At first glance, coming up with wedding invitation wording seems fairly straightforward. All you need to include is the who, what, when, and where, right?

That’s essentially true, but now that it’s time to work on your invitations, you may have questions.

Should we mention each of our parents? What if they’re divorced? How formal do we need to be?

We’ve answered those questions, along with a few others we commonly hear, in the article below. Happy writing!

Open With the Hosts

As a general rule of thumb, your invitation will open with the names of the hosts, which usually will be the bride’s parents.

A few examples:

Mr. and Mrs. John Paul Brown (This highly formal option includes a middle name.)

Mr. and Mrs. John Brown (still formal)

Mr. and Mrs. John and Cynthia Brown (still formal with both first names)

Cynthia and John Brown (not so formal)

If a parent is deceased, try starting with the couple’s names.

Elizabeth Cohen, daughter of Mr. Mark Cohen and the late Judy Cohen, and Brandon Adams, son of Mr. Douglas and Susan Cohen

If parents are divorced, put each parent on a separate line. Put step-parents on the same line as their spouse.

Mr. Randall and Ann Thompson

Mr. James and Greta Smith

The same rule of thumb applies to hosts who are not married: Put them on separate lines.

Minted.com notes that if you and your partner are paying for your own wedding, you do have the option of skipping the host line of your invitation.

Or, if you’re receiving financial contributions from parents on both sides of the family, you can list all of the parents’ names…or start with the names of you and your partner and add a phrase that says, “Together with their parents” or “Together with our families.”

Ask Your Guests to Attend…

Next, the invitation should have a request line that essentially says “please come.”

The way you put this will vary, depending on how formal you’d like to be. A few options include:

request the honor of your presence

would love for you to join them

invite you to celebrate with them

Your Wedding

And then tell people exactly what you want them to attend. You might write:

at the marriage of their daughter

at the marriage of

as our children tie the knot

as we exchange vows

Add the Couple’s Names

Now, if you haven’t mentioned it yet, it’s time for the names of you and your partner. You can put your names in a point size that’s larger than the rest of the text or use a different font, if you’d like, to make them stand out.

If you’re taking a formal approach, start with the bride, with her first and middle name, followed by the groom’s full name and, if appropriate, title.

You also can list names in alphabetical order, or for a more casual approach, stick with first names.

Tell Guests When to Arrive and Where They Should Show Up

Now, list that all-important date and time, which will be spelled out on a formal invitation.

Be sure to include the day of the week, especially if you’re planning a Friday or Sunday wedding.

Saturday, the twentieth of June, two thousand twenty-two, at half after five in the afternoon.

If you would like a more casual invitation, numerals are fine.

Follow with the location, complete with the city and state. For a destination wedding, you should include the country.

Invitations usually don’t include addresses and ZIP codes of wedding venues, but you should add them for a private residence.

Move on to Reception Information

End with information about the reception: Will it be at the same location as your ceremony? If so, you can write, “Reception to follow.”

If not, include full details: reception start time, location name, city, and state.

If space allows, or if you’re including an insert card, include the dress code.

Reservations

A formal invitation most likely will include a separate response card.

Or, you can ask guests to RSVP on your wedding website.

State Decisions Clearly

If there’s a detail that could cause confusion or be awkward, try to be very clear and open about it in your wording.

For example, maybe you’re planning an adults-only wedding. State that clearly on the invitation.

We kindly request this be an adult-only wedding.

Adults only affair.

If you don’t plan to serve dinner, make that clear as well. Try writing:

Hors d’oeuvres and cocktail celebration to follow the ceremony.

A Few More Thoughts

Your invitations aren’t a depository for all of your wedding details. Provide your registry information on your website.

Whether you’re opting for formal or casual invitations, be concise.

Also, aim for clarity. Read what you’ve written and ask yourself, could anything here confuse a reader?

Proofread. Proofread again. Ask friends and family to take a look, too. Double-check the spelling of all proper names, from your venue to your future in-laws.

If you’re asking yourself if you’d prefer formal wording, that decision is entirely up to you. One factor to consider is the formality of your event. Do you plan to go with a black-tie evening event or a more casual brunch wedding? Your invitation will give guests a feel for what they can expect.

Learn more about holding a wedding at The Bell Tower on 34th.