How to Word a Wedding Invitation: 25+ Examples for Every Style

The hardest part of sending wedding invitations usually isn't the design — it's figuring out what to actually say. Who hosts? Do you spell out the year? How do you word it when both sets of parents are paying, or when no one is? This guide breaks wedding invitation wording down line by line, with more than 25 real examples you can copy, adapt, and make your own.

The 6 lines every wedding invitation needs

Almost every invitation, from black-tie formal to backyard casual, is built from the same six building blocks:

1. Host line — who is inviting guests (the people traditionally hosting or paying).
2. Request line — the actual invitation ("request the pleasure of your company").
3. Couple's names — the two of you, the stars of the day.
4. Date and time — when it's happening.
5. Venue — the location name and city.
6. Reception line — what follows, and where ("Dinner and dancing to follow").

Get those six right and the rest is styling. Let's go through each.

1. The host line

The host line names whoever is formally inviting guests. Traditionally that's the bride's parents, but modern weddings split the bill (and the billing) in all kinds of ways.

Bride's parents hosting:
"Mr. and Mrs. James Whitfield request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter…"

Both sets of parents hosting:
"Mr. and Mrs. James Whitfield and Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Rivera request the pleasure of your company…"

The couple hosting themselves:
"Together with full hearts, Olivia Whitfield and Marcus Rivera invite you to celebrate their marriage."

Honoring a deceased parent:
"Olivia Whitfield, daughter of Mr. James Whitfield and the late Mrs. Sarah Whitfield…"

2. The request line

This is where tone is set. "Request the honor of your presence" is the most formal (and traditionally signals a religious ceremony). "Request the pleasure of your company" is formal but secular. Casual couples can simply say "invite you to celebrate" or "would love for you to join them."

Tip: The British spelling "honour" is sometimes used on very formal invitations, but for a US wedding, "honor" is perfectly correct.

3. The couple's names

On formal invitations, the partner whose family hosts is typically listed first, often using first and middle names only (since the surname appears in the host line). On modern and same-sex invitations, list names alphabetically or simply in the order that reads best to you — there's no rule you have to follow.

4. Date and time

Formal invitations spell everything out; casual ones use numerals.

Formal: "Saturday, the fourteenth of September, two thousand twenty-six, at half after four in the afternoon."

Casual: "Saturday, September 14, 2026, at 4:30 in the afternoon."

5. Venue and 6. Reception line

List the venue name and the city and state (a full street address belongs on the details card, not the main invitation). Then tell guests what's next: "Reception to follow," "Dinner and dancing to follow," or for a casual vibe, "Tacos, cake, and dancing to follow."

Full wording examples by style

Formal / traditional

"Mr. and Mrs. James Whitfield
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Olivia Grace
to
Marcus Daniel Rivera
Saturday, the fourteenth of September
two thousand twenty-six
at half after four in the afternoon
The Glass Conservatory
Charleston, South Carolina
Reception to follow"

Modern / minimalist

"Olivia & Marcus
are getting married
September 14, 2026 · 4:30 PM
The Glass Conservatory, Charleston
Dinner & dancing to follow"

Casual / relaxed

"We're tying the knot!
Join Olivia and Marcus for a celebration of love, good food, and questionable dance moves.
Saturday, September 14, 2026 at 4:30 pm
The backyard at 12 Magnolia Lane, Charleston"

RSVP and details card wording

Keep the RSVP card short: "Kindly respond by August 1, 2026," with a line for names and a meal selection if needed. Use the details card for the address, dress code ("Garden formal"), website, and any travel notes — this keeps your main invitation clean and elegant.

Match your wording to your design

Wording and design should feel like the same wedding. Spelled-out, centered formal text pairs beautifully with a classic, editorial look — our Minimalist Editorial suite was built for exactly that. If your wording is warm and relaxed, a soft floral design carries it best — try the Wildflower suite or the earthy Terracotta Desert Boho suite. Want your invitation to make a statement? The bold Cherry Red suite turns confident wording into a confident first impression.

Every Paper Vow suite is fully editable in Canva, so you can drop any of the wording above straight onto your invitation, change a font or color in seconds, and download a print-ready file the same day.

Once your wording is set

With your words finalized, the next questions are usually about timing and printing. Read when to send your wedding invitations and save the dates, then see how to print your invitations at home like a pro.