There is a lot of confusion on how to word your wedding invitations. Here is the ultimate guide on how to word your wedding invitations in every situation, from Formal to Casual, In a Church or a Synagogue, and in your parent's back yard. We've consulted Emily Post and used our 20 years of experience to make sure we get it right every time, from what words to capitalize and hyphenate, too! Our Classic Crest Wedding Invitations are formal and traditional on high end cotton paper.
Let's start with the most formal.
Use this format when the bride's parents are hosting, in a place of worship:
Mr. and Mrs. Richard SeymourÂ
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Lindsey Beth
to
Jonathan Brent Simian
Saturday, the twelfth of June
Two thousand twenty-seven
at half after five o’clock
Saint Clements Church
Chicago, IllinoisÂ
Notes:
• there should be no mention of dress code on a church-only invitation (leave that for the reception card)
• "and" may be used in Jewish weddings between the bride and groom's names
• the street address or zip code is never listed
• it's half after, not half past
• you can list the groom's parents here under the groom's name: Son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Simian. It doesn't indicate they have hosted when placed in this position
• quarter after five o'clock is the correct way to say 5:15pm
• you can spell honour with a U, too.
• optional to hyphenate the year: "Two thousand twenty seven" is fine too.
Bride's parents are hosting; Non place of worship like a country club, outdoor location, or hotel:
Mr. and Mrs. Richard SeymourÂ
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their daughter
Lindsey Beth
to
Jonathan Brent Simian
son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Simian
Saturday, the twelfth of June
Two thousand twenty-seven
at half after five o’clock
Seymour ResidenseÂ
Chicago, IllinoisÂ
Notes:
• you can list the groom's parents here under the groom's name as a nice way to honor them. It doesn't indicate they have hosted when placed in this position
Joint Hosts; Non place of worship:
Together with their families
Lindsey Beth Seymour
and
Jonathan Brent Simian
request the pleasure of your company
at their wedding
Saturday, the twelfth of June
Two thousand twenty-seven
at half after five o’clock
The Langham
Chicago, IllinoisÂ
black tie
or
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Seymour
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Simian
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their childrenÂ
Lindsey Beth Seymour
and
Jonathan Brent SimianÂ
Saturday, the twelfth of June
Two thousand twenty-seven
at half after five o’clock
The Langham
Chicago, Illinois
Reception immediately following
Notes:
• The last names of the couple can be left off, though a more modern choice would be to use the couple's last names
• Reception immediately following indications the reception is at the same location as the wedding ceremony
• Attire may be listed here because it is not a ceremony card in a place of worship
Joint hosts or couple hosting; casual location like private residence, art gallery, or park:
Together with their families
Margaret Chen
and
Charles Edward Lee
Invite you to join them
at their marriage celebration
Saturday, June 12th, 2027
at 6:00 in the evening
Long View Gallery
1234 Ninth Street
District of Columbia
Reception to Follow
Notes:
• many invitations use "Together with" language when hosting is joint, complicated, or you want everyone to feel included
• on a casual invitation, okay to mix numerals with spelled out words
• okay to put street address
• the words "Reception to follow" indicate that the reception is in the same location as the wedding
A few more thoughts:Â
• Never mention a deceased parent on the invitation, ie: the late Mrs. Jane Simian. You can honor any family members on the wedding program.
• Reception locations can be listed on the invitation, but it more common to use a second Reception Card for a new location with attire and address listed. This keeps the invitation clean and uncluttered. Here's where you list attire and street address:
This invite uses a separate reception card, photographed by Emilia Jane.
Next time, we'll address how to list the hosts when you have complicated situations, from re-marriage to single or deceased parents, multiple hosts, and more!
Want to see the quality in person? Order our Wedding Invitation Sample Pack for Free to see the quality of the cotton paper, envelope liners, and printing processes in person.
0 comments