How to Create the Perfect Wedding Invitation Wording
Wedding invitation wording is something that many people struggle with when they are planning to write their wedding invitations.
In most cases they don't know whose names should be included in the invitation, if the date should be written or used numerically, or if they should also include the reception information.
It can seem like there are a hundred and one things to consider.
Though your wedding invitation may not seem to be that important, it's very important it sets the tone for your entire celebration.
It will let your guests know who is hosting the wedding, if children are invited, where they need to go and the dress standard.
So, before you sit down and create your invitations, let's take a closer look at the structure of a wedding invitation.
A wedding invitation can be broken down into seven main sections and this will be the same no matter what type of wedding you are having these sections are:
1. Hosting Line
2. Invitation Line
3. Bride and Grooms Lines
4. Date and Time Lines
5. Location and Address Line
6. Reception Details Line
7. RSVP Line or Response Card
By tradition, wedding invitation text is written in the third person, rather than we or you. For example: The host of the wedding should request the pleasure of their company.
The following is a breakdown of the sections of the wedding invitation after the explanation you will find wedding invitation wording examples.
1. Hosting Line
The first is to determine who will be hosting for the wedding because they will be inviting the guests. The host is the person who will be paying for the wedding.
In most cases it will be the bride's family; however it is becoming quite common for the couple to pay for their own wedding. In other cases both sides of the family will contribute or the bride and groom will be paying for the wedding themselves.
| Bride's Parents Hosting the Wedding | Mr and Mrs Jack Thompson |
| When the Bride's and Groom's Parents are sharing the expenses | Mr and Mrs Jack Thompson |
| When the Bride's parents are hosting and paying but would like to mention the Groom's Parents although they may not be part of planning or paying for the wedding. | Mr and Mrs Jack Thompson |
| When divorced parents are co-hosting the wedding | Ms Anna Black Mr Jack Thompson |
| When the Bride's mother has remarried and both parents are co-hosting | Mrs David Smith and Mr Jack Thompson |
| When the Bride's mother and stepfather are hosting | Mr and Mrs David Black request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Emily Claire Thompson to John Harrison Jones |
| If the Bride's mother is widowed, she can use her maiden name and make mention of her late husband | The pleasure of your company is requested at the marriage of Emily Claire Thompson Daughter of Anna and the late Jack Thompson to John Harrison Jones |
| If the Bride and Groom are hosting the wedding themselves | Emily Thompson and Mr John Jones |
2. Invitation Line
This is where you can state the names of the invited guests. Couples or families only need on invitation between them. Do be sure to double check the spelling of their names.
| If the ceremony is at a church or other place of worship. | request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter |
| If the ceremony is at a non-religious venue an informal wording is most often used. | request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter |
| Both sets of parents hosting a less formal wedding. | would be delighted by your presence at the wedding of their children |
| Bride and Groom hosting a less formal wedding. | would like to invite |
3. Bride and Grooms Lines
The bride and grooms names are listed here on separate lines with the brides name first the two are linked together by using "to" or "and".
| Traditional | Emily Claire and Mr John Harrison Jones |
| Modern | Emily Thompson and Mr John Jones |
4. Date and Time Lines
It's is not necessary to state am or pm here as most people can work it out. However if you prefer you can substitute "in the morning" or in the afternoon after the time listed.
| Traditional | Saturday, the twenty second of February two thousand and twelve at half after three o'clock |
| Modern | Saturday, February 22, 2012 at 3.30pm |
5. Location and Address Line
This is where you give the details of where the ceremony (and reception if at the same location) being held.
Be sure to include the full address (if you feel that you need to include detailed instructions or map include this as a separate insert when sending the invitation).
For and elegant look don't use commas or punctuation. Type the address details using new lines.
If the ceremony is to take place in a church or other place of worship. |
Saint Mary's Cathedral Victoria Square, Perth |
| If the ceremony is at a noon religious location. | Caversham House 141 Caversham Avenue Caversham, Western Australia |
If you are having the ceremony at home or an unusual location.
You can mention the family name or simply say "our home" before the address |
Our Home |
Note: If you don't want children at the reception, you should make that known by writing "adults only reception to follow."
6. Reception Details Line
You may not want to include this on the invitation if not all your guests are invited to the reception. A separate reception card may work better for you.
The details that should be included on the invitation or separate card should be as follows: the time that the reception will start, the name of the reception venue and address.
| If the ceremony and reception are at the same location | and afterward at the reception |
Ceremony and Reception are at different locations and one invitation only is being printed.
The time of the reception should be mentioned before the address if there is a delay after the ceremony. |
Reception immediately following the ceremony or Reception at 6.30pm |
7. RSVP Line or Response Card
If your guests are to reply with their own stationery, email or telephone place the RSVP date in the lower left corner of your invitation (remember to include your address, email, or telephone number underneath).
| If the RSVP line is on the invitation place it in the lower left hand corner and the guests respond with their own stationery. | R.S.V.P. |
| If you are including a seperate response card. | Please respond before the end of December
|
Wedding Invitation Template
The following wedding invitation template to create your wedding invitation wording.
The first is to determine who will be hosting for the wedding because they will be inviting the guests. The host is the person who will be paying for the wedding. |
Hosting Line |
This is where you can state the names of the invited guests. Couples or families only need on invitation between them. Do be sure to double check the spelling of their names. |
Invitation Line |
The bride and grooms names are listed here on separate lines with the brides name first the two are linked together by using "to" or "and". |
Bride and Groom Line |
It's is not necessary to state am or pm here as most people can work it out. However if you prefer you can substitute "in the morning" or in the afternoon after the time listed. |
Date and Time Lines |
This is where you give the details of where the ceremony (and reception if at the same location) being held. |
Location & Address |
You may not want to include this on the invitation if not all your guests are invited to the reception. A separate reception card may work better for you.
|
Reception Details |
If your guests are to reply with their own stationery, email or telephone place the RSVP date in the lower left corner of your invitation (remember to include your address, email, or telephone number underneath). |
RSVP Line Or Response Card |
You can find more wedding invitation wording examples see invitation example page.
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