Finding the right wording for your wedding invitations can be daunting. If you only want to use the church ceremony for civil purposes, but are planning on having a religious service at another location, does this mean you cannot refer to it as a wedding? This is a common question that many brides have. I’ve detailed several examples of invitation wording that are great for wedding ceremonies in churches.
What should the wording be for a wedding invitation for a Catholic Church ceremony? This article explains Wedding Invitation Wording and Couple Hosting Wedding Invitation.
what to include
1
Host line
The first line of the wedding invitation is where you list who’s hosting the wedding (a.k.a. who is paying for the wedding). Traditionally, this was usually the bride’s parents, so listing their names on the host line was a way of acknowledging that generosity. These days, however, more and more couples are either paying for the wedding themselves (in this case, you can omit the host line entirely) or receiving financial contributions from parents on both sides—in this case, you can list all parents’ names or opt for something simpler like, “Together with their parents” or “Together with their families.”
The most important thing to keep in mind about the host line is to word it in a way that feels comfortable to you both as a couple. Here are a few rules to help you figure out the best host-line wording for your family dynamics:
The word “and” in between two names traditionally implies that those people are married.
If your parents are divorced and you want to include both as hosts, you can include them all, just keep each parent on a separate line.
If you’re going to include the name of stepparent, keep it on the same line.
Hosts who are not married should be on separate lines.
Names should not listed in order of who paid more.
If you want to include the name of a parent who is deceased, you’ll need to rearrange things a bit, as someone who has passed can’t actually serve as a host. A common way to honor a deceased parent is alongside a member of the couple’s name as “Olivia French, daughter of Susan French,” or “Olivia French, daughter of Michael French and the late Susan French.”
SEE HOST LINE WORDING EXAMPLES
Green Wreath by Lori WempleGREEN WREATH by Lori Wemple
Everly Wedding Invitations
Everly
Wedding Invitations
Hooray Creative
by Hooray Creative
BUFFALO, NY
Forever And Wedding Invitations
Forever And
Wedding Invitations
Jen Banks
by Jen Banks
BALTIMORE, MD
Grove Wedding Invitations
Grove
Wedding Invitations
Everett Paper Goods
by Everett Paper Goods
LONDON, GB
Wedding Invitation Wording For Church Ceremony
Mojave Wedding Invitations
Mojave
Wedding Invitations
Ana Sharpe
by Ana Sharpe
FORT LEE, NJ
SHOP WEDDING INVITATIONS
2
Request line
The request line is where you invite people to attend your wedding (a.k.a. “Please come!”), so use this section to set the tone for your celebration. If your wedding is formal, use more formal language to reflect the occasion (e.g., “request the honor of your presence…”); if your wedding is casual, use less formal language (e.g., “Would love for you to join them…” or “Want you to come party with us…”). Here are a few more things to keep in mind:
“The honor of your presence” is traditionally used to denote a religious service. Some couples opt to spell “honour” using the British spelling; both are correct but spelling it with a “u” evokes a more formal and traditional feel. (Note: If you’re using “honour” on the invitation, we recommend matching it with “favour” as in “favour of your reply” on the RSVP card.)
“The pleasure of your company” (or variations on this) is used to denote a non-religious ceremony locale.
SEE REQUEST LINE WORDING EXAMPLES
Coupled by Jessica WilliamsCOUPLED by Jessica Williams
At Last Wedding Invitations
At Last
Wedding Invitations
Susan Asbill
by Susan Asbill
DALLAS, TX
Conjoin Wedding Invitations
Conjoin
Wedding Invitations
Alethia Frye
by Alethia Frye
CHARLOTTE, NC
Minimal Circle Wedding Invitations
Minimal Circle
Wedding Invitations
Kelly Schmidt
by Kelly Schmidt
VANCOUVER, CA
Classic Touch Wedding Invitations
Classic Touch
Wedding Invitations
April Astudillo
by April Astudillo
CEBU, PH
SHOP WEDDING INVITATIONS
3
Action line
Here, you’re outlining what you are inviting people to share in. Some examples:
Traditionally, with the bride’s parent’s hosting, this line is usually something like, “At the marriage of their daughter.”
If both parents are hosting, the line might read “At the marriage of their children.”
If you’re hosting yourselves, the line could be something like “At the celebration of their union” or “As they tie the knot.”
SEE ACTION LINE WORDING EXAMPLES
Arches by Kelly Schmidt, Formal by Jessica WilliamsARCHES by Kelly Schmidt FORMAL by Jessica Williams
Vine Wrap Wedding Invitations
Vine Wrap
Wedding Invitations
Amy Kross
by Amy Kross
BIRMINGHAM
Storybook Wedding Invitations
Storybook
Wedding Invitations
Jennifer Postorino
by Jennifer Postorino
SCOTTSDALE, AZ
The Biltmore Wedding Invitations
The Biltmore
Wedding Invitations
Stacey Meacham
by Stacey Meacham
GREENVILLE, SC
The Field Of Love Wedding Invitations
The Field Of Love
Wedding Invitations
Petra Kern
by Petra Kern
LJUBLJANA, SI
SHOP WEDDING INVITATIONS
Wedding Invitation Wording
We are delighted to announce the marriage of our daughter/son, ________, to ___.
The wedding will take place on ______________ at _ o’clock in the afternoon, at the Chateau de la Motte Picquet-Grenay in France.
Please reply by return of post.
Regards,
Mr and Mrs Richard Surname Dates of Wedding
wedding invitation wording examples
4
Couples’ Names
This one might seem easy—that is, until you start thinking about the nitty-gritty details. Whose name goes first? Do you have to include last names? What about middle names? There really are no right or wrong answers, so do whatever feels most comfortable to you both, but here are a few suggestions:
For different-sex couples, the bride’s name typically goes first, followed by the groom’s name. If the bride’s parents’ names are listed at the top, the bride’s name can just be her first and middle name (without last name), while the groom’s name is listed in full, or his first and middle names are listed, followed by the line “Son of Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Wong.”
For same-sex couples, you can list the names in alphabetical order by last name, or in the order you choose (or perhaps in the order that looks best with the invitation design).
For a less formal feel, you may opt to list first names only.
Garden Beauties by Lori Wemple, Minimalist Deco by Nazia HyderGARDEN BEAUTIES by Lori Wemple MINIMALIST DECO by Nazia Hyder
True Love Wedding Invitations
True Love
Wedding Invitations
Carolyn Nicks
by Carolyn Nicks
LOVELAND, CO
Poetique Wedding Invitations
Poetique
Wedding Invitations
Kate Ahn
by Kate Ahn
IOWA CITY, IA
Vine + Pen Wedding Invitations
Vine + Pen
Wedding Invitations
Laura Hankins
by Laura Hankins
EDMOND, OK
Terracotta Wedding Invitations
Terracotta
Wedding Invitations
Kanika Mathur
by Kanika Mathur
SAN JOSE, CA
SHOP WEDDING INVITATIONS
5
Date & Time
Traditionally, the date and time should be spelled out in full. For example, if your ceremony is on September 15, 2021, at 4:30 p.m., the wording should read, “Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-one, at half after four in the afternoon.”
The day of the week and the month should be capitalized. The year should be lowercase.
There is no “and” when spelling out the year.
Time of day should be spelled out as “four o’clock” or “half after four o’clock.” Note that “half after” is the most traditional way to indicate time. However, less formal invitations can use “half past four o’clock” or “four-thirty.”
Traditionally, there is no need to add phrases such as “in the afternoon” or “in the evening” unless the event takes place at times like 8, 9 or 10. You should then designate “in the morning” or “in the evening” for clarity. However, some stationery designers add these phrases to fill out a line to improve the overall look of the invite design. This is totally up to you and your designer.
Evening begins at five o’clock, otherwise it is considered afternoon from noon until four o’clock.
It’s important to note that these formal date and time rules are frequently broken in more modern invitation designs, where the date and time are listed using numerals; using numerals is also preferred for more informal weddings.
SEE DATE & TIME WORDING EXAMPLES
Crescendo by Griffinbell Paper CoCRESCENDO by Griffinbell Paper Co
Burnished Wedding Invitations
Burnished
Wedding Invitations
Heather Cairl
by Heather Cairl
EASTON, PA
The Arch Wedding Invitations
The Arch
Wedding Invitations
Elly
by Elly
SINGAPORE, SG
Joyous Occasion Wedding Invitations
Joyous Occasion
Wedding Invitations
Design Lotus
by Design Lotus
BOISE, ID
Fall Garden Bouquet Wedding Invitations
Fall Garden Bouquet
Wedding Invitations
Grace Kreinbrink
by Grace Kreinbrink
DENVER, CO
SHOP WEDDING INVITATIONS
6
Location
List the ceremony venue as follows: “Venue Name” on one line with “City, State” on the following line; for formal weddings, the state name is usually spelled out (instead of abbreviations).
The venue’s street address is traditionally not included (although you may decide to list it), unless it is a private residence.
Zip codes are not usually included.
Bella Mia by Petra Kern, Woodland Hills by Eric CleggBELLA MIA by Petra Kern WOODLAND HILLS by Eric Clegg
Happiness x 2 Wedding Invitations
Happiness x 2
Wedding Invitations
Melanie Kosuge
by Melanie Kosuge
CHICAGO, IL
Block Print Frame Wedding Invitations
Block Print Frame
Wedding Invitations
Katharine Watson
by Katharine Watson
PORTLAND, ME
Inlay Wedding Invitations
Inlay
Wedding Invitations
Pixel and Hank
by Pixel and Hank
PLAINWELL, MI
Anson Wedding Invitations
Anson
Wedding Invitations
Kristie Kern
by Kristie Kern
AKRON, OH
SHOP WEDDING INVITATIONS
7
Reception line
If the reception will be at the same location as the ceremony, you can simply say, “Reception to follow” or “Dinner and dancing to follow.”
If the reception is at a different location, you can list the venue on the following line, or you may decide to include a separate insert card (called a reception card) inviting guests to the reception, with the venue’s full address.
If you’re not serving a full meal, this would be a great place to let guests know by saying something like, “Cake, punch, and merriment to follow” or “Join us after the ceremony for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and dancing.”
You can also use this line to get creative and set the tone for the reception with something like, “Join us for an intimate dinner following…” or “Drinks, dancing, and shenanigans to follow.”
SEE RECEPTION LINE WORDING EXAMPLES
Classy Type by Hooray CreativeCLASSY TYPE by Hooray Creative
Reflection Wedding Invitations
Reflection
Wedding Invitations
Leah Bisch
by Leah Bisch
PALOS VERDES PEN., CA
Flourish Wedding Invitations
Flourish
Wedding Invitations
Jen Owens
by Jen Owens
WARRENTON, MO
Oponki Wedding Invitations
Oponki
Wedding Invitations
chocomocacino
by chocomocacino
PRAGUE, CZ
Botanical Edge Wedding Invitations
Botanical Edge
Wedding Invitations
Susan Moyal
by Susan Moyal
TORONTO, CA
SHOP WEDDING INVITATIONS
Other Considerations
Dress code
Including a line about the wedding’s dress code is optional but can be helpful for guests; however, if your wedding is black tie, you must include that on the invitation. If you don’t include dress code information on the invitation, then guests will infer attire details based on the formality of the wedding invitation itself (i.e., if the invitation is very fancy, guests will likely anticipate a formal affair). The dress code line should be listed on a line following the reception location.
Wedding website
Typically you don’t print your wedding website on the wedding invitation; rather, you should list it on one of the accompanying cards (like a reception card or additional information card). It’s also a good idea to have already printed your wedding website URL on your save the date card.
wording examples
Who is hosting the wedding?
Both Parents
Bride’s Parents
Groom’s Parents
Couple
Both Families + Couple
Special Cases
Traditional Religious
Held in a religious venue,
hosted by both sets of parents
Mr and Mrs Charles Hoffman
and Mr and Mrs Lucas Harrison
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Alexandra Quentin
and
Brian Forsyth
Saturday, the Ninth of June
Two thousand twenty-four
half past five o’clock in the evening
Cathedral of Christ the King
Atlanta, Georgia
celebration following
Love Stories by Liz Conley
Love Stories
by Liz Conley
Traditional Secular
Held in a secular location,
hosted by both sets of parents
Mr. and Mrs. Donald Anderson
together with
Mr. and Mrs. Liam Smith
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their children
Elizabeth May
and
Charles Smith
the twenty-second of August
at half past three in the afternoon
Two thousand Twenty Four
The Mayflower Grace
Washington, Connecticut
dinner and dancing to follow at
Piedmont Hotel
Elysium by Design Lotus
Elysium
by Design Lotus
Casual Informal
Held in a casual location,
hosted by both sets of parents
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hunter
And Mr. and Mrs. George Temple
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their children
Estella and
Grayson
April 24th, 2022
at 4 O’Clock
The Gardens Edge Inn
Seattle, Washington
formal reception to follow
Flourishing Edge by Grace Kreinbrink
Flourishing Edge
by Grace Kreinbrink
SHOP WEDDING INVITATIONS
complete your suite
Wondering what else to send with your wedding invitation? Our guide below outlines exactly what you’ll need to include, along with wording suggestions for each card.
“Sense and Sensibility” invitation suite by Design Lotus
Photo: Anna Delores Photography
Couple Hosting Wedding Invitation
Mr. and Mrs. John Smith
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Jennifer Anne Smith
to
Mr. Guy Michael Jinks, Jr., Esq.
on Saturday, the twenty-fifth day of June
two thousand nineteen at four o’clock in the afternoon
St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 123 Main Street, Anytown, USA 45611
Rsvp to: (555) 555-5555; or by email at jennifer@jennifersmithcatering.com
wedding invitation message for whatsapp
RSVP Cards
Good news! Wording the RSVP card (also called the reply card or response card) is a simpler task than the invitation. Here’s what you’ll need to include:
RSVP date: The first piece of information on the card is the reply-by date, which is typically three to four weeks before the wedding. This will give you enough time to get a final head count to the caterer (one week before) and to finalize your seating chart.
Remember to keep the wording consistent with the invitation: For example, “the favor or a reply” typically matches the invitation wording “the honor of your presence.” For less formal wedding invitation wording, such as “request the pleasure of your company,” the RSVP wording would typically be “Kindly reply by” or “Kindly respond by.”
Guest(s) names: Next is a line for guests to write their names, along with checkboxes for accepting or declining the invitation.
The M line: The “M” line on the RSVP card is the place where guests will write in their names. The “M” itself is meant to designate the first letter of the formal salutation (Mr., Mrs., Miss or Ms.), which the guest would write along with their name(s). The most traditional weddings might use the “M” line; for less formal celebrations, we suggest the more straightforward “Name(s)” instead.
Additional information you can include:
Meal choices may also be included on the reply card, along with checkboxes or illustrated icons.
It’s becoming more popular to include a song request line, something along the lines of, “We promise to dance if you play __.”
Formal RSVP
Plaza by Lauren Chism
Example: Formal
A reply is requested by the tenth of July
[Insert Name(s)]
accepts with pleasure
declines with regret
Conventional RSVP 1
Minimalist Deco by Nazia Hyder
Example: Casual
Please respond by the thirteenth of June
[Insert Name(s)]
happily accepts
regretfully declines
Conventional RSVP 2
Vitrage by Petra Kern
Example: with Meals
Please reply by March 27
M [Insert Name(s)]
will attend
will not attend
Meal choices:
chicken
salmon
vegetarian
SHOP RSVP CARDS
Reception Cards
If the ceremony and reception are held at the same venue, include the line “Reception to follow” at the bottom of the invitation. However, if the reception is held at a different location, it should be treated as a separate event—include a separate reception card with the event details as part of the invitation suite.
Reception Cards
Marked by JoAnn Jinks
Example: Reception Card
Please join us for an
dinner and dancing
immediately following
the ceremony in the
Allegro Ballroom
SHOP ENCLOSURE CARDS
Activity Card
Activity cards can be very helpful if your wedding has multiple events taking place during the wedding weekend. List all of the festivities guests open to guests in chronological order. This way, you wedding invitation suite gives clear information of what the guests should expect. If you choose not to include the activity card inyour invitation suite, make sure you list out this information on your wedding website.
Activities Cards
Sedona by AK Graphics
Example: Activity Card
Activities
A wedded weekend
Friday
Meadowood Winery Tour | 1:00 pm | Please meet in the hotel lobby
Rehearsal Dinner | 7:00 pm | Meritage Resort | 875 Bordeaux Way
Saturday
Ladies Tea | 11:00 am | Churchill Tea Room | Please meet in the hotel lobby
Sunday
Farewell Brunch | 11:00 am | Bouchon Bistro | 6534 Washington Street
SHOP ENCLOSURE CARDS
Information Card
An information card can be enclosed with your wedding invitation if you’d like to provide any additional wedding details to guests: directions, transportation information, lodging suggestions, etc. Make sure to check out our guide on how to assemble your wedding invitation suite, especially if multiple enclosure cards are involved.
Information Cards
Ring Box by Phrosné Ras
Example: Information Card (directions)
More details
If you would like to book a room at the hotel, please call The Ivy Reservations 0712 334 4444, quote ‘Stewart-Long wedding accommodation June 17th’ to receive the discounted rates available for a one or two night stay at our hotel.
For more info, visit our website:
rayandphoenix.minted.us
or call Jane on 0403 333 444