Wedding Stationery Wording
How to Write Perfect Wedding Invitation Wording
Wedding invitation wording is critical for your wedding invitation. Whatever your wedding invitation design, it’s essential that your wedding stationery wording is word-perfect. If you’re wondering what to write on your wedding invitations, then this guide will simplify everything for you.
For formal wedding invitation wording, there are rules of etiquette to consider, along with specific details that must not be missed.
Whose Name goes first on Wedding Invitations?
The wedding invitation wording is determined by who is hosting the wedding, traditionally the Brides parents, and their relationship to the Bride. In wedding invitation etiquette, the bride’s names are always the first in a formal and informal wedding invitation. However, while wedding invitation etiquette is useful modern wedding invitations are based on visual aesthetics using a separate line for the actual invitation.
Of course, you don’t have to follow any rules at all! Your wedding invitation wording can take any form, and this suits those couples opting for a modern wedding ceremony.
If you are going to make your wedding invitations, our wedding invitation wording examples will guide you. You’ll also find our wedding invitation wording templates a useful tool.
Save the Date Cards
To avoid sending out their wedding invitations too early, many couples opt to send Save The Date cards or Save the Day cards. These are ideal for informing your guests about the date and time of the wedding before the formal wedding invitation is sent.
Include the date, ceremony location (if known) and that you would like them to keep the date free. State that the wedding invitation will follow.
Informal Save the Date Cards
Sophia and Michael Armstrong
invite you to share in the
love and happiness of the
marriage of their daughter
Olivia Hazel
to
Jasper Alex Hampton
at St. Michael and All Angels Church, Bray
on Saturday 14th September 2024
at 2 o’clock
and afterwards at
Chiswick House & Gardens
Gorgeous Vellum Envelopes
Formal Save the Date Cards
Olivia Hazel Armstrong
and
Jasper Alex Hampton
invite you to share in their love
and happiness as they exchange
vows of marriage and begin their
new life together
at St. Michael and All Angels Church, Bray
on Saturday 14th September 2024
at 2 o’clock
and afterwards at
Chiswick House & Gardens
Wording For Your Personalised Wedding Invitations
It’s important to include all the details within the wedding invitation. Here’s what to include:
- Names of the Bride’s parents or other hosts
- First name of the Bride (for civil partnerships and commitment ceremonies, first or full names of the couple)
- First name and surname of the Groom and his title (Mr/Lieutenant/Sir)
- Where the wedding ceremony is taking place
- Date, month and year of the wedding day
- Time of the wedding ceremony
- Location of the wedding reception if not at the same venue, if at the same venue the wording can be ‘reception to follow’
- Address to which guests must reply
- Name of the guests, if you have space to include the name of who you’re inviting, then it helps to avoid any confusion. If you’re anxious about writing this yourself, then it can be printed for you by your wedding stationer or written by a calligrapher. Remember to budget for this at the start.
Additional details for a formal wedding invitation wording:
- Include all names written in full, including middle names, don’t be tempted to abbreviate
- Avoid using abbreviations for times, dates and locations, e.g. ‘2 pm’ should be ‘two o’clock’, Rd should be ‘Road.’
- Traditionally, the Bride is listed before the Groom using Christian and middle names only; however, please do bear in mind some religions and military weddings require the opposite.
- Punctuation is limited except following Mr., Mrs., etc. and where a break is required on a single line, e.g. on Friday, the 12th of August.
- Numbers are usually spelt out as words, e.g. ‘3’ becomes ‘three’ unless the number has more than two digits.
- If the ceremony is a religious one, ‘request the honour of your presence’ is the correct phrase. If the ceremony is a civil one, this is replaced with, ‘request the pleasure of your company’.
Your wedding invitation suite is the perfect way to set the tone for your wedding day. This comprehensive package includes your formal invitations and also includes reply cards with envelopes. With the wedding invitation suite, you can create a stylish and consistent look throughout your wedding stationery that reflects who you are as a couple.
Informal Wedding Invitations Wording
Wedding Invitation Wording
Make sure wedding invites are worded correctly
Informal Wedding Invitations
Bride's Parents Hosting
Sophia and Michael Armstrong
invite you to share in the
love and happiness of the
marriage of their daughter
Olivia Hazel
to
Jasper Alex Hampton
at St. Michael and All Angels Church, Bray
on Saturday 14th September 2024
at 2 o’clock
and afterwards at
Chiswick House & Gardens
Informal Wedding Invitations
Bride and Groom Hosting
Olivia Hazel Armstrong
and
Jasper Alex Hampton
invite you to share in their love
and happiness as they exchange
vows of marriage and begin their
new life together
at St. Michael and All Angels Church, Bray
on Saturday 14th September 2024
at 2 o’clock
and afterwards at
Chiswick House & Gardens
Traditional Wedding Invitations Wording
Traditional Wedding Invitations
Bride’s Parents as Hosts Option 1
Mr and Mrs Armstrong
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Olivia Hazel
to Jasper Alex Hampton
son of
Mr and Mrs Hampton
at 2 o’clock
on Saturday 14th September 2024
at
St. Michael and All Angels Church, Bray,
and afterwards at
Chiswick House & Gardens
Traditional Wedding Invitations
Bride’s Parents as Hosts Option 2
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Armstrong
request the pleasure
of the company of
………………………………..
at the marriage of their daughter
Olivia Hazel
to
Mr. Jasper Alex Hampton
at St. Michael and All Angels Church, Bray,
Saturday 14th September 2024
at 2 o’clock
and afterwards at
Chiswick House & Gardens
Traditional Wedding Invitations
Bride’s Parents as Hosts Option 3
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Armstrong
request the pleasure
of the company of
………………………
at the marriage of their daughter
Olivia Hazel
to
Mr. Jasper Alex Hampton
at St. Michael and All Angels Church, Bray,
on Saturday 14th September 2024
at 2 o’clock
and afterwards at
Chiswick House & Gardens
Traditional Wedding Invitations
Bride’s Parents as Hosts Option 4
Mr and Mrs Armstrong
and
Mr and Mrs Hampton
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of
Olivia Hazel
to
Jasper Alex
at 2 o’clock
on Saturday 14th September 2024
at St. Michael and All Angels Church, Bray,
and afterwards at
Chiswick House & Gardens
Traditional Wedding Invitations
Bride and Groom Hosting
Miss (or Ms) Olivia Hazel Armstrong
and
Mr. Jasper Alex Hampton
request the pleasure of your company
at their marriage
at St. Michael and All Angels Church, Bray,
on Saturday 14th September 2024
at 2 o’clock
and afterwards at
Chiswick House & Gardens
Traditional Wedding Invitations
Couple with Both Sets Of Parents
Mr and Mrs Armstrong
and their daughter
Olivia Hazel
together with
Mr and Mrs Hampton
and their son
Jasper Alex
request the honour of your presence
at the wedding of
Olivia Hazel
and
Jasper Alex
at St. Michael and All Angels Church, Bray,
on Saturday 14th September 2024
at 2 o’clock
and afterwards at
Chiswick House & Gardens
Traditional Wedding Invitations
Bride' parents separated or divorced (still sharing the same name)
Mr. Michael Armstrong
and
Mrs. Sophia Gilmont
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their daughter
Olivia Hazel
to
Mr. Jasper Alex Hampton
at St. Michael and All Angels Church, Bray,
on Saturday 14th September 2024
at 2 o’clock
and afterwards at
Chiswick House & Gardens
Traditional Wedding Invitations
A divorced parent with their spouse/bride or groom's step parent
Sophia and Tom Kendall
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of Sophia Armstrong’s daughter
Olivia Hazel Armstrong
to
Jasper Alex Hampton
son of Mr and Mrs Hampton
at St. Michael and All Angels Church, Bray,
on Saturday 14th September 2024
at 2 o’clock
and afterwards at
Chiswick House & Gardens
Traditional Wedding Invitations
Jointly hosted by both parents who are now divorced
Mr Armstrong
and
Mrs Langdon
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their daughter
Olivia Hazel Armstrong
to
Jasper Alex Hampton
son of
Mr and Mrs Hampton
at St. Michael and All Angels Church, Bray,
on Saturday 14th September 2024
and afterwards at
Chiswick House & Gardens
Traditional Wedding Invitations
Bride's parents divorced, mother remarried hosting the wedding together
Mr. Michael Armstrong
and
Mrs. David Langdon
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their daughter
Olivia Hazel
to
Mr. Jasper Alex Hampton
at St. Michael and All Angels Church, Bray,
on Saturday 14th September 2024
at 2 o’clock
and afterwards at
Chiswick House & Gardens
Traditional Wedding Invitations
Bride’s parents divorced, mother absent or deceased, father remarried
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Armstrong
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of his daughter
Olivia Hazel
to
Mr. Jasper Alex Hampton
at St. Michael and All Angels Church, Bray,
on Saturday 14th September 2024
at 2 o’clock
and afterwards at
Chiswick House & Gardens
Traditional Wedding Invitations
Bride’s father absent or deceased and mother now remarried
Mr. & Mrs. David Langdon
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of her daughter
Olivia Hazel Armstrong
to
Mr. Jasper Alex Hampton
at St. Michael and All Angels Church, Bray,
on Saturday 14th September 2024
at 2 o’clock
and afterwards at
Chiswick House & Gardens
Traditional Wedding Invitations
Bride’s mother widowed and has not remarried
Mrs. Michael Armstrong (or Mrs Sophia Armstrong)
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of her daughter
Olivia Hazel
to
Mr. Jasper Alex Hampton
at St. Michael and All Angels Church, Bray,
on Saturday 14th September 2024
at 2 o’clock
and afterwards at
Chiswick House & Gardens
Traditional Wedding Invitations
Bride’s father as host
Mr Michael Armstrong
requests the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of his daughter
Olivia Hazel
to
Mr. Jasper Alex Hampton
at St. Michael and All Angels Church, Bray,
on Saturday 14th September 2024
at 2 o’clock
and afterwards at
Chiswick House & Gardens
Traditional Wedding Invitations
Bride's parents absent, groom's parents hosting
Mr. and Mrs. David Hampton
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their son
Jasper Alex
to
Olivia Hazel Armstrong
at St. Michael and All Angels Church, Bray,
on Saturday 14th September 2024
at 2 o’clock
and afterwards at
Chiswick House & Gardens
Traditional Wedding Invitations
Wedding Hosted by a Relative of the Bride, for example, an aunt and uncle
Mr and Mrs Matthew Patterson
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their niece
Olivia Hazel Armstrong
to
Mr. Jasper Alex Hampton
at St. Michael and All Angels Church, Bray,
on Saturday 14th September 2024
at 2 o’clock
and afterwards at
Chiswick House & Gardens
Traditional Wedding Invitations
For a reception following a marriage that has already taken place eg it was overseas
Mr. & Mrs. John Armstrong
request the pleasure of your company
at a reception
following the marriage
of their daughter
Olivia Hazel
to
Mr. Jasper Alex Hampton
at Chiswick House & Gardens
on Saturday 14th September 2024
at 6 o’clock
Traditional Wedding Invitations
Invitation to a Blessing which takes place after the wedding itself
Mr and Mrs Michael Armstrong
request the pleasure of your company
at the blessing of the marriage
of their daughter
Olivia Hazel
to Mr Jasper Alex Hampton
at St. Michael and All Angels Church, Bray
on Saturday 14th September 2024
at 2 o’clock
and afterwards at
Chiswick House & Gardens
Traditional Wedding Invitations
Register Office Wedding Invitation
Mr and Mrs Michael Armstrong
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their daughter
Olivia Hazel
to
Mr Jasper Alex Hampton
at Manchester Register Office
on Saturday 14th September 2024
at 2 o’clock
and afterwards for luncheon at
The Midland
Traditional Wedding Invitations
Renewal of Vows Invitation
Mr and Mrs (married couple’s names)
request the honour of your presence
at a ceremony to celebrate
the renewal of their wedding vows
on
(day and date)
at (time)
(venue)
RSVP Cards
If you include a separate RSVP card (also known as a response card, reply card or RSVP), then these should be returned no later than four weeks before the wedding. Once these acceptances have been received, you will be in a better position to send out the evening wedding invitations if you’ve not already done so.
If the reception venue requires you to seat a minimum number of guests, then guests from the evening list can replace any guests invited to the day who are unable to attend.
Always ask for special dietary requirements on the RSVP card, as this helps the wedding venue.
Having an RSVP card which includes a reply date means can follow up for replies after the date has passed.
Included in your RSVP cards could also be options for:
- Selecting a vegetarian or vegan option
- Writing in the total number of family members who will be attending
- Stating whether the guest will be attending both the service and the party/reception afterwards
RSVP Cards
Option 1
………………………
Accepts with Pleasure | Declines with Regret
invitation to the marriage of your daughter,
Olivia Hazel to
Mr. Jasper Alex Hampton
on Saturday 14th September 2024
Please list any dietary requirements overleaf
Please kindly reply by 1st August 2024
RSVP Cards
Option 2
………………………
is/are pleased to accept your kind
invitation to the marriage of your daughter,
Olivia Hazel to
Mr. Jasper Alex Hampton
on Saturday 14th September 2024
Please list any dietary requirements overleaf
Please kindly reply by 1st August 2024
Information Cards
Sometimes known as a ‘Details’ card. These give all the additional details for your guests to help the big day run smoothly. The kind of things they can include are:
- Directions and maps to the ceremony, Church or venue noting any useful information to help guests find the location
- Information on parking and transport
- Accommodation if available and details on booking and costs
- Specify the dress code, e.g. black tie, smart, no jeans etc
- Will food be served? (If it’s not a dinner/lunch party)
- When will the wedding finish? Are Carriages available?
- If children are invited, make this clear and include their names on the invitation. However, if you want a child-free party, include a short tactful note, such as: ‘We are sorry, but we are unable to accommodate children’
- Social Media, how you’re managing this before, after and on the big day itself
- Confetti, are you allowed it at the venue?
- Gift information, while not considered appropriate for the invitation itself, you can place information regarding your gift list, charity donations or requests on the information card.
Wedding Gift List Wordings and Poems
Wedding Gift List Poem
Option 1
We know it’s not traditional it’s not the way it’s done
But instead of a wedding list we’d like a bit of sun.
Please do not think of us as rude please do not take offence
We do not want to upset you, that’s not the way it’s meant.
We’ve lived together quite a while and all the bills are paid
We’ve got our plates, our pots and pans, our plans have all been made.
So if you’d like to give a gift to help us celebrate
Some money for a honeymoon we would appreciate.
Wedding Gift List Poem
Option 2
We are sending out this invitation in hope you will join a celebration,
But if a gift is your intention, may we take this opportunity to mention.
We have already got a kettle and two toasters,
crockery, dinner mats, and matching coasters.
So rather than something we have already got,
We would appreciate money for our honeymoon pot.
But most importantly we request,
that you come to our wedding as our guest!
Wedding Gift List Poem
Option 3
So what do you get for the Bride and Groom,
Whose house has things In every room?
When shopping for a present, please, don’t be rash,
As the option is there to just give cash.
We hope that you don’t find our request to be funny,
But the decision is yours to buy a present,
or just give money,
Now you have the choice please do not fuss ,
the most important thing of all,
Is that you come and celebrate with us!
Wedding Gift List Poem
Option 4
When thinking of a gift for us
We ask if you’d please consider
Contributing to our honeymoon
to make it all the sweeter.
Our house is full of all the things
a couple could require,
and so a holiday away
is what we most desire.
Then while we’re relaxing on the beach
or by the pool so blue
we’ll sit back and know
that it is truly thanks to you!
Wedding Gift List Poem
Option 5
We’ve been together quite a while and have a lovely home,
There are not too many items, that we don’t already own.
So if your thoughts were on a gift, your presence will suffice,
but if you really feel the need, then vouchers/money would be nice.
The choice is really up to you, and we would like to say,
We hope you come, enjoy yourselves and have a lovely day.
Wedding Gift List Poem
Option 6
We have most of the things we need like a kettle and two toasters,
we have two different crockery sets with dinner plates and coasters,
Pots and pans, knives and forks, a chopping board for cheese,
If you would like to give us a gift we would like the money please!
Evening Wedding Invitation Wording
The evening invitation wording follows the same format as the day wedding invitation wording but only refers to the evening reception. The most crucial detail is the date and time, and the location of the evening reception.
It’s wise to make sure that there is a clear difference between the day invitation and the evening reception invitation to avoid any confusion. For this reason, the evening invitations are often slightly different in design to the day wedding reception invitations and help to eliminate any confusion.
Traditional Wedding Invitations
Evening Wedding Invitation Wording
Mr and Mrs Armstrong
request the pleasure of the company of
…………………………………………
at a reception
at Chiswick House & Gardens
on Saturday 14th September 2024
at 2 o’clock
following the marriage
of their daughter
Olivia Hazel
To
Mr Jasper Alex Hampton
Order Of Service Wording
An order of service is to help your guests follow the service without having to refer to hymn books or prayer books. The order of service contains a title page and up to four pages of text.
If the service is not a religious one, then the same booklet is called an order of ceremony. The purpose of it is exactly the same.
Please note: it is important to obtain permission to use any hymn or piece of music still under copyright.
Order of Service
Title Page
Name of church
Location
The marriage of
Bride
&
Groom
date
time
Order of Service
Content
Entrance music for bride
Introduction
Hymn
The Marriage
Prayers (optional)
Reading (optional)
Blessing (optional)
Hymn
Reading/blessing (optional)
(optional)
Signing of the register
Exit music
Wedding Invitation Styles
Whether you’re opting for luxury wedding invitations or contemporary, elegant wedding invitations, the wording should reflect the overall style of the day. The style of the wedding invitation can also reflect on how informal or how formal your wedding celebration will be.
Wedding invitation ideas for DIY wedding invitations:
- Your wedding invitation design can be based on the time of the year of the big day. For example, an autumn wedding invitation can incorporate rich golds, coppers and burgundies or botanical illustrations. Spring wedding invitations can incorporate pastel tones, florals and blossoms.
- Rustic wedding invitations often include kraft card, kraft envelopes, lace and rustic ribbons or twine.
- Laser-cut wedding invitations, delicate, and pretty. Their finely cut details allow you to do as little or as much work as you’d like
- Contemporary wedding invites are often graphic in style and combine with luxurious silk ribbons and wax seals.
- Floral wedding invitations are popular for weddings and ideal for coordinating with your flowers on the big day
- Pocketfold wedding invitations are ideal for information-rich weddings and giving your guests all the information needed for the day. A pocketfold wedding invitation usually has internal pockets for RSVP cards, menus, hotel information and maps.
- Passport wedding invitations or boarding pass styles are ideally suited for weddings abroad.
- Online wedding invitations are often part of a wedding website. They can be useful, but there’s nothing quite like having a carefully designed, heartfelt physical wedding invitation for such a special day.
Wedding Invitation Fonts
Take care when choosing a font for the wedding invitation text; it’s easy to be fooled into choosing some ornate calligraphy styles.
We’ve written lots of information about fonts just make sure that the font you use for all the crucial details is clear and easy to read.
When To Send Wedding Invitations
Traditionally wedding invitation cards are sent to your guests approximately six to twelve weeks before the wedding date.
However, in our experience families tend to organise themselves well in advance, and the invitations are sent out much sooner than this.
How Many Wedding Invitations Do I Need?
You should allow one invitation per family, including a courtesy one for the Groom’s parents and the minister and their partner. Also include family and friends who you may already know cannot come but who would appreciate receiving an invitation, for example, an elderly relative.
Wedding Invitation Printing
Our free, downlaodable wedding invitation templates for word will help you with the printing of your wedding invitations. You can personalise these with the details of your wedding.
Whether you are creating DIY wedding invitations, using a wedding invitation package or a printer, then take extra care over the proofreading as the details are critical to your guests.
Imagine the disappointment if the time to celebrate the marriage was incorrect and your guests arrived at the wrong time, especially if the time given was too late. Please take extra care over your proofreading!
Making Your Wedding Invitations
Please note if you’re assembling wedding invitations, order enough craft supplies to allow for errors and alterations. Make a few extras to allow for mistakes when writing out the invitations. It’s also advisable to have spare invitations for any extra guests you may decide to invite at a later date.
Wedding Cancellation or Postponement
If you have to postpone or cancel your wedding, you will need to let all the people who received wedding invitations know. You can do this via email, phone call or your wedding website. You should send out a new wedding invitation if you decide to reschedule your wedding for another date.
Wedding Cancellation
Owing to the sudden death of Mr Armstrong the wedding of his daughter
Olivia
to
Mr Jasper Hampton
at St. Michael and All Angels Church, Bray
on 14th August 2024 will not now take place.
The marriage will take place privately at a date to be decided.
Wedding Postponement
Owing to the recent illness of Mrs Armstrong’s mother,
the wedding of her daughter
Olivia
to
Mr Jasper Hampton
at St. Michael and All Angels Church, Bray
on 14th August 2024
has been postponed to 3 o’clock on 29th September 2024.