How to Word Your Wedding Invitations
Your invitations are the first impression your guests will have of your wedding - they should inform them on who is getting married, when it’s happening and where they need to be on that day. The overall design is completely up to you, based on your preference, matching the theme and aesthetic of your wedding. However, not only do your invitations need to look good, but they also need to inform. There is a certain etiquette for how to word the information on the invite based on who is hosting as well as the formality of the event. Here are our tips on how to word your wedding invites!
*The same names were used in all invitation examples - LGBTQ+ wedding invitations will follow the same guidelines.
Photo by Apt B Photography for Kristin & Malik’s wedding
Traditional Wording
If the bride’s parents are hosting, leave off her last name. However, if the bride has a different last name than her parents, include her full name, as well as if her fiancé’s parents are involved in hosting.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Doe request the pleasure of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Jane Anne
to
John David Smith
Saturday, the nineteenth of May
two thousand and twenty
At 6 o’clock in the evening
Soho South Café
Savannah, GA
Reception to follow
*photo by The Happy Bloom for Rio & Amando’s wedding
If One Set of Parents is Hosting
If one set of parents is hosting, you should include their title and name, and remove the last name of the bride, unless it is different from the parents. Following that should be the entire name of the partner. LGBTQ+ wedding invitations should follow similar guidelines. Whoever is paying for the wedding should be listed first, followed by their son or daughter’s name, followed by their fiancé’s name.
Formal
Casual
If Both Sets of Parents are Jointly Hosting
The couple’s parents should each be listed on separate lines, starting with the bride's or whoever’s name falls alphabetically first. Since both last names are included in with the parents, there’s no need to use last names for the couple, except if either of them has a different last name than their parents. In that case, list out their full name, in addition to the full names of their parents.
Formal
Casual
If the Couple is Hosting
If you’re paying for the wedding yourselves, the invite wording will look a little different. Essentially, the parents’ names will be left off altogether, and it will go straight into the names of the couple.
Formal
Casual
If Everyone is Hosting
If you are all contributing to the payment of the wedding, the invitation will list the couple’s names in alphabetical order, followed by their parents’ names in corresponding order.
Formal
Casual
