Wedding Invitation Wording: 30 Examples, from Formal to Fun

Wedding invitation wording follows a simple order: who's hosting, the request to attend, the couple's names, the date and time, the venue, and what comes after. Formal invitations spell everything out ("the twenty-first of June"); casual ones read like a note from you. Below are ready-to-use examples for every situation — copy them, then make them sound like you.

What order does wedding invitation wording go in?

Host line, request line, the couple, the date, the time, the venue, then the reception line. Every example below follows that order, so you can mix lines from different styles.

1. Host line — "Mr. and Mrs. David Clarke" or "Together with their families".
2. Request line — "request the honour of your presence" or "invite you to celebrate".
3. The couple — traditionally the bride first; any order is fine.
4. Date and time — written out on formal invitations.
5. Venue — name, then town and state; full addresses go on the details page.
6. Reception line — "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow".

Should it say "the honour of your presence" or "the pleasure of your company"?

"The honour of your presence" is traditionally used for a ceremony in a house of worship, and "the pleasure of your company" for anywhere else. That's the convention the Emily Post Institute describes; most guests won't notice, but it's a nice detail to get right.

Phrase	When it's used	Tone
request the honour of your presence	Ceremony in a church, synagogue or other house of worship	Most formal
request the pleasure of your company	Ceremony at a hotel, garden, vineyard, home	Formal
invite you to celebrate the marriage of	Any venue	Warm, modern
Reception to follow	Reception at the same venue, straight after	Formal
Kindly reply by	The RSVP deadline	Formal
Adults-only celebration	No children invited	Neutral

What is formal wedding invitation wording?

Formal wording uses full names, writes the date and time in words, and names the hosts first. Use it for black-tie weddings, church ceremonies and any invitation where the parents are hosting.

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

The honour of your presence is requested
at the marriage of
Emma Louise Clarke
and
James Robert Bennett
Saturday, the twelfth of June, two thousand twenty-seven
at half past four o'clock
Elmwood Estate, Napa Valley

How do you word an invitation when both families are hosting?

Name both sets of parents, or use "together with their families" to include everyone without listing names. The second is the most popular modern line because it's warm and avoids long host lists.

Together with their families
Emma Clarke and James Bennett
invite you to celebrate their marriage
Saturday, June 12, 2027 at 4 pm
Elmwood Estate, Napa Valley
Dinner and dancing to follow

Mr. and Mrs. David Clarke
and
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bennett
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their children
Emma and James

How do you word it when the couple is hosting?

Start with your own names and a simple invitation to join you. It's the natural choice when you're paying for the wedding yourselves, or for a second marriage.

Emma Clarke and James Bennett
request the pleasure of your company
as they exchange vows
Saturday, the twelfth of June
at four o'clock
The Glasshouse, Kew

We're getting married!
Emma & James
Saturday, June 12, 2027
Ceremony at 4 pm · Party until late
Elmwood Estate, Napa Valley

How do you word an invitation with divorced or remarried parents?

List each parent (with their spouse, if they're hosting) on their own line, mother's side first by tradition. If listing everyone gets complicated, "together with their families" is always correct.

Mrs. Anne Porter
and
Mr. David Clarke
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Emma Louise
to James Bennett

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Porter
and
Mr. and Mrs. David Clarke
invite you to the wedding of
Emma Clarke and James Bennett

What does casual wedding invitation wording look like?

Casual wording sounds like you talking: first names, numbers instead of words, and a line about the party. It suits garden, barn, beach and backyard weddings.

Emma & James are tying the knot!
Come celebrate with us
June 12, 2027 · 4 pm
The Old Barn, Sonoma
Food, drinks & dancing to follow

Two families, one big party.
Join us as Emma and James say "I do"
Saturday, June 12 · Golden hour

Love, laughter and happily ever after
Emma & James
invite you to their wedding

How do you word the reception line?

If the reception follows at the same place, add "Reception to follow" under the venue. If it's somewhere else, give it its own line or a separate event on the invitation.

• Reception to follow
• Dinner and dancing to follow
• Cocktails, dinner and dancing immediately following
• Reception at seven o'clock, The Grand Ballroom, The Langham
• Join us after the ceremony for drinks in the garden

How do you say adults-only, black tie or no gifts politely?

Put it on the details section, not in the main invitation text, and keep it short and kind. Digital invitations make this easy because each detail has its own section.

• Adults only: "We love your little ones, but our celebration will be adults only."
• Dress code: "Black tie optional" · "Cocktail attire" · "Garden party attire — think florals and flats".
• Gifts: "Your presence is the greatest gift. If you'd like to give something more, a contribution to our honeymoon fund would be warmly appreciated."
• Unplugged ceremony: "We invite you to be fully present — please keep phones away during the ceremony."

Does digital invitation wording differ from paper?

The main text is the same; what changes is that every detail can live on the invitation itself. Keep the card text classic, then use the extra sections for the schedule, travel, dress code and RSVP — how digital invitations work.

When you're ready, pick a design from the Classic and Modern collection and type your wording in — PixerInvite sets it on the card for you, in eleven languages.

Frequently asked questions

Whose name goes first on a wedding invitation?

Traditionally the bride's name comes first, especially when her parents are hosting. Today any order is fine — choose what reads best to you.

Do you write out the date in words?

On formal invitations, yes: "Saturday, the twelfth of June, two thousand twenty-seven". Casual invitations use numbers.

Should the address of the venue be on the invitation?

Formal cards give the venue name and town only; the full address and map belong on the details section or card.

How do I invite someone with a guest?

Use the guest's name when you know it — Emily Post notes it's warmer than "and guest". On a digital invitation, set how many seats each guest has reserved.