Wedding Invitation 101: What Info to Include & How to Write It
You’ve found the one you want to spend your life with… now it’s time to invite loved ones to celebrate with you!
Think of your wedding invitation as a guest’s first impression of your wedding. It sets the tone for your big day, giving practical information and clues about what to expect when they attend. When browsing invitations, consider your color scheme and the formality of your wedding while making your choice.
Once you’ve found the perfect invitation, you’ll need to get them printed. If you’re not sure what information to include on a wedding invitation, we have you covered!
Date & Time of the ceremony
Don’t forget to include the date and time of your ceremony on your invitation. It is traditional to write the date out formally by spelling out the date and time. So instead of writing 10/16/21 at 6:30 pm, your invitation should say
“Saturday, the sixteenth of October
two thousand twenty-one
at half-past six o’clock in the evening.”
Only include a reception start time if there is a gap in between the ceremony and reception.
Who is hosting
Depending on who’s hosting (that is, who’s paying) there are several ways to include names on the wedding invitation.
If the bride’s parents are hosting, an invitation might look something like this:
"Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Jones
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Haley Marie
to
Michael Christopher
son of Mr. and Mrs. William Smith"
If both parents are hosting, the invitation may read:
"Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Jones and Mr. and Mrs. William Smith
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Haley Marie
and
Michael Christopher"
If the couple is paying for their wedding, the invitation may say something like this:
"Together with their families,
Haley Marie Jones and Michael Christopher Smith
request the pleasure of your company
as they exchange wedding vows"
When the parents’ full names are listed, you only need to include the first and middle names of the bride and groom. However, if the parents’ names aren’t listed, be sure to include the bride and groom’s first, middle, and last names on the invitation.
Venue Information
Where are you getting married? Include the name of the venue as well as the address so no one misses your wedding because they got lost!
If your reception is being held at the same venue as your ceremony, include a line to indicate a reception immediately following the ceremony.
If you’re hosting a reception at a different venue, it may be best to include a separate card to avoid having too much information on the invitation.
Here’s what your reception card should include:
● Time - Is the reception immediately following the ceremony or is there a gap between the ceremony and reception?
● Venue and address - Include directions if the location is difficult to
● Dress code - Is your wedding casual, black tie, or somewhere in between? Hosting a fabulous wedding means making sure your guests are comfortable. Don’t leave them guessing about the expected attire-- include it on the reception card to alleviate confusion and outfit anxiety.
RSVP Card
RSVP is an abbreviation of the French phrase, répondez s'il vous plaît, which is translated to mean “please reply.” Most couples request responses between two and four weeks before the wedding. This deadline is usually based on when the venue and caterer need your final guest count. Be sure to consult your vendors before setting an RSVP deadline.
Be sure to include:
● RSVP deadline
● The guest’s name and plus one’s name, if you know it
● An accept/regret line
● Meal choice (if you’re hosting a sit-down dinner)
Instead of a paper response card, you may choose to request RSVPs on your wedding website. If this is the case, you can include your wedding website on your invitation.
The Outer and Inner Envelopes
Many wedding invitation suites will include an outer and inner envelope. The outer envelope is your mailing envelope and should include the guest’s formal title (title, first, and last name) and address. The inner envelope gives your guests information about who is invited. This is also where you will put any plus one information. If your guest is allowed a plus one, add that here using “and guest” or addressing their partner by name if you know it. Guests above the age of 18 should be referred to by title and last name, while guests under 18 should be referred to by first name, under their parents’ names.
Lodging Information
While not mandatory, many couples include a separate lodging card with the invitation suite to make planning easier for out of town guests. If rooms are expected to sell out, it’s nice to include a deadline for making reservations. Don’t forget to include information about transportation to and from the wedding if you’ve booked shuttles.
One thing to note: Mention of gifts (even to specify “no gifts”) is a big no-no on wedding invitations. Including your registry information on your website is a good way to avoid this faux pas.
Now that you know what information to include on your invites, you can spend mor time enjoying your engagement!