Host line, where the names of the people hosting the wedding open the invitation Request line, where the invitation is formally put forward to the guest Relationship line, where it’s indicated how the hosts are related to the couple Name of the couple Date line Time line Venue line Address line, which states the address and location of the ceremony venue Reception line, which explains what type of reception or party will take place afterward and where
A bride’s parents A groom’s parents The couple and their parents The couple alone
Typically, you will use courtesy titles followed by the surname (Mr. and Mrs. Gordon), or courtesy titles followed by the husband’s full name (Mr. and Mrs. John Gordon).
If two brides or two grooms are getting married, the formatting will be the same, but you will have to choose whose parents come first. However, you can also put all the parents on the same line.
Together with their parents Together with Mr. and Mrs. John Gordon and Mr. and Mrs. James Smith
The names are often on separate lines, with the bride’s name traditionally coming first when there is a bride and groom. [4] X Research source Even when the couple are the hosts, wedding invitations are still generally written in the third person. [5] X Research source
“Request the honor of your presence,” which is usually reserved for religious services. “Request the pleasure/honor of your company,” which is usually used when a service will not be religious. [7] X Research source “Invite you to celebrate with them” “Would like you to help celebrate”
When the hosts are a bride’s parents, you can say “at the marriage of their daughter” When both parents are hosting, you can say “at the marriage of their children” When a groom’s parents are the hosts, the next line can simply be “at the marriage of” When the couple is hosting, you can say “at the celebration of their wedding/union” When an invitation has been extended by children from previous marriages, the relationship line can say something like “at the ceremony that will unite them as brother and sister”[8] X Research source
Feel free to include a bride and groom’s full names; traditionally, however, only the bride’s first and middle names appeared on invitations, because the bride’s parents paid for the wedding, so her surname was already mentioned. When the groom’s parents are the hosts, it is sometimes necessary to write “to their son” between the bride’s name and the groom’s, so the invitation is stated as “Mr. and Mrs. James Burrows request the honor of your presence at the marriage of Catherine Renee to their son Ryan Kevin Burrows. ”
On a traditional, formal wedding invitation, the names of all times and dates are spelled out (write “Monday the second of March” as opposed to “Monday, March 2”)[10] X Research source Similarly, instead of writing 2:00 p. m. on a formal invitation, you would instead write out two o’clock in the afternoon.
Name of the venue Address of the venue (unless it’s a highly recognizable place that will be easy to find)[12] X Research source City and state/province where the wedding will be held
“Dinner and dancing to follow” “Reception to follow” “Party to follow,” and be sure to note a time and new location if applicable
To tell guests delicately that children are not invited, you can also have a box on the RSVP card that asks you to indicate how many adults will be attending. [14] X Research source
Write the full names on the center of the envelope. Address married couples with the same last name together. The return address should be the name and address of the hosts, and not necessarily the bride and groom. [15] X Research source
