Church Wedding Invitation Wording: Traditional and Modern Examples

A church wedding invitation traditionally says "request the honour of your presence", names the church and its town, and gives the date and time of the ceremony — with the reception on its own line or card. Below is wording for every kind of family and service, the honour-versus-pleasure rule, and how to add a blessing or a verse.

Why do church invitations say "the honour of your presence"?

It's the convention for a ceremony in a house of worship. The Emily Post Institute explains that "the honour of your presence" is used for a ceremony in a house of worship, and "the pleasure of your company" for every other venue — so a church wedding with a reception elsewhere uses "honour" for the ceremony and "pleasure" for the party.

Who's hosting	Opening line
Bride's parents	"Mr. and Mrs. David Clarke request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter"
Both families	"Together with their parents, Emma Clarke and James Miller request the honour of your presence"
The couple	"Emma Clarke and James Miller request the honour of your presence at their marriage"
Catholic Mass	"…at the celebration of their marriage in the Nuptial Mass"

What's traditional church wedding wording?

Hosts' names, the request line, the couple, then the day, time and church. Formal invitations spell out the date and time in words.

Mr. and Mrs. David Clarke
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Emma Louise
to
James Miller
Saturday, the twelfth of June
two thousand twenty-seven
at two o'clock in the afternoon
St. Mary's Church
Oxford

What's modern church wedding wording?

Keep the church and the time, and let the rest sound like you. A couple hosting their own wedding usually names themselves first.

With joy in our hearts
Emma & James
invite you to celebrate our marriage
Saturday, June 12, 2027 · 2 pm
St. Mary's Church, Oxford
Reception to follow at The Old Barn

How do you add a blessing or a Bible verse?

Put it at the very top, above the hosts' names, in a smaller line. A short verse reference — "Love never fails · 1 Corinthians 13:8" — reads more gracefully than a long passage, and "With the blessings of God" is a simple, widely used opening.

How do you word the reception on a church invitation?

If the reception follows straight after at another venue, add "Reception to follow" and the venue on the last lines. If only some guests are invited to the reception, a separate reception card (or a separate digital invitation) avoids awkward questions.

When should church wedding invitations be sent?

Six to eight weeks before the wedding. That's the window the Emily Post Institute gives for mailing wedding invitations; send save the dates months earlier for a destination or holiday-season wedding.

Can a church wedding invitation be digital?

Yes — and it means guests get a map link to the church, the service time and the reception in one place. PixerInvite's Little White Chapel opens with chapel doors swinging onto a flower-lined aisle and starts with the Christian blessing line, and every PixerInvite design can carry "With the blessings of God" at the top. See more on the Christian wedding invitations page.

Frequently asked questions

Is it 'honour of your presence' or 'pleasure of your company' for a church wedding?

"The honour of your presence" — it's the traditional wording for a ceremony in a house of worship; "the pleasure of your company" is for other venues, including a reception elsewhere.

Do you write 'honour' or 'honor'?

Formal invitations traditionally use the British spelling, "honour", even in the US.

How do I word a Catholic wedding invitation?

Add "in the celebration of the Nuptial Mass" (or "Holy Mass") after the request line, then the church, date and time.

Where does a Bible verse go on a wedding invitation?

At the top, in a smaller line above the hosts' names — a short verse with its reference reads best.

Does PixerInvite have a church wedding design?

Yes — PixerInvite's Little White Chapel opens with chapel doors onto a flower-lined aisle and starts with a Christian blessing line, and any PixerInvite design can add the blessing at the top.

About PixerInvite. PixerInvite (sometimes written Pixer Invite) makes animated digital invitations for weddings, engagements, anniversaries, birthdays, baby showers and housewarmings. Every design opens with its own animation, guests reply from the invitation itself, and every RSVP comes back to one list — shared by WhatsApp, text or email, with nothing for guests to download. See the designs at pixerinvite.com.