When you begin designing your wedding invitations, you quickly realize: there are a lot of decisions to make. From names to titles to how to list your venue (and everything in between), the smallest details can feel surprisingly overwhelming. But this is exactly where I step in as your custom wedding invitation designer. (And yes, I’ve helped countless couples navigate these exact questions.)
Your invitations do more than simply inform your guests of the time and place. They set the tone for your celebration, hint at the aesthetic of your day, and offer a first glimpse into the experience your guests can expect. That’s why thoughtful wedding invitation wording matters so much.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through each part of your wedding invitation wording, share examples, and offer a few personal insights to help make the process feel effortless.
Before we dive in, hi! I’m Allison, the designer behind Kindly Delivered. I specialize in fully custom wedding invitations that reflect your style and vision. Every detail is thoughtfully designed just for you (and I’ll guide you through each step to make it easy and enjoyable).
If you’re curious to learn more about me and my process, you can visit here. To see examples of past custom wedding invitations I’ve designed, take a look at my portfolio. And if you’re ready to begin designing your dream invitations, you can get in touch with me here.
The Host Line: Who’s Inviting?
At the very top of your invitation, you’ll often see what’s called the “host line.” Traditionally, this acknowledges who is hosting or paying for the wedding. But today, it’s really about what feels most authentic to you. Many of my couples opt for something timeless but modern and some are even choosing to leave the host line off entirely!
Examples of Host Lines:
- For a classic, formal invitation hosted by the bride’s parents:
“Mr. and Mrs. Jones request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter, Sophie Marie, to John James Anderson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Anderson.” - For both families hosting together:
“Mr. and Mrs. Jones and Mr. and Mrs. Anderson request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their children.” - For a couple hosting themselves (very common today):
“Together with their families, Sophie Marie Taylor and John James Anderson invite you to celebrate their wedding.”
As for the “request line”, there’s no need to overthink it. For a casual invite, you could say something like “Join us as we celebrate..” or “Together with our families, we invite you to join us”. For a more formal occasion, consider using language like “The honor of your presence is requested” or “Your attendance is cordially requested”. Remember, your invitation sets the tone for your wedding day! Don’t worry, this is something we can easily fine-tune during the custom design process, too.
The Request Line: Extending the Invitation
Next comes the actual invitation to attend—often called the request line. This wording helps convey the tone and formality of your event. Is your wedding black tie at a historic estate? Or an intimate garden celebration? The wording can subtly reflect that.
Request Line Examples:
- Formal ceremony in a place of worship:
“…request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their children…” - Formal ceremony not in a place of worship:
“…request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their children…” - More relaxed wording:
“…invite you to celebrate the wedding of…” - For very intimate, casual gatherings:
“…invite you to join the fun as they stand together in front of family and friends…”
One of the joys of custom wedding invitations is that we can blend tradition and personality to create wording that fits you perfectly.
The Names: How to List Yours
Your names are, of course, at the heart of your wedding invitation wording. But even here, there are a few decisions to make. Here are a few tips to get you started:
- Formality: For formal or black-tie weddings, full names (including middle names) are often used. For example:
“The pleasure of your company is requested at the wedding of Sophie Marie Taylor and John James Anderson.” A quick note, a very formal invitation leaves off the last name of the bride. - Simplified Names: For slightly more modern or relaxed invitations, you may simply use first and last names.
- Order of Names: Traditionally, the bride’s name appears first. Today, many couples go with what feels right (which, for most of my clients, is a reflection of their own preferences rather than strict rules).
Remember: as your designer, I’ll guide you through this so the invitation feels cohesive and intentional.
The Details: Date, Time, and Location
Next, you have to share all of your exciting wedding details with your guests! This is where your guests get the essential information they need to plan their arrival. While there are nuances in every situation for your wedding invitation wording, here are a few tips for listing the date, time, and location.
1. The Date:
- Spelled Out: Traditional and formal invitations usually spell out the date and year. For example, “Saturday, the Twenty-Seventh of September, Two Thousand Twenty-Five” or “Saturday, September Twenty-Seventh, Two Thousand Twenty-Five.”
- Numerical Date: For a more casual or modern style, you can use numerical dates like “Saturday, 09/27/2025” or “Saturday, September 27th, 2025”.
- Don’t Forget the Day of the Week: It’s common to include the day of the week to help guests plan their travel, particularly for weekend weddings.
2. The Time:
- Specific Time: Indicate the exact time the ceremony will start. If it’s a formal wedding, spell out the time, for example, “at half after four in the afternoon” or “four-thirty in the afternoon”
- Casual Style: For a less formal modern wedding, you can use numbers like: “at 4:30 PM.”
3. The Location:
- Full Address: Include the full address of your venue. This includes the name of the venue, street address, city, and state. It’s not necessary to include the zip code.
- Venue Name: If the venue is well-known, you can just list the name and the city and state. For example, “The Plaza Hotel, New York, New York”.
- Destination Wedding: For destination weddings, include the country if it’s outside of your home country.
- Separate Reception Card: If your reception is at a different location, consider including a separate reception card with the reception details. If your reception is at the same location, you can simply add a line that says, “reception to follow.”
Additional Invitation Suite Pieces to Consider
Beyond your main invitation, there are additional elements that complete your wedding stationery suite:
- Save the Dates: sent well in advance to secure guest availability.
- Details Cards: for accommodations, transportation, or weekend events.
- RSVP Cards: with clear deadlines and options
- Envelope Liners, Wax Seals, and Custom Embellishments: these elevate the tactile experience for your guests
This is where custom wedding invitations shine—we thoughtfully curate every piece to reflect your style and vision, down to the tiniest detail.
If you want to learn more about these additional pieces, I break it all down in my guide here.
Ready to Put it All Together?
Rather than just tell you, I thought I would share some recent invitations I’ve designed in the studio so you can see how all of these elements come to life in different and unique ways! While I’ve tried to give examples of both formal and casual wedding invitation wording, don’t be afraid to mix and match or choose something in between so that your wedding invitations match the feel you want.
Want to Complete Your Invitation Suite?
One of my favorite parts of designing custom wedding invitations is guiding couples through these wording decisions. What seems complicated at first becomes clear and effortless with a little guidance (and a bit of experience). Every line we choose reflects your story and creates a beautiful, cohesive invitation suite your guests will love receiving.
If you’re ready to create something truly custom for your wedding day, you can learn more about me, explore my portfolio, or get in touch to get started. I’d be honored to bring your vision to life.
And for even more inspiration and behind-the-scenes peeks, follow along on Instagram.
