Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

Wedding Invitation Wording Examples will be one of the first things you will be searching for after booking your ceremony and reception venues.

Many couples are apprehensive of how to word their wedding invitations depending on your circumstances. I've put together quite a number of different wording examples that should cover most situations, but if you don't see a wording example that you need, then Contact Us!.

If you find that you only want to invite certain guests to only your reception and not to your actual wedding ceremony, you might want to check out Wedding Reception Wording.

You can also find help with your Wedding Guest List.

invitation with pearls and champagne glasses

A lot of couples stress over their wedding invitations. How to choose the right Wedding Invitation Style, but mostly how to word the right invitation without offending anyone.

Wedding invitation wording examples usually follows some well-established guidelines that respect the nature of your specific family and situation.

(When I talk about who is hosting, it normally refers to who is paying the lion's share of the wedding cost; whoever is footing the bill deserves to lead off the invitation.)

The Basics of Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

First of all, it should be noted that on formal wedding invitation wording examples everything is spelled out, including the date and time of the wedding.

For example, the invitation should read two o'clock in the afternoon and not 2:00 p.m.

Each piece of information is on its own line and no commas are used, exception between the location of the wedding and the city and province/state in which it will take place.

The following is how a basic wedding invitation wording examples should read:

__________________ [proper names of those hosting/paying]
request the honor of your presence [request line]
at the marriage of their _________ [list relationship of the bride to the host]
__________________ [bride's first and middle names]
to
__________________ [groom's full name]
_________, the __ of ________ [day of the week, day and month of wedding]
at ____ o'clock [time of wedding] in the _________ [time of day]
___________________ [name of the location of wedding]
_________, ____________ [city and state/province where wedding will take place]

Reception to follow

Wedding invitation wording examples dictates that if the bride's parents are hosting, it is customary to leave off the bride's last name. If the groom's parents are involved (hosting), the bride's last name should be included.

It should be noted that with wedding invitation wording, "The honor of your presence" is traditionally only used if the ceremony is taking place in a house of worship.

Any parent or important loved one not mentioned on the invitation (either because they were not officially hosting or there was not enough space to include them) should be recognized elsewhere.

Some ideas: a special note in the ceremony program, a special toast at the rehearsal dinner, or a thank you speech at the wedding reception.

Watch Out! Be Careful!

Even though you may be following the rules of wedding invitation wording examples and paying tribute to the parents that are hosting (paying), you may actually offend the other set of parents who are not mentioned on the invitation.

To counter that, you could use the wedding invitation wording examples such as the following:

Mr. and Mrs. John D. Doe
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Jane Anna
to
Paul Edward Smith
son of
Mr. and Mrs. Brian James Smith

That being said, I know that there is a lot of you who won't fit into that neat little example of wedding invitation wording examples, so check out the following examples; you can go for a formal or casual feel, it's up to you:

Parents of the Bride Hosting - Formal

Parents of the Bride Hosting - Casual

Parents of the Groom Hosting - Formal

Parents of the Groom Hosting - Casual

If the Wedding is Going to be Held at a Home, instead of a Church, etc.

If the Wedding is Going to be Held at a location other than a church or residence

Bride and Groom Hosting - Formal

Bride and Groom Hosting - Casual

Both Sets of Parents Hosting - Formal

Both Sets of Parents Hosting - Casual

The Bride, Groom and both sets of Parents are Hosting - Formal

The Bride, Groom and both sets of Parents are Hosting - Casual

Divorced Parent Hosting Alone - Formal

Divorced Parent Hosting Alone - Casual

Divorced Parent is Hosting with New Spouse - Formal

Divorced Parent is Hosting with New Spouse - Casual

Divorced Parents are Hosting Jointly - Formal

Divorced Parents are Hosting Jointly - Casual

Widowed Remarried Parent is Hosting - Formal

Widowed Remarried Parent is Hosting - Casual

Parents of the Bride Hosting - Formal Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

Mr. and Mrs. John D. Doe
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Jane Anna
to
Paul Edward Smith

What I can say is, "Be Care With This Wording". Even though you may be following the rules of wedding invitation wording and paying tribute to the parents that are hosting, you may actually offend the other set of parents who are not mentioned on the invitation.

To counter that you could use the wedding invitation wording:

Mr. and Mrs. John D. Doe
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Jane Anna
to
Paul Edward Smith
son of
Mr. and Mrs. Brian James Smith

Parents of the Bride Hosting - Casual Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

John and Bella Doe
invite you to the wedding of their daughter
Jane Anna
to
Paul Edward Smith
Saturday, May 17, 2008
at 2:30 in the afternoon

or

John and Bella Doe
invite you to share and celebrate at the marriage of theirdaughter
Jane Anna
to
Paul Edward Smith
Saturday, May 17, 2008
at 2:30 in the afternoon

or

John and Bella Doe
invite you to share in their joy at the marriage of their daughter
Jane Anna
to
Paul Edward Smith
Saturday, May 17, 2008
at 2:30 in the afternoon

Parents of the Groom Hosting - Formal Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

Mr. and Mrs. Brian James Smith
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their son
Paul Edward
to
Jane Anna Doe

To counter that you could use the wedding invitation wording:

Mr. and Mrs. Brian James Smith
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their son
Paul Edward
to
Jane Anna Doe
daughter of
John and Bella Doe

Parents of the Groom Hosting - Casual Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

Brian and Elsie Smith
invite you to the wedding of their son
Paul Edward
to
Jane Anna Doe
Saturday, May 17, 2008
at 2:30 in the afternoon

or

Brian and Elsie Smith
invite you to share and celebrate at the marriage of their son
Paul Edward
to
Jane Anna Doe
Saturday, May 17, 2008
at 2:30 in the afternoon

or

Brian and Elsie Smith
invite you to share in their joy at the marriage of their son
Paul Edward
to
Jane Anna Doe
Saturday, May 17, 2008
at 2:30 in the afternoon

To counter that you could use the wedding invitation wording examples:

Brian and Elsie Smith
invite you to share in their joy at the marriage of their son
Paul Edward
to
Jane Anna Doe
daughter of
John and Bella Doe

If the Wedding is Going to be Held at a Home, instead of a Church, etc.

instead of listing the church, etc., say:

at the residence of
Mr. and Mrs. John D. Doe
525 Atlantic Boulevard
Somecity, Someprovince/state

If the Wedding is Going to be Held at a location other than a church or residence

instead of the church name, simply substitute:

Royal Park
Queen Street
Somecity, Someprovince/state

Both Sets of Parents Hosting - Formal Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

Mr. and Mrs. John D. Doe
and
Mr. and Mrs. Brian James Smith
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Jane Anna
and
Paul Edward

Both Sets of Parents Hosting - Casual Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

John and Bella Doe
along with
Brian and Elsie Smith
invite you to the wedding of their children
Jane Anna
to
Paul Edward
Saturday, May 17, 2008
at 2:30 in the afternoon

or

John and Bella Doe
along with
Brian and Elsie Smith
invite you to share and celebrate at the marriage of their children
Jane Anna
to
Paul Edward
Saturday, May 17, 2008
at 2:30 in the afternoon

or

John and Bella Doe
along with
Brian and Elsie Smith
invite you to share in their joy at the marriage of their children
Jane Anna
to
Paul Edward
Saturday, May 17, 2008
at 2:30 in the afternoon

The Bride and Groom are Hosting - Formal Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

There are actually a couple of different ways you can handle this one, see which wedding invitation wording you like better:

Miss Jane Anna Doe
and
Mr. Paul Edward Smith
request the honor of your presence
at their marriage

or

The honor of your presence
is requested at the marriage of
Miss Jane Anna Doe
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Doe
and
Mr. Paul Edward Smith
son of Mr. and Mrs. Brian James Smith

or

The honor of your presence
is requested at the marriage of
Jane Anna Doe
to
Paul Edward Smith
Saturday, the seventeenth of May
two thousand and eight
at half past two in the afternoon

or

The pleasure of your company
is requested at the marriage of
Jane Anna Doe
to
Paul Edward Smith
Saturday, the seventeenth of May
two thousand and eight
at half past two in the afternoon

It should be noted that with wedding invitation wording, "The honor of your presence" is traditionally only used if the ceremony is taking place in a house of worship.

Bride and Groom Hosting - Casual Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

Jane Anna Doe
&
Paul Edward Smith
invite you to their wedding
Saturday, May 17, 2008
at 2:30 in the afternoon

or

Jane Anna Doe
&
Paul Edward Smith
invite you to share and celebrate at their wedding
Saturday, May 17, 2008
at 2:30 in the afternoon

or

Jane Anna Doe
&
Paul Edward Smith
invite you to share in their joy at their wedding
Saturday, May 17, 2008
at 2:30 in the afternoon

The Bride, Groom and both sets of Parents are Hosting - Formal Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

Again, there are a couple of different ways you can handle this one, see which wedding invitation wording you like better:

Together with their parents
Miss Jane Anna Doe
and
Mr. Paul Edward Smith
request the honor of your presence
at their marriage

or

Miss Jane Anna Doe
and
Mr. Paul Edward Smith
together with their parents
Mr. and Mrs. John D. Doe
and
Mr. and Mrs. Brian James Smith
request the honor of your presence
at their marriage

or

Miss Jane Anna Doe
and
Mr. Paul Edward Smith
together with their parents
Mr. and Mrs. John D. Doe
and
Mr. and Mrs. Brian James Smith
request the pleasure of your company
at their wedding
Saturday, the seventeenth of May
two thousand and eight
at half past two in the afternoon.

The Bride, Groom and both sets of Parents are Hosting - Casual Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

Jane Anna Doe
&
Paul Edward Smith
together with their parents
invite you to their wedding
Saturday, May 17, 2008
at 2:30 in the afternoon

or

Jane Anna Doe
&
Paul Edward Smith
together with their parents
invite you to share and celebrate at their wedding
Saturday, May 17, 2008
at 2:30 in the afternoon

or

Jane Anna Doe
&
Paul Edward Smith
together with their parents
invite you to share in their joy at their wedding
Saturday, May 17, 2008
at 2:30 in the afternoon

Divorced Parent Hosting Alone - Formal Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

Mr. John D. Doe
requests the honor of your presence
at the marriage of his daughter
Jane Anna
to
Paul Edward Smith
Saturday, the seventeenth of May
two thousand and eight
at half past two in the afternoon

or

Mr. John D. Doe
requests the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of his daughter
Jane Anna
to
Paul Edward Smith
Saturday, the seventeenth of May
two thousand and eight
at half past two in the afternoon

Divorced Parent Hosting Alone - Casual Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

John D. Doe
invites you to the wedding of his daughter
Jane Anna
to
Paul Edward Smith
Saturday, May 17, 2008
at 2:30 in the afternoon

or

John D. Doe
invites you to share and celebrate at the marriage of his daughter
Jane Anna
to
Paul Edward Smith
Saturday, May 17, 2008
at 2:30 in the afternoon

or

John D. Doe
invites you to share in his joy at the marriage of his daughter
Jane Anna
to
Paul Edward Smith
Saturday, May 17, 2008
at 2:30 in the afternoon

Divorced Parent is Hosting with New Spouse - Formal Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

Mr. and Mrs. John D. Doe
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of his daughter
Jane Anna Doe
daughter of Ms. Bella Forest
to
Paul Edward Smith
Saturday, the seventeenth of May
two thousand and eight
at half past two in the afternoon

orMr. and Mrs. John D. Doe
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of his daughter
Jane Anna Doe
daughter of Ms. Bella Forest
to
Paul Edward Smith
Saturday, the seventeenth of May
two thousand and eight
at half past two in the afternoon

Divorced Parent is Hosting with New Spouse - Casual Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

John and Linda Doe
invite you to the wedding of his daughter
Jane Anna Doe
daughter of Bella Forest
to
Paul Edward Smith
Saturday, May 17, 2008
at 2:30 in the afternoon

or

John and Linda Doe
invite you to share and celebrate at the marriage of his daughter
Jane Anna Doe
daughter of Bella Forest
to
Paul Edward Smith
Saturday, May 17, 2008
at 2:30 in the afternoon

or

John and Linda Doe
invite you to share in their joy at the marriage of his daughter
Jane Anna Doe
daughter of Bella Forest
to
Paul Edward Smith
Saturday, May 17, 2008
at 2:30 in the afternoon

Divorced Parents are Hosting Jointly - Formal Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

Mr. and Mrs. John D. Doe
and
Ms. Bella Forest
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Jane Anna Doe
to
Paul Edward Smith
Saturday, the seventeenth of May
two thousand and eight
at half past two in the afternoon

or

Mr. and Mrs. John D. Doe
and
Ms. Bella Forest
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their daughter
Jane Anna Doe
to
Paul Edward Smith
Saturday, the seventeenth of May
two thousand and eight
at half past two in the afternoon

Please note that a good rule of thumb is to list in the wedding invitation wording whomever is paying for the majority of the wedding first.

Divorced Parents are Hosting Jointly - Casual Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

John and Linda Doe
with Bella Forest
invite you to the wedding of their daughter
Jane Anna Doe
to
Paul Edward Smith
Saturday, May 17, 2008
at 2:30 in the afternoon,br>
or

John and Linda Doe
with Bella Forest
invite you to share and celebrate at the marriage of their daughter
Jane Anna Doe
to
Paul Edward Smith
Saturday, May 17, 2008
at 2:30 in the afternoon

or

John and Linda Doe
with Bella Forest
invite you to share in their joy at the marriage of their daughter
Jane Anna Doe
to
Paul Edward Smith
Saturday, May 17, 2008
at 2:30 in the afternoon

It should be noted that with wedding invitation wording, a good rule of thumb is to list whomever is paying for the majority of the wedding, first.

Widowed Remarried Parent is Hosting - Formal Wedding Invitation Wording Examples

Mr. and Mrs. Bella Davis
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of her daughter
Jane Anna Doe
daughter of the late Mr. John D. Doe
to
Paul Edward Smith

or

Mr. and Mrs. Bella Davis
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of her daughter
Jane Anna Doe
daughter of the late Mr. John D. Doe
to
Paul Edward Smith

It should be noted that with wedding invitation wording, although you do not have to list the deceased parent's name, it's an option if you wish to honor them on the invitation.

Widowed Remarried Parent is Hosting - CasualWedding Invitation Wording Examples

David and Bella Davis
invite you to the wedding of her daughter
Jane Anna Doe
daughter of the late Mr. John D. Doe
to
Paul Edward Smith
Saturday, May 17, 2008
at 2:30 in the afternoon

or

David and Bella Davis
invite you to share and celebrate at the marriage of her daughter
Jane Anna Doe
daughter of the late Mr. John D. Doe
to
Paul Edward Smith
Saturday, May 17, 2008
at 2:30 in the afternoon

or

David and Bella Davis
invite you to share in their joy at the marriage of her daughter
Jane Anna Doe
daughter of the late Mr. John D. Doe
to
Paul Edward Smith
Saturday, May 17, 2008
at 2:30 in the afternoon

It should be noted that with wedding invitation wording, although you do not have to list the deceased parent's name, it's an option if you wish to honor them on the invitation.

I hope that this helped to clear up the wedding invitation wording issue!

And if you need help with writing "Thank You Notes" after the wedding you should check out Writing Thank You Notes.

Make sure that you stay on top of all things good in the World of Weddings by subscribing to my FREE Newsletter!

Just fill in the form here...