Picking out wedding invitations is one of a brides’s most exciting duties. Invitations can be found in almost any color and design style imaginable. For example, the royal blue floral and yellow sunflower wedding invitation set that I designed shown above.
For many couples, picking out invitations that express their unique personalities is important. Many brides and grooms have moved away from the super-traditional wedding invitation designs and wording of times past, opting for more modern versions of timeless sentiments.
What to consider when writing wedding invitation wording
Writing the wording for a wedding invitation can be a challenging task. You want to express your personality while demonstrating good etiquette and communicating essential information. You also need to be concise because invitations are generally limited in space.
For many modern brides, wedding invitations will be complemented by a wedding website that also provides guests with information about the event, venue and couple. So this makes it easier to be concise and include only essential information.
When deciding on wedding invitation wording, there are a number of factors that must be taken into consideration:
- Have you included all the essential information?
- Do you want to use formal or informal wording?
- Do you want to include a reception insert card?
- How do you plan to collect RSVPs?
- How does who is hosting the wedding factor in?
- Do you want to include a nice verse or quote?
- Is there room on the invitation for the wording you want to use?
- Have you been concise?
- Have you made sure to check for spelling and grammar errors?
In addition to all these, in order to make the most of the invitation selection process, be sure that you have an excellent idea of the overall look and feel of your wedding itself prior to ordering invitations. That way, you can make sure you purchase invitations that suit the feel of your wedding.
Invitations 101: The Basics
A wedding invitation is designed to announce your upcoming marriage and to inform guests of the date, time and venue for your wedding. As such, your wedding announcement should include brief, general information about you and your partner as well as information about the big day itself. Both traditional and contemporary wedding invitations include this information.
Modern brides should feel free to pick fun, interesting invitations that reflect their personalities and sense of style. There is no right or wrong when it comes to the colors and styles to use for wedding invitations.
Do you need a reception insert card?
When picking invitations, it is important to decide if you need to include a card with information about your reception, known as a reception insert or enclosure card.
Such cards are usually included if your reception will be held in a venue different than that of your wedding ceremony. For example, often the ceremony is at a church and the reception is held at a hall.
Of course, you can choose to include the reception information on the wedding invitation. However, this may mean that your wedding invitation starts to look at bit cluttered with too much wording. This is especially true if you use formal date, time, and location address wording (see below for more information). Whether to include a reception card may depend on the wedding invitation design and the length of the other wording you are including.
Many couples use reception cards to provide wedding website information, registry information, transportation information and/or dress code information as well. Keep in mind that these are often small cards though and you should be careful with how much wording you add.
In addition, some couples will include additional larger size directions insert cards and/or accommodations insert cards for out-of-town guests. But most do not provide these additional insert cards these days.
What about RSVP cards?
You’ll also need to decide how you’re going to collect RSVPs. You may wish to do so with traditional RSVP inserts, which will require that you include a stamped, addressed return envelope for guest convenience.
RSVP postcards are also popular choices. Postcards are mailed without envelopes, so you only need to add stamps to them. Usually the return address is pre-printed on the back of a postcard. They are cheaper to mail, but get more beat up in transit.
You can also collect RSVPs via a wedding website, email or telephone. How you collect RSVPs is up to you, but it’s important that you keep your guest profile in mind. Some guests may not be Internet savvy; it’s important to include RSVP cards or a phone number for these guests.
RSVP cards sometimes will include meal choices for sit down style receptions. Some cards are smaller and will not fit this meal choice wording as well as some others. Sometimes meal choice wording can be added to the back of cards if necessary.
Whole blog posts have been written up on how to word RSVP cards. It’s a good idea to research the wording on these cards in order to get the best responses from your guests.
Essential elements to include on wedding invitations
All wedding invitations should include the following:
- The request to come to the wedding
- The names of the bride and groom
- The date and time
- The location
- Reception information (either on invitation or separate card)
- A way to RSVP (mail back insert card, email, phone, website)
Additionally, you can include dress code and wording that suggests who is hosting. Also, some other information cards, as mentioned above, can be included.
Note that, in terms of same-sex weddings, all these same guidelines can be followed! A wedding invitation is a wedding invitation and really the only things that change are personal details.
Formal versus informal wording
Formal wedding invitation wording is traditional. Many couples still like to use formal wording.
This means that you spell out the date, time and location. For example:
Saturday, the third of June
two thousand twenty
four o’clock in the afternoon
The Getaway Club
1234 Green Valley Road
Denver, Colorado
Note that Road is spelled out and so is Colorado. There is no need to add a zip or postal code to your wedding invitation location, as it is generally only used by the postal service. Some people add it because of GPS, but note that in the US, zip code is generally not helpful for GPS location finding as many addresses use the same zip code.
The year and “in the afternoon” aspects of the wording do not have to be included as they are generally assumed. For example, you would not host a wedding at four o’clock in the morning. However, many couples will include these in their wording regardless.
Note as well that officially, the capitals and commas as shown above are correct grammatically. The year is not capitalized and neither is the time. End punctuation is generally left off the ends of lines on wedding invitations unless they are necessary for readability or emphasis.
To indicate a half hour, you would generally use “half after four o’clock in the afternoon” for formal wording. In the above example, the year is spelled out using American spelling. In the UK and Canada, you would write two thousand and twenty.
Many couples are choosing less formal wording because their weddings are also casual and informal. Below is an example of informal date, time and location:
Saturday, June 20, 2020 at 7:00 pm
The Getaway Club
1234 Green Valley Rd
Denver, CO
Note that there are many more abbreviations.
Generally the rule to follow is to try not to mix formal and informal. It’s recommended to keep consistent with your wording and do either all formal or all informal wording.
Invitation Wording: Who’s Hosting?
After you’ve gotten the invitation basics out of the way, you’ll have to decide on the wording to be used in your invitations.
Many brides have moved away from stuffy, traditional phrasing and use contemporary language and wording in their wedding invitations. One of the biggest factors you have to take into consideration when deciding upon invitation wording is who is hosting (paying for) the wedding.
If both the bride’s and groom’s parents are sharing the costs of the big day, it is good etiquette to include their names in the invitation.
If only the bride’s or only the groom’s parents are paying, it is customary to list that couple.
If the bride and groom are paying, or they are paying in addition to their parents helping out, they can choose to include the names of their parents or adopt a different route.
The following examples provide basic guidance regarding invitation wording in these situations. Some couples will want to include the names of their parents even if they aren’t paying, which is perfectly acceptable.
When both sets of parents are hosting…
Mr. and Mrs. John White
and
Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Flowers
invite you to share
in the union of their children
Kristina Ann White
and
Marvin Dean Flowers
on Saturday, the first of June
two thousand twenty
four o’clock in the afternoon
The Getaway Club
1234 Green Valley Road
Denver, Colorado
Note that there are many ways to ask for guests’ company. Here are some suggestions:
- “the pleasure of your company”
- “at the marriage of their children”
- “would love for you to join them”
- “invite you to celebrate with them”
- “honor of your presence”
The White and Flower families
are happy to announce the
marriage of their children
Kristina Ann White
and
Marvin Dean Flowers
on Saturday, the first of June
two thousand twenty
at four o’clock in the afternoon
The Getaway Club
1234 Green Valley Road
Denver, Colorado
Reception to follow
When one set of parents is hosting…
Mr. and Mrs. John White
would like you to join them
at the wedding of their daughter
Kristina Ann White
to
Marvin Dean Flowers
on Saturday, the first of June
two thousand twenty
four o’clock in the afternoon
The Getaway Club
1234 Green Valley Road
Denver, Colorado
Reception to follow ceremony
It is with great happiness that we
invite you to share in our joy as our son
Marvin Dean Flowers
marries
Kristina Ann White
on Saturday, the first of June
two thousand twenty
four o’clock in the afternoon
The Getaway Club
1234 Green Valley Road
Denver, Colorado
Reception to follow
Virgil and Janet Flowers
When the bride and groom are hosting…
If you and your spouse-to-be are paying for the wedding, you may wish to adopt a more creative approach to invitation wording. Ideas for creative, interesting invitation wording are included in the next section. The following examples provide a bare-bones idea of how many couples word their wedding invitations.
Note that usually the bride’s name goes first on a wedding invitation, unless the groom’s parents are hosting.
We all cherish finding that special someone
falling in love
enjoying life together…
Please join us as we begin this new journey
on Saturday, June 20, 2020 at 7:00 pm
The Getaway Club
1234 Green Valley Rd
Denver, CO
Cocktails and dancing to follow ceremony
Kristina Ann White and Marvin Dean Flowers
Join us for a celebration of
love, laughter, friendship and family as
Kristina Ann White
and
Marvin James Flowers, Jr.
exchange wedding vows
on Saturday, June 20, 2020 at 5:00 pm
The Getaway Club
1234 Green Valley Rd
Denver, CO
Reception immediately following
Kristina White
and
Marvin Flowers
invite you to share in our joy as we take
the next big step in our lives
on Saturday, June 20, 2020 at 4:00 pm
at The Getaway Club
1234 Green Valley Rd
Denver, CO
Dinner and dancing to follow
When the parents and couple are hosting…
Together with their families
Kristina Ann White
and
Marvin Dean Flowers
request the honor of your presence
as they exchange marriage vows
on Saturday, the first of June
two thousand twenty
four o’clock in the afternoon
The Getaway Club
1234 Green Valley Road
Denver, Colorado
Reception to follow
Together with their families
Kristina White
and
Marvin Flowers
would love you to join them
in celebration as they tie the knot!
on Saturday, June 1st, 2020 at 4:00 pm
The Getaway Club
1234 Green Valley Rd, Denver, CO
BBQ and dancing to follow
What about divorced/deceased parents
For deceased parents, you can use a format similar to this one:
Kristina White
daughter of Adam White and the late Jane White
and
Marvin Flowers
son of Marvin and Joyce Flowers
request the honor of your presence
at their wedding….
For divorced parents, you can use a format similar to this one:
George and Elizabeth Flowers
together with James and Lydia White
and Harold and Jane Hyland
invite you to the wedding of their children
Amy Ann White
and
Charles James Hyland
Creative Approaches to Invitation Wording
Perhaps you want to move away from basic invitation wording and come up with something really creative. You should feel free to use your imagination when composing your wedding invitation. After all, this is your wedding. You are free to word the invitation in whatever way you’d like.
The following examples are designed to provide ideas for couples that want to get creative with their invitation wording. If you’re at a loss for ideas, think of any special hobbies that the two of you share. Perhaps you bonded over a special movie or song. It’s a great idea to use such material when creating invitation wording.
Hold hands with me
my dearest friend
with you I’ll spend
the rest of my life
Please join us for a celebration of
love, friendship and family as
Kristina Ann White
and
Marvin Dean Flowers
are married
Saturday, the first of June
two thousand twenty
four o’clock in the afternoon
The Getaway Club
1234 Green Valley Road
Denver, Colorado
Reception to follow
You are my summer breeze,
my sunshine
and my ocean;
to you I pledge my love… forever
You’re invited to the wedding of
Kristina Ann White
and
Marvin Dean Flowers
Saturday, the first of June
two thousand twenty
four o’clock in the afternoon
The Getaway Club
1234 Green Valley Road
Denver, Colorado
Reception to follow ceremony
We finally found each other
at the prime of our life
Please join us to celebrate
becoming man and wife
Our ceremony will be held on
Saturday, June 20, 2020 at 4:00 pm
at The Getaway Club
1234 Green Valley Rd, Denver, CO
We would love to see you at our reception
to be held immediately after the ceremony
Kristina Ann White
and
Marvin Dean Flowers
Over the years, you’ve shared
our joy, our triumphs and the growth of our family
Now we invite you to join us as our family grows even more
We are delighted to invite you to the wedding of our daughter
Kristina Ann White
to
Marvin Dean Flowers
on Saturday, June 20, 2020 at 4:00 pm
at The Getaway Club
1234 Green Valley Rd, Denver, CO
Dr. and Mrs. John White
In the good times and the bad,
in sickness and in health,
for every moment of our lives…
we do
Please join us for our wedding ceremony and reception
on Saturday, June 20, 2020 at 4:00 pm
at The Getaway Club
1234 Green Valley Rd, Denver, CO
Kristina Ann White and Marvin Dean Flowers
Incorporating Timeless Verses, Quotes and Poems in An Invitation
If you want to craft an original invitation but don’t have a talent for creative writing, you can use timeless verses, poems and quotes in your invitation. You’ll be able to find many such poems by looking through your old school textbooks and searching the Internet. You can choose a Shakespearean sonnet or a lesser-known poem to add that extra touch of romance to your invitations.
Brides who want to keep their wedding invitations light, fun and contemporary may also wish to quote favorite song lyrics or movie lines. Is there a song that your friends and family will immediately associate with you and your spouse-to-be? Using a line from a favorite song is a great way to craft a funky, original invitation that your guests are sure to enjoy.
Couples who want to retain a touch of the traditional or who share a strong religious faith may wish to include verses from the Torah, Bible, Koran or other religious text. You can use a favorite verse that you share as a couple or pick a classic verse that has traditionally been used on wedding invitations. What matters is that you express your faith and personality.
Some popular traditional verses include:
“Grow old along with me!
The best is yet to be…”
~ Robert Browning
Today I marry
my best friend,
the one I
laugh with,
dream with,
live for, love
Love comforteth
like sunshine
after rain
~ William Shakespeare
But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
~ 1 Corinthians 13:13
The Finishing Touches
After you’ve decided on the wording for your wedding invitations, you’ll need to review it on the actual wedding invitation design to see how it works. Some designs will work better or worse with certain wording choices (verses for example). Remember to carefully proofread your invitation wording on any proofs or online design tools to ensure that there are no silly errors that might embarrass you later.
It’s always a good idea to have a second set of eyes look over your invitation wording to check for errors. However, don’t feel pressured to follow the suggestions of friends who don’t like the wording of your invitation. You may choose to weigh their opinions carefully but in the end it is your wedding and the invitation should reflect your personality and sensibilities.
Wrapping Up
Hopefully this blog post about wedding invitation wording has provided you with some great ideas for personalizing your wedding invitation wording.
Remember, while there is nothing wrong with following traditional guidelines, things have changed quite a bit in the wedding world and you can now feel free to add your own creative style to your wedding invitation wording (and your wedding invitation design as well!).
Do you have some great ideas for wedding invitation wording? Feel free to comment below with your wedding invitation wording ideas and verses. You never know, your specially created verse might just be the inspiration for another couple’s wedding invitation wording.