Your Guide to Wedding Invitation Wording (What You Need to Include, Etiquette, Tips and Examples)

Wedding invitation wording matters more than you think. After all, first impressions matter, and your invitation is the very first glimpse your guests will get of your wedding day magic.

We know how much goes into planning your wedding. Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life, and we know that you want every little detail to tell your story. Your invitation is no exception.

In fact, this is where your celebration begins.

Some of the most commonly asked questions that I get asked are about how to word your invitations. You may be trying to balance traditional etiquette with modern touches. You might be addressing complicated family dynamics and don't want to commit some horrible wedding faux pas. 

Whether you’re going for classic elegance or something playful and modern, consider this your complete guide to the wording of your wedding invitations. And remember, we are always here to answer any questions and make sure your love story shines through from the very first line - so do not hesitate to get in touch!

What do I need to include in a wedding invitation?

At a high level, even the most modern, minimalist invitation will still include these essentials, in roughly this order:

• The name of the couple 

• The date and time of the ceremony

• The ceremony and reception location (with full address)

• How to RSVP (with a deadline!)

  
  

From there, you can layer in personality, elegance, and meaning, but these basics will make sure your guests know where to go and when! 

Questions to consider before we write your wedding invitations

Before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s ask a few questions to help shape your invitation wording:

• Who’s hosting the wedding? This is probably the most important question when it comes to making sure we line up with invitation wording etiquette. Are you hosting as a couple, are your families contributing, or is it a blend of both?

• What is the tone of your day? Black-tie and formal? Cozy and intimate? Lighthearted and fun? There are no wrong answers, but there are choices that will help your invitations feel like your day. The tone you set here gives your guests a preview of what to expect and helps everything from your wording to your design feel aligned with the celebration you’re planning.

• Will your guests RSVP online, by mail, or both? Knowing how you'll collect RSVPs helps determine the wording and whether you need additional insert RSVP cards or space to share your wedding website.

• Is your wedding adults-only, or are children invited? This can be a sensitive topic for some guests, so deciding in advance helps you handle it clearly and kindly right on the invitation or in an enclosure.

• Are there any sensitive family dynamics you need to work around? If you’re honouring a late parent, acknowledging stepparents, or managing divorced families, we can help word your invitation so everyone feels respected and you feel at peace.

• Is there anything else you want to be included? Some couples like to share a meaningful quote, a dress code, or a note about unplugged ceremonies. If there’s something important to you, there’s always a way to reflect that in your wording.

Modern vs. Formal wedding invitation wording

Formal wedding invitations often follow traditional phrasing and etiquette. We will use full names (including formal titles) and spell out any dates and times. 

For example, a traditional wedding invitation might read: 

Mr. and Mrs. John Hamilton

and

Mr. and Mrs. William Calhoun

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of their children

Allison Nelson Hamilton

and

Noah Thomas Calhoun

on Saturday, the fifth of October

two thousand twenty-five

at half past four in the afternoon

Windsor Manor

Seabrook Island, South Carolina

Whereas an informal invitation might read: 

Allison & Noah

are getting married!

Join us on Saturday, October 5, 2025

at 4:30 PM

Windsor Manor

Seabrook Island, South Carolina

Dinner, dancing, and good vibes to follow.

These examples show the two ends of the spectrum, from very traditional to totally relaxed. You can also land somewhere in the middle, blending formality with personality to match the tone of your day.

What is the invitation wording etiquette when...(including examples)

Wedding invitation etiquette tends to come down to your specific circumstances. Let's walk through a few common scenarios we see all the time, including a sample (taken from all my favourite romantic movies) of how it might translate into wedding invitation wording.  

When the bride and groom are hosting the wedding? 

If the couple is covering the wedding themselves, the wording will typically reflect that. It might read as: 

Sally Albright and Harry Burns

joyfully invite you to celebrate their marriage

on Saturday, September 7, 2025 

at 4:00 PM

The Loeb Boathouse, Central Park

New York City, New York

When one or both sets of parents are included?

Depending on their involvement, you might want to include one or both sets of parents' names. 

If only one set of parents is being listed, it might look something like this: 

Mr. and Mrs. Humbert Florin

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of their daughter

Buttercup Elaine

to

Westley Dread Pirate Robertson

Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 5:00 PM

The Cliffs of Insanity

Guilder

Reception to follow

A quick note: If one person’s parents are hosting, it’s customary to leave off that person’s last name.  So, in the example above, I left it simply as Buttercup Elaine instead of Buttercup Elaine Florin. This is not the case if the child's last name is different from their parents’ or if their partner’s parents are also listed as hosts. In those cases, including the last name helps avoid confusion and keeps things clear.

If both sets of parents are listed, it might appear like this: 

Mr. and Mrs. Humbert Florin

and

Mr. and Mrs. Bartholomew Roberts

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of their children

Buttercup Elaine Florin

and

Westley Dread Pirate Roberts

(followed by the location information) 

When one of the parents has passed away?

Even though they have passed, many people want to acknowledge their late parents. There are ways we can honour your parent in a way that is respectful and appropriate. For example, you might say, 

Together with her late father, Dennis Reed,

and her loving mother, Barbara Reed,

Annie Reed

and

Sam Baldwin

invite you to join them in celebration

as they exchange vows

You may instead prefer to reference the surviving parent. Either option is perfectly acceptable and depends on what you are comfortable with. 

When one or both sets of parents are divorced?

Blended families are increasingly common, and there are a few general guidelines we follow in these instances: 

• Divorced parents’ names never appear on the same line, even if they are both unmarried.

• Traditionally, the mother’s name is listed first (but this is not a hard and fast rule).

• While traditional etiquette includes only the parents’ names, it’s entirely acceptable to acknowledge step-parents if that feels right for your family.

Here are two examples. The first is without a step-parent being listed, and the second includes a step-parent. 

Mr. Henry Kelly

and

Mrs. Patricia Kelly

together with

Mr. Thomas  and Elizabeth Fox

invite you to the marriage of their children

Kathleen Kelly

and

Joe Foxon

Saturday, the seventeenth of May

two thousand twenty-five

at half past four in the afternoon

The Conservatory Garden

New York City, New York

Here is an example that includes the bride's stepfather: 

Mrs. Patricia Kelly and Mr. Michael Ryan

and Mr. Henry Kelly 

together with

Mr. Thomas Fox

and Ms. Diane Shaw

invite you to celebrate the wedding of their children

Kathleen Kelly

and

Joe Fox

When it's an adult-only wedding (no children)? 

It’s absolutely acceptable to set boundaries around your guest list. However, you do want to make sure your message is clear and considerate. You can include a note directly on the invitation, but it is typically better to share those details on the RSVP card or include it on your wedding website.

For example, your card may read: Kat and Patrick would be delighted by the pleasure of your company at their wedding, but please note, this will be a celebration for adults only. They are so grateful for your understanding. 

How to RSVP on your wedding website 

If you’re skipping physical RSVP cards, make it straightforward for your guests by including your wedding website and a deadline to RSVP.

For example: Please RSVP by August 15, 2025 at www.AndieAndBenSayIDo.com.

When in doubt, keep your wedding invitation wording simple!

As our families and our lives become more complicated, you might worry about being able to fit everything on your invitation. 

If that sounds like you, just keep it simple: 

Together with their families

Mary Fiore

and

Steve Edison

invite you to celebrate their wedding 

Simple, straightforward, and no one is left out! 

Pearl Invitations - For all your wedding stationery needs

Your wedding stationery is the exciting beginning to your wedding journey and it should feel personal and meaningful. 

With so many decisions to make, we want choosing your wedding stationery to feel easy and supported. That’s why we pour our hearts into every detail of your wedding invitation suite. Your love story deserves to be told beautifully, honestly, and in a way that feels like you. 

From invitations to menus, signage, seating charts, and thank-you cards, we’re here to make sure everything feels just right. You don’t need to have it all figured out - that's what we're here for! We'll talk it all out, offering guidance and care every step of the way. 

Reach out for your consultation, or stop by and see us today!