Wedding Invitation Wording: What to Write, Line by Line

Wedding invitation wording follows a set order: who is hosting, the request to attend, your names, the date and time, the venue, the reception, and how to reply. Choose formal or casual wording, then fill in each line in that order and your invitation is complete.

This guide breaks the invitation down line by line, with a formal and a casual version of each line side by side. Then it gives copy-ready wording for each hosting situation, from the bride’s parents to divorced, remarried or late parents, plus adults-only lines and the text to use for digital wedding invitations and WhatsApp. The examples share one couple and one date wherever possible, so you can see exactly what changes from one version to the next.

The anatomy of a wedding invitation

Here is what to write on a wedding invitation, one line at a time. Pick a column and work down it, or mix: a formal host line with a casual reception line is fine, as long as the whole card reads in one voice.

Two things to notice in that table. On a casual invitation the order shifts slightly: when the couple host, the host line (“Together with their families”) leads straight into your names, and the request line comes after them. And on the formal side, the bride’s surname drops when her parents host and she shares their surname, because it already appears in the host line above.

Notes on the lines that raise questions:

• Host line. This names the people issuing the invitation. It is about welcome, not who paid. If you are unsure, “Together with their families” works for almost any situation.
• Request line. “Request the honour of your presence” is the traditional choice for a ceremony in a house of worship. “Request the pleasure of your company” is used for any other venue. Casual alternatives: “invite you to celebrate,” “would love for you to join them,” “are getting married and want you there.”
• Venue. Give the venue name and city. Add the street address if guests will not know the place. Formal wording spells out the state; you can leave it off if your guests are local.
• Reception line. If the reception is at the same place, “Reception to follow” is enough. If it is somewhere else, give it its own line with the venue name.
• RSVP line. One clear date and one way to reply. On a printed card this sits in the lower left corner or on a separate reply card. Set the date three to four weeks before the wedding; our guide on when to send wedding invitations has a back-planning timeline for it.

Writing the date and time on a formal invitation

Formal wording spells out numbers in full. These are the conventions to follow:

• Write the date and the year in words. “Saturday, the eighteenth of September, two thousand twenty-seven.”
• Capitalize the weekday and the month, but not the year. And leave “and” out of the year: “two thousand twenty-seven,” not “two thousand and twenty-seven.”
• Use “half after” for the half hour. “Half after four o’clock” is the traditional form. “Half past four” is also used.
• Skip “in the afternoon” or “in the evening.” The hour already tells guests that.
• Keep the weekday on a casual card too. “Saturday, September 18, 2027” gives guests a built-in check: if the weekday and the date do not match, someone notices before the cards go out.

Names: titles, middle names and order

On a formal invitation, hosts’ names are written in full, with middle names and titles. “Mr.” and “Mrs.” stay abbreviated, but “Doctor” is spelled out unless it makes the line too long. In the traditional parent-hosted version, the bride appears by her first and middle name and the groom gets his title: “Olivia Grace to Mr. Marcus James Reid.”

On a casual invitation, first and last names are enough, with no titles. For two brides or two grooms, there is no set order. Choose one, such as alphabetical, and use it on the invitation, the website and the reply form so it reads as a decision.

Wedding invitation wording by who is hosting

Settle the host line first, because it touches family and everything else follows from it. Here is complete wording for each common setup, using the same couple, date and venue throughout.

The bride’s parents hosting

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Andrew Bennett request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Olivia Grace to Mr. Marcus James Reid Saturday, the eighteenth of September two thousand twenty-seven at half after four o’clock Saint Andrew’s Church Savannah, Georgia

For the groom’s parents hosting, swap the names and use “at the marriage of their son Marcus James to Miss Olivia Grace Bennett.”

Both families hosting

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Andrew Bennett and Doctor and Mrs. Samuel Reid request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their children Olivia Grace Bennett and Marcus James Reid Saturday, the eighteenth of September two thousand twenty-seven at half after four o’clock Magnolia Hall Savannah, Georgia

The couple hosting

When you are hosting yourselves, your names lead and there are no parents in the host line.

Olivia Grace Bennett and Marcus James Reid request the pleasure of your company at their marriage Saturday, September 18, 2027 at 4:30 p.m. Magnolia Hall Savannah, Georgia Reception to follow

A warmer version of the same thing:

Olivia Bennett and Marcus Reid invite you to celebrate their wedding Saturday, September 18, 2027, 4:30 p.m. Magnolia Hall, Savannah Dinner and dancing to follow

The couple with their families

This is the most flexible version. It acknowledges both families without naming anyone, so it suits blended families and parents who have contributed in different ways.

Together with their families Olivia Bennett and Marcus Reid invite you to celebrate their marriage Saturday, September 18, 2027, at 4:30 p.m. Magnolia Hall, Savannah, Georgia

To name parents without a formal host line, put them under your names instead:

Olivia Grace Bennett daughter of Helen and Thomas Bennett and Marcus James Reid son of Grace and Samuel Reid

Divorced parents

Give each parent their own line, with no “and” joining the lines. The “and” signals a married couple, so leaving it out is the polite way to show two households.

Mrs. Helen Bennett Mr. Thomas Andrew Bennett request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Olivia Grace to Mr. Marcus James Reid

If only one parent is hosting, name only that parent. You can still honor the other in the couple’s line (“daughter of Helen Bennett and Thomas Bennett”).

Remarried parents and stepparents

A stepparent goes on the same line as the parent they are married to.

Mr. and Mrs. David Ellis Mr. Thomas Andrew Bennett request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of Olivia Grace Bennett to Mr. Marcus James Reid

Here Olivia’s mother has remarried David Ellis, so they share the first line and her father has the second. Writing “at the marriage of Olivia Grace Bennett” rather than “their daughter” keeps the line accurate for both households. If the full names feel stiff, a casual version works just as well: “Helen and David Ellis and Thomas Bennett invite you to the wedding of Olivia Bennett and Marcus Reid.”

Honoring a parent who has died

The gentlest option is to name the parent in the couple’s line rather than the host line, because the host line is for the people doing the inviting.

Mrs. Helen Bennett requests the pleasure of your company at the marriage of her daughter Olivia Grace Bennett daughter of the late Thomas Andrew Bennett to Mr. Marcus James Reid

Or, in the couple-hosted version:

Together with their families Olivia Bennett, daughter of Helen Bennett and the late Thomas Bennett, and Marcus Reid invite you to celebrate their marriage

Some couples prefer to leave the invitation to the living and honor a parent during the ceremony instead, with a reading, a reserved chair or a line in the program. Both choices are correct. Ask the family member closest to that parent which they would rather see.

Formal vs casual wedding invitation wording: the same invitation two ways

The facts do not change between registers. Only the voice does. Here is one full invitation written both ways, with a modern middle option, so you can hear the difference.

Formal

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Andrew Bennett request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Olivia Grace to Mr. Marcus James Reid Saturday, the eighteenth of September two thousand twenty-seven at half after four o’clock Magnolia Hall Savannah, Georgia Reception immediately following The favour of a reply is requested by the twenty-first of August

Modern

Together with their families Olivia Bennett and Marcus Reid request the pleasure of your company at their wedding Saturday, September 18, 2027, at half past four Magnolia Hall, Savannah, Georgia Dinner and dancing to follow Kindly reply by August 21

Casual

We’re getting married! Olivia and Marcus Saturday, September 18, 2027, 4:30 p.m. Magnolia Hall, Savannah Food, drinks and a very long dance floor to follow Let us know you’re coming by August 21

Match the register to the day itself. A black-tie evening in a ballroom suits the formal version; a backyard wedding with a taco truck reads oddly in third-person formal wording. A quick test: read the wording aloud as if you were inviting a guest in person. If it sounds like someone else’s wedding, move one column over. “Honour” and “favour” keep their British spelling on formal American cards by tradition; on a modern or casual card, “honor” and “favor” are fine.

To draft your own lines, try our wedding invitation wording generator.

Adults-only wedding invitation wording

The clearest way to say children are not invited is to name the people who are. A card addressed to “Mr. and Mrs. Sanjay Patel,” or a digital invitation with two names on it, already says who the invitation is for. Formal etiquette advises against printing “no children” or “adults only” on the invitation itself, so if you want to say it in words, put the line on a details card, your wedding website or the reply form.

Lines that are clear without sounding cold:

• “We have reserved two seats in your honor.”
• “Our celebration will be adults only. We hope you enjoy a night off.”
• “While we love your children, we’re keeping our wedding to adults only.”
• “With the exception of the children in our wedding party, our celebration is adults only.”
• “Please note that our ceremony and reception are for guests 18 and older.”

If you are making exceptions, decide them before the invitations go out, and tell parents of other children personally rather than letting them find out at the door. For plus-ones, the children question and other awkward lines, see our full guide to wedding invitation etiquette.

More wording for specific weddings

Reception line options

• Same venue: “Reception to follow” or “Dinner and dancing to follow.”
• Different venue: “Reception immediately following, The Oak Room, 12 River Street.”
• Later the same day: “Reception at seven o’clock, Magnolia Hall.”
• A separate reception invitation for guests not at the ceremony: “Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Andrew Bennett request the pleasure of your company at a reception in honor of Olivia and Marcus...”

Dress code lines

Put the dress code last, in one short line: “Black tie,” “Black tie optional,” “Cocktail attire,” or “Garden party attire, flat shoes recommended for the lawn.” For a church service with a dress expectation, say it plainly: “Church ceremony: please plan to cover shoulders.”

A small wedding or micro wedding

Olivia and Marcus are getting married and we are keeping it small, so you’re one of a few people we couldn’t imagine doing this without. Saturday, September 18, 2027, 4:30 p.m. The garden at 22 Elm Street, Savannah Supper to follow. Please reply by August 21.

A destination wedding

Olivia Bennett and Marcus Reid invite you to join them in Lisbon, Portugal, for their wedding on Saturday, September 18, 2027. Travel, hotel and weekend details are on our wedding website. Please reply by July 31.

Ask destination guests to reply earlier than local guests, so you can confirm rooms and transport.

A second marriage, with your children

Together with their children, Lily, Noah and Ava, Karen Lewis and Paul Ortega invite you to celebrate their marriage Saturday, September 18, 2027, at 4:30 p.m. Magnolia Hall, Savannah

Several events in one invitation

For a wedding over several days, give each event its own block, with its own date, time and place, and make it clear which events each guest is invited to.

Together with their families Anika Sharma and Rohan Mehta invite you to celebrate their wedding
Mehndi: Thursday, September 16, 2027, 6:00 p.m., The Sharma home, Edison Sangeet: Friday, September 17, 2027, 7:00 p.m., Riverside Hall, Edison Wedding ceremony: Saturday, September 18, 2027, 10:00 a.m., Riverside Hall, Edison Reception: Sunday, September 19, 2027, 7:00 p.m., The Grand Ballroom, Princeton
Kindly reply for each event by August 21

If families on each side read different languages, the invitation can carry both. With Link Invitation you can write the invitation in two scripts, for example a heading in one script and the details in English, and send a line of your text to check it renders before you pay.

Digital invitation and WhatsApp wording

A digital invitation has two pieces of text: the invitation itself, and the short message that carries the link to each guest. They do different jobs, so write them separately.

The text on a digital invitation

Use the same anatomy as a printed card: host line, request, names, date and time, venue, reception, reply line. Two lines change:

• The venue line can stay short if your digital invitation has a map or directions link under it.
• The RSVP line points to the reply button rather than an address: “Kindly reply by August 21” or “Please RSVP below by August 21.”

Formal wording works perfectly well on a screen. Spelled-out dates read just as elegantly on a phone as on card stock.

The message that carries the link

This message is the modern envelope. Keep it to a few lines, address each guest by name, say it is an invitation, and give the reply-by date. Send it to each guest individually rather than to a group chat, so the invitation feels personal and replies stay tied to the right names. Copy-ready versions:

Dear Aunty Meera, we would be so happy to have you at our wedding on Saturday, September 18, in Savannah. Your invitation is here with all the details: [Link]. Please reply by August 21. With love, Olivia and Marcus

Hi Jess! It’s official: we’re getting married on September 18 and we want you there. Here’s your invitation: [Link]. RSVP by August 21 so we can save you a seat at the good table.

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Patel, Thomas and Helen Bennett warmly invite you to the wedding of their daughter Olivia to Marcus Reid on Saturday, September 18, 2027. Your invitation: [Link]. Kindly reply by August 21.

Hi Uncle Raj, we’re celebrating over three days in September and would love you with us. Your invitation shows the events you’re invited to, with times and maps: [Link]. Please reply for each one by August 21.

Dear Grandma, here is your wedding invitation: [Link]. Tap it to see the day, the time and the place. We’ll call you this weekend to talk it through, and we can help you reply if that’s easier.

If you are using Link Invitation, each guest’s link already carries their name, so the message can stay short and warm.

Five checks before you send

• The weekday matches the date. Check it against a calendar. It is an easy error to miss when you have read the card twenty times.
• Every name is spelled the way that person spells it. Ask, rather than copying from an old contact list.
• There is one reply-by date and one way to reply. “Please reply soon” is not a date.
• Who is invited is clear from the names. A named partner, named children, or names only.
• You have read it aloud once. Missing words and repeated lines show up when you hear them.

Write it once, send each guest their own invitation

When your wording is ready, Link Invitation puts it on a digital invitation and gives each guest their own link with their name on it. You write the message that goes with it and send it on WhatsApp, one tap per guest, using a name field so each greeting is personal.

Replies land in a live RSVP dashboard with who is coming, answers per event, dietary needs and your own custom questions. Set your reply-by date and choose whether replies close on it or stay open for late answers. Put several events in one invitation, with maps and timelines, and assign each guest only the events they are invited to. If you spot a typo after sending, fix it, and guests keep the same link.

Essential is $29 and you build it yourself, free to build and preview before you pay. Excellence is $99 and is designed for you. Both are a one-time payment with unlimited guests and no subscription. See plans and pricing.

Related: Setting an RSVP deadline · Several events, one invitation · Browse invitation designs