Wedding Invitation Wording

A WORD ABOUT YOUR WEDDING INVITATION

Wedding invitations are more than just an announcement; they set the tone for your special day. Even the best laid wedding plans may come undone with a lacklustre wedding invite. Do we mean the invitation design itself? Not entirely. Whilst colours, graphics, fonts, and layout are most certainly aesthethically pleasing, the most crucial part is the wording itself. After all, how does one know where they need to be, at what time, how to dress, or what to bring?

We dive into wedding indivitation wording, from traditional and formal to more modern takes; with alternatives for differing family situations that include divorced, remarried, or late parents.

The Basics: Who, What, When, Where

The main content of a wedding invitation includes the names of the couple, the date and time of the wedding, the venue’s location, and RSVP details. If you want a minimalistic wedding invitation, simply include these key pieces of information (you can always put more detailed information via a QRCode, on a wedding website, Facebook event, or circulate it via email/text).

1. The Host Line

Traditionally, the bride’s parents host the wedding, and thus, their names appear at the top of the invitation. However, as family dynamics and financial responsibilities have shifted over time, it is common to see other variations such as both sets of parents or even the couple themselves hosting.

Bride’s Parents Hosting:

Mr. and Mrs. John and Janet Jones
request the pleasure of your company
at the wedding of their daughter

Groom’s Parents Hosting:

Mr. and Mrs. Samuel and Sally Smith
request the pleasure of your company
at the wedding of their son

Both Parents Hosting:

Mr. and Mrs. John and Janet Jones
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel and Sally Smith
request the pleasure of your company
at the wedding of their children

Couple Hosting:

Charlotte Jones and Oliver Smith
together with their parents
Mr. and Mrs. John and Janet Jones
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel and Sally Smith
request the pleasure of your company
at their wedding

Divorced/Remarried Parents of the Bride/Groom

What if your family situation looks different to a nuclear family? We’ve got you! For divorced parents, the golden rule is to remove the ‘and’ between their names. If they’re on good terms, you may consider replacing ‘and’ with ‘with’ or ‘along with’. However, it’s typically best to list them on individual lines. This will certainly be helpful in the case of remarriage or de-facto relationships where additional names may be listed.

Bride’s (OR Groom’s) Parents Hosting – parents divorced:

Mr. John Jones
Ms. Janet Jones
request the pleasure of your company
at the wedding of their daughter

Bride’s (OR Groom’s) Parents Hosting – one parent remarried:

Mr. and Mrs. John and Eliza Jones
Ms. Janet Jones
request the pleasure of your company
at the wedding of their daughter

Bride AND Groom’s Parents Hosting – one set of parents divorced:

Mr. John Jones
Ms. Janet Jones
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel and Sally Smith
request the pleasure of your company
at the wedding of their children

Bride AND Groom’s Parents Hosting – both divorced parents remarried:

Mr. and Mrs. John and Eliza Jones
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew and Janet Davis
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel and Sally Smith
request the pleasure of your company
at the wedding of their children

Couple Hosting – one set of parents divorced:

Charlotte Jones and Oliver Smith
together with their parents
Mr. John Jones
Ms. Janet Jones
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel and Sally Smith
request the pleasure of your company
at their wedding

Couple Hosting – with many different relational situations [as described below]:

Charlotte Jones and Oliver Smith
[Bride and Groom]

together with *their parents
[*May choose to leave out ‘their parents’ pending step-relationships]

Mr. and Mrs. John and Eliza Jones
[Father of Bride + Stepmother of Bride who has taken his surname]

Mr. Matthew David and Mrs. Janet Jones
[Stepfather of Bride + Mother of Bride who kept her surname]

Mr. Samuel Smith
[Father of Groom – not remarried]

Mr. Barry Calder and Mrs. Sally Sweeney
[Stepfather of Groom + Mother of Groom who has reverted to her maiden name]

request the pleasure of your company
at their wedding

Late/Deceased Parents of the Bride/Groom

Whilst it’s perfectly acceptable to solely list the surviving parent, including a parent that has passed away on the wedding invitation can be very meaningful. Here are some examples:

Bride’s (OR Groom’s) Parents Hosting:

Mr. John Jones and the late Mrs. Janet Jones
request the pleasure of your company
at the wedding of their daughter

Bride AND Groom’s Parents Hosting:

Mr. and Mrs. John and Janet Jones
and
Mr. Samuel Smith and the late Mrs. Sally Smith
Invite you to share in the joy
of marriage uniting their children

Couple Hosting:

Charlotte Jones
Daughter of Mr. John Jones
and the late Mrs. Janet Jones
&
Oliver Smith
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel and Sally Smith
request the pleasure of your
company at their marriage

OR

Charlotte Jones and Oliver Smith
together with their parents
Mr. and Mrs. John and Janet Jones
Mr. Samuel Smith and the late Mrs. Sally Smith
request the pleasure of your company
at their wedding

2. The Request Line

This is where you formally invite the guest to the wedding. For religious venues, it’s common to use “request the honour of your presence,” while for non-religious venues “request the pleasure of your company” is used. Examples include:

request the honour of your presence

request the pleasure of your company

cordially invite you to attend

invite you to join them in celebrating

3. The Couple

Traditionally, the bride and groom’s first, middle, and surnames are listed on the wedding invitation. In modern times, anything goes! Most couples prefer to match the level of formality of the wedding (e.g. the more formal, the ‘fuller’ the name). For a relaxed wedding, or if one party isn’t particularly partial to their middle name, then just first names may be used.

Charlotte Ava Jones and Oliver Jack Smith

Charlotte Jones and Oliver Smith

Charlotte and Oliver

Charlie and Ollie

4. Date and Time

Traditionally, numbers and times are spelled out, and it’s common to exclude “in the afternoon” or “in the evening” since the time of day can usually be inferred. Modern takes may include numerical figures, or a mix of both numerical and spelt words. These days it is less popular to send out ceremony only invitations, however it is still helpful to mention the reception, so that guests are clear which celebration/s they are invited to.

Saturday, the eighteenth of May
two thousand and twenty-four
at half past three
reception to follow at five o’clock

Saturday, eighteenth of May
two thousand twenty-four
ten in the morning
long lunch to follow

Saturday, 18 May 2024
3:30pm for a 4pm start
Ceremony only

18.05.24
3pm | Ceremony at <venue>
5pm | Reception at <venue>

5. Ceremony and Reception Location

The full physical address isn’t always necessary unless the venue is unfamiliar to most of the guests, out of town, or not easily found on a search engine or GPS. If the venue has more than one ceremony space or function room, it is helpful to indicate this on the wedding invitation, so that guests aren’t mistakingly rocking up to someone else’s event:

Factory51, Brisbane

The Workshop, Factory51
51 Holdsworth Street, Coorparoo
Queensland, Australia

If the reception is in a different location, it can be included following the ceremony details, or on a separate card.

Reception to follow at Factory51

Reception to follow at
The Workshop, Factory51
51 Holdsworth Street, Coorparoo
Queensland, Australia

6. RSVP

Traditionally, a separate card for RSVP is included, with check boxes to accept or decline the invitation. It is important to remember to include space for dietary requirements to be listed.

Kindly respond on or before the first of June

Name(s):__________________
▢ Joyfully accept(s)
▢ Regretfully decline(s)
Number attending:____

Are there any Dietary Requirements?
▢ Yes
▢ No
Please detail: __________________

However, a majority of contemporary weddings list the RSVP on the main invitation, choosing to receive notification via email, phone, or online:

RSVP with dietary requirements by the first of June to <email/mobile>

RSVP by the first of June with dietary requirements
<wedding website / URL / QR code>

Special Considerations

While the above provides a framework, it’s essential to understand that modern wedding invitations often blend tradition with contemporary elements. Wedding invitation wording may need to adjust to suit different family dynamics and cultural distinctives. As with all things wedding-related, it’s essential to find a balance that genuinely reflects who you are as a couple.

If you’re holding your ceremony and/or reception with us at Factory51, we’d be happy to proof your wedding invitation! Feel free to send it on through. If you’re still looking for that very special venue to house your celebrations, contact our Event Manager Courtney – she’d love to show you around our industrial chic space.

For unforgettable wedding stationery and signage: Laura Elizabeth Designs