Wedding Invitation Wording & Etiquette: The Complete Guide
Your wedding invitation is the first official announcement of your celebration — and the wording sets the tone for everything that follows. Get it right, and guests immediately understand the formality, style, and spirit of your wedding. This guide covers traditional and modern wording options, etiquette rules, and everything you need to include so your invitations are both beautiful and informative. When you’re ready to shop, our wedding invitation collection has stunning suites for every style.
What to Include on a Wedding Invitation
Every wedding invitation should include these essential elements:
- Host line: Who is hosting (traditionally the bride’s parents, now often the couple themselves)
- Request line: The formal invitation to attend
- Couple’s names: The names of the two people getting married
- Date and time: Written out in full for formal invitations
- Venue: Full name and address of the ceremony location
- Reception details: If different from the ceremony, include separately
- Dress code: Optional but helpful — include if it’s not obvious from the formality of the invitation
- RSVP information: Deadline, method (card, website, email), and meal choices if applicable
Traditional Formal Wording
Traditional formal invitations use third-person language and spell out all numbers and times.
Mr. and Mrs. James Harrison
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Emily Rose Harrison
to
Mr. William Thomas Bennett
Saturday, the fourteenth of June
two thousand and twenty-six
at half past four in the afternoon
The Grand Ballroom, The Ritz-Carlton
New York, New York
Modern Casual Wording
Modern couples often prefer a warmer, more personal tone that reflects their personality.
Together with their families
Emily Harrison & William Bennett
invite you to celebrate their wedding
June 14, 2026 at 4:30 PM
The Ritz-Carlton, New York
Dinner and dancing to follow
When the Couple Hosts
Many modern couples host their own wedding. In this case, the host line changes:
Emily Harrison and William Bennett
joyfully invite you to their wedding celebration...
Wording for Divorced or Remarried Parents
When parents are divorced, list each parent on a separate line without "and" between them. Stepparents can be included on the same line as their spouse.
RSVP Card Wording
Keep RSVP cards simple and clear:
Kindly reply by May 15, 2026
___ of ___ guests will attend
□ Joyfully accepts □ Regretfully declines
Invitation Timing & Etiquette
- Save-the-dates: Send 6–12 months before the wedding (earlier for destination weddings)
- Formal invitations: Mail 6–8 weeks before the wedding
- RSVP deadline: Set 3–4 weeks before the wedding to give caterers time to finalize numbers
- Inner and outer envelopes: Traditional formal invitations use both; modern invitations typically use one
- Addressing envelopes: Use full names and proper titles; avoid abbreviations for formal invitations
- Postage: Always hand-stamp invitation envelopes — never use a postage meter
What NOT to Include
- Registry information (include on your wedding website instead)
- "No children" language (handle this through word of mouth or your wedding website)
- Parking or transportation details (include in a separate enclosure card)
Shop Wedding Invitations
Ready to find your perfect invitation suite? Our wedding invitation collection features luxury calligraphy suites, modern minimalist designs, vellum overlays, and gold foil options for every wedding style. Also read our guide on how to choose wedding invitations and our Ultimate Wedding Planning Guide for more help.
