked out. Clarity is key, so just give the essential details and leave the rest for your insert cards or wedding website.
• Consider the host: Traditionally, wedding invitation wording includes the name of the person hosting (i.e. paying for) the wedding. Nowadays, this isn't always the parent(s) of a bride. Still, it's respectful to list anyone contributing to your big day on your invites, either by name or in the form of a short line, like "together with their families."
• Consider formality: How you word your wedding invitations correlates to the formality of the occasion. If you want guests to wear black-tie attire, opt for traditional wording. Conversely, if you'd prefer to keep it casual on your wedding day, feel free to explore modern and playful phrasing.
• Include an insert card: There are certain pieces of information that don't belong on a wedding invitation—most notably, your registry details. Instead, provide guests with a link to your wedding website on a separate insert card. (Psst, The Knot has matching wedding websites and invitations for a cohesive design experience.) You can also use an insert card for anything that doesn't fit on your wedding invites, such as dress code advice or details of a backup venue in case of bad weather.

Wedding Invitation Wording Frequently Asked Questions

Still have some questions about how to write your wedding invitations? We address the most common wording questions below, including the protocol for whose name goes first and the proper language to use for dress code details.

Whose name goes first on wedding invitations?

If you're following traditional etiquette, the bride's name always goes first on wedding invitations. That said, it's really up to you to decide whether or not this tradition is something you want to follow. For couples that don't identify as a bride and groom, or if there are two brides, names are typically listed in alphabetical order.

How do you word a reception-only wedding invitation?

It's important to use the proper wedding invitation wording when requesting guests' attendance at a reception-only celebration. Make some small tweaks to the wedding invitation copy, such as replacing "request the honor of your presence at the wedding of" with "request the honor of your presence to celebrate the wedding of." If you've already held the ceremony, the invites can double as wedding announcements. Feel free to add a line at the top stating that you've tied the knot, followed by a request to attend the reception.

How should you write the dress code on a wedding invitation?

Stuck on wedding invitation verbiage etiquette for requesting a specific dress code? As we mentioned earlier, this should be stated at the bottom of your invitations, on a separate insert card or on your wedding website. There are a few different ways to phrase this information. Try these if you're looking for something concise to add to your invitation:

Black tie optional

Cocktail attire

Dress casual

Can you list multiple venues on your wedding invitation?

Whether you're holding additional events (think: an after-party) or the ceremony and reception are in separate locations, sometimes it's necessary to include more than one address on your wedding stationery. If the event is taking place on the same day as the ceremony and there's space for more copy on your wedding invitations, feel free to add the details beneath the reception information. If the event is taking place the following day or throughout a wedding weekend, like a welcome party or farewell brunch, the easiest way to inform your guests without overloading your invites is by including a separate details card outlining the timeline of events.