Standard wedding invitation wording includes five parts in order: the host line (who is inviting guests), the request line, the couple's names, the date, time and venue, and the reception line. Formal invitations spell everything out ("Saturday, the fourteenth of June") and use "the honour of your presence" for a religious service; casual invitations can use first names and numerals. Build yours from proven examples with our free tool.
Invitation wording trips couples up because it follows etiquette most of us never learned. Who hosts goes first, and the exact phrase you choose signals whether the ceremony is religious or not. Get the structure right and the rest is just filling in your details. The good news: you do not have to write it from scratch.
Open the free invitation builder to assemble your wording line by line.
The five parts of wedding invitation wording
- Host line. Who is inviting guests. Traditionally the bride's parents, but today it is often both families or the couple themselves ("Together with their families").
- Request line. The invitation itself. "Request the honour of your presence" denotes a religious ceremony; "request the pleasure of your company" denotes a non-religious one.
- The couple. Both names, with the bride's name traditionally first in different-sex weddings. Use full names on formal invitations.
- Date, time and place. Spelled out on formal invites, numerals are fine on casual ones. Include the full venue name and address.
- Reception line. Where the celebration continues, plus any dress code or "reception to follow."
This structure is consistent across stationery and etiquette authorities like Minted, The Knot and Emily Post. Confirm the exact wording for your situation before printing.
Wedding invitation wording examples
Here are sample wedding invitation wording examples by tone. The builder lets you start from any of these and swap in your details.
| Style | Host and request lines | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Formal, traditional | "Mr. and Mrs. John Smith request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter..." | Religious or black-tie ceremony, parents hosting |
| Formal, couple hosting | "Together with their families, [Name] and [Name] request the pleasure of your company..." | Couple paying, still want a polished tone |
| Modern, casual | "[Name] and [Name] are getting married! Join us to celebrate..." | Relaxed venue, warm and personal feel |
| Combined families | "Together with their parents, [Name] and [Name] invite you to share in their joy..." | Both families contributing, inclusive wording |
Honour vs pleasure, and other etiquette details
- "Honour of your presence" vs "pleasure of your company." The first signals a ceremony in a house of worship; the second signals any other location. The British spelling "honour" is traditional on formal invitations.
- Spell out the date and time. "Saturday, the fourteenth of June, two thousand twenty-six" reads more formally than 6/14/26. Casual invites can use numerals.
- Name order. Traditionally the bride's name comes first in a different-sex wedding; same-sex couples often choose alphabetically or by what sounds best.
- Keep details off the main card. RSVP, registry and accommodation info belong on enclosure cards or your wedding website, not the invitation itself.
Once your wording is set, send replies through our RSVP manager and point guests to a wedding website for the details that do not fit on the card.
Frequently asked questions
What is the proper wording for a wedding invitation?
Proper wording lists the host line first, then the request line, the couple's names, the date, time and venue, and a reception line. Formal invitations spell out the date and use "the honour of your presence" for a religious ceremony or "the pleasure of your company" for any other location.
Whose name goes first on a wedding invitation?
The host's name goes first, traditionally the bride's parents. On the couple's line, the bride's name is traditionally listed first in a different-sex wedding. Same-sex couples often go alphabetically or by what flows best.
When should wedding invitations be sent out?
Send invitations six to eight weeks before the wedding, and ten to twelve weeks for a destination wedding so guests can arrange travel. Send save-the-dates earlier, around six to eight months out.
Is the invitation builder free?
Yes. You can assemble your wording from the examples and edit each line for free, with no signup required.