Wedding Invitation Wording Guide: Breaking Down the 7 Key Components

When it comes to planning your wedding invitations, the artwork and design are only half the equation; the wording is just as important. Your invitation doesn’t just tell guests where to go and when to arrive, it also sets the tone for your celebration. From the most formal black-tie affairs to whimsical garden parties, the phrasing you choose communicates the style of your wedding before the first guest even steps into the venue.

So, what exactly goes into a wedding invitation? Let’s break down the 7 important pieces of information to include, along with modern etiquette and phrasing ideas for each, so you can confidently craft wording that fits the vibe of your special day.

1. The Hosting Line

Traditionally, the first line of the wedding invitation indicates who is hosting (i.e., who is financially contributing). While traditionally this was almost always the bride’s parents, modern weddings are seeing much more variety.

If parents are divorced, remarried, or both families are hosting, names can be listed separately in order of preference, often with “together with their families” as a clean, inclusive choice.

Formal Options:

• “Mr. and Mrs. John Smith request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter…”
• “Together with their families, [Name] and [Name] request the pleasure of your company…”
  

Semi-formal / Modern Options:

• “together with their families”
• “With great joy, [Name] and [Name] invite you to join them…”
  

2. The Request Line (Extending the Invitation)

This is the phrase that actually invites guests to the wedding. Wording here depends on the formality and setting.

Formal Options:

• “Request the honor of your presence” (traditionally used for religious/church ceremonies)
• “Request the pleasure of your company” (for secular or less formal settings)
  

Casual / Modern Options:

• “Invite you to celebrate with them”
• “Joyfully invite you to join in their wedding celebration”
• “Would love for you to join them as they say ‘I do’”
  

3. The Names of the Couple

Traditionally, the bride’s name is listed first, followed by the groom’s. Modern etiquette is more flexible, with many couples choosing alphabetical order or simply whichever feels natural. 

Use full names if your wedding is formal. First names or nicknames can be perfect for casual or destination weddings.

Formal:

• “Miss Sarah Elizabeth and Mr. James Andrew Carter” (formal wedding invitations do not traditionally include the bride’s last name when her parents names are in the hosting line)
  

Semi-Formal:

• “Sarah Smith and James Carter”
  

Casual / Modern:

• “Sarah & James”
  

4. Date and Time

This section often signals the level of formality. 

Formal wedding invitations often spell out numbers and avoid abbreviations, while more casual options can embrace shorter formats or do a mix.

Formal: 

• “Saturday, the twenty-seventh of September, two thousand twenty-five at half past four in the afternoon”
  

Semi-Formal: 

• “Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 4:30 in the afternoon”
  

Casual / Modern:

• “09.27.25 at 4:30 PM”
  

5. Ceremony Venue

List the ceremony venue’s name and city/state. This line is the same for formal and casual invites, but the layout can be more formal or playful with font choice and color. 

 Full addresses are typically reserved for detail cards unless the location is not well known.

Typically:

• “St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York, New York”
  

6. Reception Line

This line lets guests know what happens after the ceremony.

If the reception is at a different location, include details on the details card instead of cluttering the main invitation.

Formal Options:

• “Reception to follow”
  
• “Dinner and dancing to follow at [Venue Name]”
  

Informal Options:

• “Cocktails, dinner, and dancing to follow”
  
• “Let’s party afterward at [Venue Name]!”

7. Attire (Optional)

This optional line helps guide guest expectations. It usually appears at the bottom of the wedding invitation or on the details card. Many couples may also opt to include this information on their wedding website, with a link or QR code on the back of the invitation.

Traditionally, attire is only included on the invite card when it is black tie or black tie optional. Other attire requests typically go on the details card.

Formal:

• “Black tie”
• “Black tie optional”
  

Semi-Formal / Informal:

• “Formal attire”
• “Cocktail attire”
• “Festive garden party attire”
• “Dress to dance the night away”

Putting It All Together: Sample Wedding Invitation Wording

Your wedding invitations do more than share the logistics – they set the mood for everything that’s to come. Whether you’re drawn to the timeless elegance of traditional wording or the warm tone of something more modern, the most important thing is that it feels like you.

At Sprigs & Spruce, we’re here to walk you through each step with ease — from wording choices and etiquette to crafting paper goods that are as meaningful as they are beautiful.

Ready to begin? Click the link below!