How Do You Word Your Wedding Invitations

You're trying to word your wedding invitations but don't know where to start.

How do you invite someone to your wedding?

What is the correct etiquette? What feels like you?

Let's break it all down line by line and explain when and why you would use certain phrases from the top to the bottom. Pick an option from each section to help build up the wording on your invitations.

1. Who is doing the inviting?

This traditionally based on who is doing the paying and is traditionally the Bride's parents. However in more modern times this is not always the case so heres some different options.

Mr & Mrs X

This is used when the brides family is paying for the whole wedding.

Together with thier families

This is when both families and the couple are all contributing to the wedding.

Mr & Mrs X invite you to the wedding of their daughter Mary X to Mark Y son of Mr & Mrs Y

This is a less common option mainly as it is quite wordy. This is used when a set of parents are paying fully but you still wish to acknowlege the other set of parents.

Mr X & Mrs Z invite you to the wedding of their daughter Mary X to Mark Y son of Mr & Mrs Y

This is a slighly more complicated one to word but would be used in families where parents have remarried. Mrs Z being the "step mom" in this example. Dad would typically go first- again tradionally would the one that pays and also would most likely have the same last name as the bride to be.

The Couple

The two getting married are the sole contributors to the wedding.

You are invited to the wedding of

This doesnt suggest anybody has paid for the wedding and is a much more relaxed approach.

2. Extending the invtation

These are addional phrases to add on the end of the previously selected phrase. Some work with the phrases some don't. Some of the wording above doesn't need any of these as it sounds too repetative.

Cordinally invite you to attend

A traditional and rather formal sounding option.

Request the honour of your presence

Typically would be used when you are having the ceremony in a house of worship rather than an approved venue.

Request the honour of your company

Again an option for marriage in a house of worship.

Request the pleasure of your company

This is an option for marriage in an approved venue or anywhere that's not a house of worship.

Invite you to share in the joy

Just a relaxed option. Maybe better suited to a celebrant led ceremony.

Come for the wedding stay for the party

Again a great relaxed option. Ideal for Celebrant led or even a short ceremony at the registry office.

3. Extending the invtation

Now more than ever its important to tell guests what they are actually coming to. Is it a legal wedding ceremony? Is it a celebrant led ceremony to allow for more of your personalities to shine though. Is it a more spiritual handfasting or even a vow renewal.

At the marriage of

At the wedding of

At the celebration of

at the handfasting of

at the vow renewal of

4. Anything else to add

Here you'll put something about what is happening once the ceremony is completed, is there a suggested dresscode (emphasis on suggested- you can't tell guests what to wear. I said what I said.)

Dinner & dancing to follow

Reception to follow

Black tie encouraged / preffered / optional (this also suggests to the ladies cocktail dresses etc)

Finally if that all seems too much and you're looking to take the invitation stress away you can easily fill out my form to enquire about or bespoke stationery or semi bespoke options.