What to Include in a Wedding Invitation: 30 Wording Ideas & Examples

It’s the first glimpse your guests will get of your impending nuptials, so it’s important to get your wedding stationery right. But in your quest for the perfect invites, choosing the right wedding invitation wording can be tricky, especially when you’re deciding what details to include, what to save for your wedding website and how formal or relaxed you want your invites to feel.

There’s also plenty of wedding etiquette to consider, from whose name goes first on the invitation to how to word your request for RSVPs, dress code details or a child-free celebration. Understanding the rules around invitation etiquette can help you create stationery that feels personal and appropriate.

So if you’re searching for some wedding invitation wording examples, wedding invitation templates or inspiration for formal wedding invitation wording and casual wedding invitation wording, our guide has all the advice, ideas and expert tips you need to create the perfect invites.

Wedding Invitation Wording: 30 Marriage Invitation Sentences, Texts & Phrases

From wedding card invite wording that covers pretty much any scenario you’d need to tackle, to tips on writing your wedding invitations, our guide covers everything you need to know about crafting the perfect invites. And to make things even simpler, we’ve divided it up into sections, so you can skip to the part you need advice on below.

• Traditional Wedding Invitation Wording Examples
• Casual Wedding Invitation Wording Examples
• Formal Wedding Invitation Wording Examples
• Modern Wedding Invitation Wording Examples
• Evening Reception Invitation Wording Examples
• Micro Wedding Invitation Wording Examples
• Second Marriage Wedding Invitation Wording Examples
• Everything You Need To Know About Wedding Invitation Wording
• What Should Wedding Invitations Say?
• How Do You Word A Wedding Invitation?
• What Is Traditional Wedding Invitation Wording?

Traditional Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

Here you will find wedding invitation wording examples that go down the more traditional route. Feel free to use these as the basis for your wedding ceremony invitation wording and tweak the parts that don’t fit so well with your style as a couple.

1. Traditional Church Wedding Invitation Wording

This would usually come from the parents of the bride, as tradition dictates it was the bride’s parents who hosted the day (and footed the bill!).

This means the RSVPs would usually be sent back to their address, and a separate RSVP card would be included to prompt guests to reply quickly.

The text for a traditional wedding invitation to a church followed by a reception, would read as the following:

Mr & Mrs John Smith
request the pleasure of
[guest name]/your company
at the marriage of their daughter
Jessica
to Mr Edward Jones

[church name & location]
[date]
[time]

and afterwards at [reception venue location]

R.S.V.P by 30th June to [parents' address]

2. Traditional Civil Ceremony Wedding Invitation Wording

Many couples now choose to host a civil ceremony and reception under one roof, in which case you only need to list one venue on the invitation. It’s still best to include the words ‘followed by a reception’ so the guests know they’ll be welcome at both.

If the bride’s parents are hosting, use their names, otherwise you may choose to include the names of both sets of parents. A formal civil ceremony wedding invitation should read:

Mr & Mrs John Smith
and Mr & Mrs Alan Jones
request the pleasure of
[guest name]/your company
at the marriage of their children
Jessica and Edward

[location]
[date]
[time]

followed by a reception

R.S.V.P by 30th June to [parents’ address]

3. Traditional Wedding Invitation Wording From The Couple

For couples who are hosting their own wedding, the invitation can come directly from the bride and groom. This keeps the wording formal while reflecting that the couple is organising the celebration themselves.

The wording for a traditional wedding the couple are organising themselves should read:

Jessica Smith and Edward Jones
request the pleasure of the company of
[guest name]
at their marriage

at [venue name & location]
on [date]
at [time]

followed by a reception

R.S.V.P by 30th June to [address]

4. Traditional Wedding Invitation Wording From Both Sets of Parents

While it was customary for the bride’s parents to host the wedding, many couples now choose to include both families on their invitations. This is a lovely option if both sets of parents are contributing to the day or if you simply want to acknowledge both families.

The wording for a traditional wedding invitation hosted by both sets of parents could be as follows:

Mr & Mrs John Smith
and
Mr & Mrs Alan Jones

request the pleasure of the company of

[guest name]

at the marriage of their children

Jessica Smith
and
Edward Jones

[venue name & location]
[date]
[time]

R.S.V.P by 30th June to [parents’ address]

Casual Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

For couples who want their invitations to feel more relaxed and personal, there’s no need to follow traditional wording. A casual invitation can still include all the important details while sounding more like you.

5. Casual Wedding Invitation Wording For A Country or Outdoor Wedding

If you’re planning a relaxed celebration, such as a countryside wedding or outdoor ceremony, your invitation wording can reflect the informal, relaxed feel of the day.

Casual wedding invitation wording for an outdoor ceremony could read: 

Jessica Smith
and
Edward Jones

are getting married!

We’d love for you to join us as we say “I do”

at [venue name & location]

on [date]

at [time]

followed by drinks, dinner and dancing

Please RSVP by 30th June to [website/email address]

6. Informal LGBTQ+ Wedding Invitation Wording

If you'd rather the wording inside your wedding invitations feel less formal, stick to first names and go with the order that most people refer to you as, as a couple.

Jessie & Mabel
invite you to party with them
&
celebrate their love
at their wedding 

at [location]
on [date and time]

R.S.V.P by 30th June to [couple's address]

7. Casual & Fun Wedding Invitation Wording

If you want to show your fun side in your wedding invitation wording, you could say:

Lucia and Sammy
being the party animals they are…
invite you to sip fizz and dance the night away!

[location]
[date]
[time]

R.S.V.P by 30th June to [couple’s address]

8. Casual Wedding Invitation Wording from Your Children

This is a cute idea if you and your partner have children together already or have children from previous relationships that you want to include on your wedding invitations.

Here’s how to word your invitation if the children are from your current relationship:

Jennifer and Jacob Jones
invite you to join them
for the marriage of their parents
Jessica Smith & Edward Jones

[location]
[date]
[time]

followed by a reception

R.S.V. P by 30th June to [couple’s address]

If the children are from a previous relationship, they should be listed in age order from oldest to youngest, with the bride’s children appearing first (or in age order only for a same-sex marriage).

Formal Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

Here are some wedding invitation wording examples that follow a more formal style. Use them as inspiration for your own invitations, then personalise the wording to reflect your ceremony, venue and the tone you want to set as a couple.

9. Formal Both Families Wedding Invitations Wording

Perhaps both sets of parents have helped contribute towards the wedding, or you would just like to reference both sets of families on your invitations – but how do you word invitations if both sets of parents are hosting? Below is an increasingly popular example:

Mr and Mrs John Smith
&
Mr and Mrs Alan Jones
invite you to celebrate the marriage of their children
Jessica and Edward

[location]
[date]
[time]

followed by a reception

R.S.V.P by 30th June to [parents’ address]

10. Formal LGBTQ+ Wedding Invitation Wording

If one set of parents are paying for the wedding then etiquette dictates their names will go first, but otherwise it is your choice how you list your names. Alphabetically might solve any potential issues!

Here's a popular example:

Together with their parents,
Edward Jones
&
Jack Andrews
request the pleasure of your company
at their wedding

[location]
[date]
[time]

followed by a reception

R.S.V.P by 30th June to [couple's/parents' address]

11. Formal Wedding Invitation Wording with Numbers as Words

Some couples might choose to go even more formal, where numbers and times are spelled out as words. 

A formal wedding invitation example with words could be:

Together with their families,

Lydia Harrison
and
William Jones

invite you to join them
at the celebration of their marriage

Saturday, the twenty-first of October
Two thousand and twenty-three

At two-thirty in the afternoon

[ceremony location]

Dinner and dancing to follow at [reception location]

12. Formal Wedding Invitation Wording With A Dress Code

For formal weddings where black tie is expected, the dress code can be included at the bottom of the invitation or on a separate information card.

The wording for a black tie formal wedding should read:

Mr & Mrs John Smith
request the pleasure of the company of
[guest name]

at the marriage of their daughter

Jessica Smith
to
Edward Jones

at [venue name & location]
on [date]
at [time]

followed by a reception

Formal attire or black tie

R.S.V.P by 30th June to [address]

Modern Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

Whether you’re wondering how to word wedding invitations that come from the couple, as opposed to the parents, or are trying to navigate more modern family set-ups, these wedding invitation phrases and examples should help.

13. Traditional Informal Civil Ceremony Wedding Invitation Wording

If your parents have chipped in on the celebrations but not paid for the whole thing, you might want to incorporate an element of tradition but with less formal phrasing.&nbspIf including both sets of parents’ names feels a bit clunky, ‘Together with their parents’ works well if both sets of parents are still together. 

Together with their parents,
Sarah Smith & Alan Johnson
invite you to celebrate their wedding!

[location]
[date]
[time]

followed by a reception

R.S.V.P by 30th June to [parents’ address]

14. Informal Both Families Wedding Invitation Wording

Want to make the wording inside your wedding invitations even more informal? ‘Together with their families’ is a nice alternative that acknowledges everyone, especially if any parents are widowed or separated. Here’s an example of an informal invitation from both sets of parents:

Together with their families,
Jessica Smith & Edward Jones
invite you to join them as they say, “I do!”

[location]
[date]
[time]

followed by a reception

R.S.V.P by 30th June to [couple's/parents’ address]

15. Divorced Parents Wedding Invitation Wording

It can be tricky to know how to word your wedding invitations if your parents are divorced or have remarried. If they are divorced but have kept the same surname, you would use both parents’ full names on the invite:

Mr John Smith & Mrs Beth Smith
request the pleasure of
[guest name]/your company
at the marriage of their daughter
Jessica
to
Mr Edward Jones

[location]
[date]
[time]

followed by a reception

R.S.V.P by 30th June to [parent's address]

16. Remarried Parents Wedding Invitation Wording

If your parents have remarried but are still hosting the wedding together, you would name them separately and use your mother’s new married name, like so:

Mr John Smith & Mrs Beth Howard
request the pleasure of
[guest name]/your company
at the marriage of their daughter
Jessica to 
Mr Edward Jones

[location]
[date]
[time]

followed by a reception

R.S.V.P by 30th June to [parent's address]

17. Stepparents Wedding Invitation Wording

If your parents split up a long time ago and have since remarried or met a new partner and your stepparent is a part of hosting the wedding instead of one of your biological parents, there are a couple of ways around this in your wedding invitation wording.

Use their separate names if they’re not married but, if the invitation is coming from your parent and stepparent, the wording should look something like this (the use of ‘his’ and ‘her’ is interchangeable depending on whether it’s your father or mother hosting.)

Mr & Mrs Paul Howard
request the pleasure of
[guest name]/your company
at the marriage of her daughter
Jessica Smith
to
Mr Edward Jones

[location]
[date]
[time]

followed by a reception

R.S.V.P by 30th June to [parents' address]

If both parents and respective stepparents are hosting, it’s always best to start with, ‘Together with their families’.

18. Widowed Parents Wedding Invitation Wording

Addressing a wedding invitation from a widowed parent can be sensitive. It’s traditional to just use the name of the parent who is requesting the company of the guest if they are hosting alone or haven’t remarried.

If they’ve remarried and you’re happy to have both names on your invitations, you’re best to follow the stepparent format above. If the invitation is from the father and he has not remarried, you’d just use his name. If it’s the mother that is the surviving parent, and she has not remarried, you’d use her married title.

Below is an example of wedding invitation wording from a widowed parent:

Mrs Beth Smith
requests the pleasure of
[guest name]/your company
at the marriage of her daughter
Jessica Smith
to
Mr Edward Jones

[location]
[date]
[time]

followed by a reception

R.S.V.P by 30th June to [parent’s address]

Evening Reception Invitation Wording Examples

Sometimes there just isn’t enough room at the venue (or cash in the budget) to invite everyone to the whole day. If you’re wondering how to word your evening wedding invitations, we’ve got helpful reception invite wording examples below that work for British wedding invitations.

19. Formal Evening-Only Wedding Invitation Wording

If you're having a formal wedding and would like to invite several guests to the evening reception, a simple structure like this one is perfect:

Mr & Mrs John Smith
request the pleasure of
[guest name]/your company
at a reception to celebrate the marriage of their daughter
Jessica
to
Mr Edward Jones

[location]
[date]
[time – e.g. from 7pm]

R.S.V.P by 30th June to [parents’ address]

20. Traditional Evening Reception Invitation Wording

If guests are invited to join the celebrations after the ceremony and wedding breakfast, the invitation should make it clear that it is for the evening reception only. Traditional wording usually comes from the hosts of the wedding.

For a traditional evening reception wedding invitation, the wording would read:

Mr & Mrs John Smith
request the pleasure of the company of
[guest name]

at an evening reception to celebrate the marriage of their daughter

Jessica Smith
to
Edward Jones

[reception venue & location]
[date]
[time]

R.S.V.P by 30th June to [address]

21. Casual Evening Reception Invitation Wording

For relaxed weddings that ooze personality, the invitation can feel more informal while still including all the important details of the day.

For a casual evening reception only invitation, the wording should read:

We’re married! Now it’s time to celebrate...

Please join

Jessica Smith and Edward Jones

for an evening reception of drinks, food and dancing to celebrate their marriage

at [venue name & location]
on [date]
from [time]

We’d love to see you there

RSVP by 30th June to [website/email address]

22. Romantic Evening Reception Invitation Wording

A softer, more romantic option for couples who want their wedding reception invitation to feel personal and heartfelt.

The text for a romantic evening reception invitation could read:

After saying “I do”,

Jessica Smith
and
Edward Jones

would love you to join them for an evening of celebration

as they continue their wedding day with their favourite people

[venue name & location]
[date]
[time]

With drinks, music and dancing until late

R.S.V.P by 30th June to [website/email address]

Micro Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

Planning a more intimate wedding? These micro wedding invitation wording examples are designed for smaller celebrations, helping you create an invitation that feels personal and meaningful.

23. Casual Micro Wedding Invitation Wording

A relaxed option for couples planning a small wedding that feels more like a gathering of loved ones.

Text for a casual micro wedding invitation could read:

Just us, our favourite people and a day to remember...

Please join

Jessica Smith
and
Edward Jones

as we celebrate our wedding day

at [venue name & location]
on [date]
at [time]

with good food, great company and plenty of love

R.S.V.P by 30th June at [address]

24. Micro LGBTQ+ Wedding Invitations Wording 

Micro weddings are all about celebrating with the people who matter most, making them a popular choice for LGBTQ+ couples planning an intimate day.

Here's an example of how you could word your invitation:

Together with our loved ones,

Jessica Smith
and
Charlotte Williams

invite you to join them
as they celebrate their marriage

at [venue name & location]
on [date]
at [time]

followed by drinks, dinner and dancing

R.S.V.P by 30th June to [website/email address]

25. Micro Wedding Invitation Wording Without The Word “Micro”

Many couples choose not to use the word “micro wedding” on their stationery, instead focusing on the intimacy and significance of the day.

The invitation for a micro wedding invitation, without using the word micro could read as follows: 

A small gathering, a big celebration

Please join

Jessica Smith
and
Edward Jones

as they say “I do”

surrounded by their closest family and friends

[venue name & location]
[date]
[time]

Followed by dinner and drinks

R.S.V.P by 30th June 

26. Romantic Micro Wedding Invitation Wording

This example is for couples choosing a smaller celebration in an intimate setting, surrounded by their closest family and friends.

The wording for a romantic micro wedding could read:

With those closest to their hearts by their side,

Jessica Smith
and
Edward Jones

invite you to join them as they exchange vows and celebrate their wedding day

[venue name & location]
[date]
[time]

A relaxed reception and dinner will follow

R.S.V.P by 30th June to [website/email address]

Second Marriage Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

If either of you have been married before and are tying the knot for the second time, there are no rules that state you can’t use any of the wedding invitation wording examples we’ve listed above. If you’ve found love for a second time, there’s absolutely no reason why your tone shouldn’t be as joyful and celebratory as if it were your first! 

It is more common in this situation, however, for couples to list themselves as the hosts, rather than their parents.

27. Informal Wedding Invitation Wording for a Second Marriage

Alice Jones
and
Jack Johnson
invite you to celebrate their wedding

[location]
[date]
[time]

followed by a reception

R.S.V.P by 30th June to [couple’s address]

28. Second Marriage Invitation Wording From The Couple

As many second weddings are hosted by the couple themselves, it feels natural for the invitation to come directly from them. This style keeps the focus on the couple and their commitment to one another, without the need for traditional hosting etiquette.

Consider wording your invitation like this:

Jessica Smith
and
Edward Jones

invite you to join them
as they exchange vows
and celebrate the beginning of their next chapter together

[location]
[date]
[time]

Dinner, drinks and dancing to follow

R.S.V.P by 30th June

29. Blended Family Second Marriage Wedding Invitation Wording

For couples bringing two families together, acknowledging your children on the invitation can make the occasion feel even more meaningful. This wording celebrates not just your marriage, but the beginning of a new family chapter.

One way to word your invitation is:

Together with their children,

Jessica Smith
and
Edward Jones

invite you to celebrate their marriage

[location]
[date]
[time]

as they bring their families together

Dinner and dancing to follow

R.S.V.P by 30th June

30. Elegant Second Marriage Wedding Invitation Wording

For couples who want their second wedding to feel more formal and traditional, there’s no need to shy away from elegant wording. A second marriage is just as worthy of a beautiful celebration, and a more refined invitation can help set the tone for the day.

Your invitation could read:

Together with their families,

Jessica Smith
and
Edward Jones

request the pleasure of your company
as they celebrate their marriage

at [venue name & location]
on [date]
at [time]

followed by a reception

R.S.V.P by 30th June to [address]

Everything You Need To Know About Wedding Invitation Wording

From what details to include on your invitations to understanding traditional etiquette, here's everything you need to know about wedding invitation wording before you send your stationery to print or fork out for a calligrapher. 

What Should Wedding Invitations Say?

It’s all well and good having wedding invitations that look beautiful – but if they don’t include all the necessary information, you could be opening yourself up to a lot of queries and questions from guests. Not quite what you need when you’re knee-deep in wedding planning, right? 

To ensure you include all the relevant details of your day, we caught up with stationer Jess Firth of Jeccabox to get her comprehensive guide on what to include in your wedding invites.

“Each wedding is, of course, completely unique to a couple’s vision and ideals," she says, “but the following are either vital information or are featured within the majority of the invitation suites I put together.”

• Host names: Who is the invitation from?
• The couple’s names: Who is getting married?
• The date and time of the wedding
• The wedding venue location (and reception venue, if different)
• Expectations of arrival time, if required. For example, ‘Please arrive by 11am for a 12pm ceremony’
• RSVP details: Either a separate RSVP card or instructions for how to RSVP electronically (email, phone or via a wedding website, for example). Also include a date to RSVP by, asking guests to include their dietary requirements

Then, you may want to include some additional information that will help guests to plan ahead for the celebrations. These could be included on a separate card within your invitation suite, or you might want to direct guests to your wedding website where everything that is applicable below can be listed:

• Menu options: If you require guests to choose their food ahead of time, a menu will need to be included.
• Accommodation: Does the venue have rooms for guests to stay in that you are in charge of filling? Perhaps you’d like to include a list of local accommodation for guests who are travelling from further away. Also include whether or not your venue has parking.
• Gifts: Whether you have a gift list for guests to choose from or you’d like to ask for money towards your honeymoon, you may want to include a note or gift poem, sometimes with a QR code or link to more details online.
• Children: Many couples prefer to inform their guests that their celebrations are adult-only. Whether you choose a light-hearted poem or more formal wording, it’s often wise to include somewhere if children are not invited to avoid inevitable questions from parents.
• Order of proceedings: Some couples may choose to include more details about the order of proceedings, particularly if there are other events happening before or after the wedding day itself.

How Do You Word A Wedding Invitation?

Whether you're planning a formal church wedding, a relaxed garden party or an intimate ceremony, your wording can be as traditional or modern as you like.

Every wedding invitation should include the names of the couple, the date, time and location of the ceremony, plus reception details if applicable. You should also include RSVP information and a response deadline, while details such as gift lists, accommodation and dress codes are best saved for a separate information card or your wedding website.

There's a difference what to include on your wedding invitation versus what to include on your wedding website or in a separate physical card, ultimately all your guests really need to know is when and where, and so Rachel and Jamie of The Illustrated Invitation advise couples to “keep the actual invite as uncluttered as possible."  

What Is Traditional Wedding Invitation Wording?

Traditional wedding invitation wording follows long-established etiquette, using formal language and a structured format to invite guests to your union. Unlike simple save the dates, invitations are often hosted by the bride's parents or both sets of parents and include classic phrases like "request the pleasure of your company" or "request the honour of your presence" for religious ceremonies.

A traditional wedding invitation will typically include the names of the hosts, the couple's names, the ceremony venue, date and time, reception details and RSVP information. While many couples now adapt the wording to suit their own style, traditional invitations are still a timeless choice for formal weddings and church ceremonies.

Now you've sorted the wedding invitations, why not check out our guide to writing your own wedding vows?