The Basic Rules for Your Wedding Invitation Wording

Your wedding invitation is an important part of the plan.When it comes to your wedding, your invitations are not only one of the first things your guests see, touch, and feel, but they play an important role in conveying important messages.For the sake of politeness and formality, and for the sake of information clarity, please be sure to choose a clear and appropriate wording on the wedding invitation.

Worried that you’re not verbal, or that you don’t know all the “rules” for wedding invitation wording?Follow our comprehensive guide outlined below to learn the full details of wedding invitation etiquette. Based on these basic parts, you can then feel free to elaborate your wording to create your own.

Wedding invitations should include the following elements:

• THE HOST LINE
• THE REQUEST LINE
• THE NAMES OF THE BRIDE AND GROOM
• THE DATE AND THE TIME
• THE LOCATION
• THE RECEPTION LINE (IF APPLICABLE)

To help guide you, we’re breaking down what each part means and what it typically includes.

1. THE HOST LINE

The first line is often used to show who is hosting your wedding. Traditionally and primarily, the bride’s parents are the hosts. However nowadays, it can be any combination of the bride’s parent(s), groom’s parent(s), the bride and groom, step parents or the like..

2.The REQUEST LINE

This is where you actually ask for the pleasure of your guests’ company. Whatever the occasion, there are certain timeless expressions that are always appropriate and will never go out of style. These include:

• the honor (honour) of your presence is requested -or-request the honor of your presence (these are typically reserved for a church or place of worship)
• cordially invite you to attend
• request the pleasure of your company -or- the pleasure of your company is requested
• invite you to celebrate with them
• you are invited to attend
• please join us as we celebrate

2. THE NAMES OF THE BRIDE AND GROOM

Traditionally the name of the bride always precedes the groom’s name. If the bride’s parents are included on the invitation and she shares their last name, then only her first and middle name are used. This same rule applies for the groom. If the couple is hosting by themselves, last names are needed.

For a same-sex marriage, you can do whatever you like. You may choose to go in alphabetical order or choose what sounds better. Whatever you place the names, it’s going to be lovely either way.

3. THE DATE AND THE TIME

 This is the one line where I strongly advise you to stick to the basics, since you want people to actually come to your wedding. Time, date, and location should all be listed. For formal weddings, everything is written out in full (no numerals). For example:

four o’clock in the afternoon
Saturday, the second of June
Two thousand fourteen

4. THE LOCATION

The city and state should be written out in full in either case. For the street address, I have read many similar wording tips that say the street address of a venue is not usually needed, however here I will say that it is optional and it is never wrong to include it.

5. RECEPTION LINE

What’s coming after the wedding? Yes, it is the reception. If the wedding ceremony and reception are being held in the same location, there is no need for a reception card. At the bottom of the invitation, simply say “Reception to follow,” “Dinner and dancing to follow,” or something to that effect.