How do you word a wedding invitation when the couple is hosting?

When the couple hosts themselves, a warm modern line works well: “Together with full hearts, [Name] and [Name] invite you to celebrate their wedding…” or “Together with their families…” if parents are involved but not the formal hosts. You can use first names, numerals for the date, and a relaxed tone — just keep the date, time, and location crystal clear.

How do you politely word an adults-only wedding?

Use a gentle, inclusive phrasing such as “To allow all guests to relax and enjoy, this will be an adults-only celebration,” or “We respectfully request no children at the ceremony or reception.” The most traditional method is to address each invitation only to the specific named adults, which signals the guest list without a printed note.

What is the proper RSVP wording for a wedding?

Formal: “The favour of a reply is requested by [date].” Modern: “Kindly reply by [date].” For a digital invite: “RSVP online by [date] — tap to reply.” Always include a deadline, typically three to four weeks before the wedding, so you can finalize the headcount with your caterer and venue.

Should you put the registry on the wedding invitation?

No. Listing a registry on the main invitation is considered impolite because it implies gifts are expected. Put registry information on a separate details card or your wedding website instead. If you prefer no gifts, a gracious line like “Your presence is the only present we need” is appropriate.

Do you spell out the date and time on a wedding invitation?

On formal invitations, yes — spell out the date and time in full (“Saturday, the fourteenth of September, two thousand twenty-six, at half after four in the afternoon”). On modern or casual invitations, numerals are perfectly acceptable (“Saturday, September 14, 2026 at 4:30 PM”). Match the formatting to the formality of your wedding.

Wedding Invitation Wording: Examples and Etiquette

Wedding invitation wording follows a simple order: who is hosting, the request to attend, the couple’s names, the date and time, the location, and the reception line. Below are copy-and-paste examples for formal, modern, and casual weddings — including every common host scenario — plus the etiquette for RSVPs, dress codes, and “adults only” notes.

The 6 parts of a wedding invitation

Almost every wedding invitation, formal or casual, includes the same six elements in this order. Get the order right and the rest is just tone:

The host line — who is inviting guests (the couple, one or both sets of parents, or everyone together).
The request line — the invitation itself (“request the honor of your presence” for formal; “invite you to celebrate” for relaxed).
The couple’s names — traditionally the bride’s name first, though any order is correct today.
The date and time — spelled out in full for formal invitations, written normally for casual ones.
The location — venue name and city; the full street address usually goes on a separate details card.
The reception line — where to go next, e.g. “Reception to follow” or a separate reception venue.

A quick note on “honour” vs. “honor”: the traditional British spelling “honour” signals a very formal, often religious ceremony, while “honor” is the standard American spelling. Either is correct — just be consistent.

Formal wedding invitation wording

Formal wording spells out dates and times in words and uses traditional phrasing. Classic example, parents of the bride hosting:

Mr. and Mrs. James Whitfield
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Eleanor Grace
to
Thomas Andrew Reid
Saturday, the fourteenth of September
two thousand twenty-six
at half after four in the afternoon
St. Mary’s Church
Charleston, South Carolina
Reception to follow

Formatting rules for formal invitations:

Write out the full date and time — “half after four” means 4:30, “four o’clock” means 4:00.
No numerals except house numbers; the year is lowercase and unhyphenated.
“the honour of your presence” is traditionally reserved for a ceremony in a house of worship; “the pleasure of your company” is used for other venues.

Modern and casual wedding invitation wording

Most couples today host themselves and prefer warmer, simpler language. A modern example, couple hosting:

Together with full hearts
Eleanor Whitfield
and
Thomas Reid
invite you to celebrate their wedding
Saturday, September 14, 2026 at 4:30 PM
The Cedar Room, 120 Bay Street, Charleston, SC
Dinner and dancing to follow

A relaxed, casual example for a backyard or low-key wedding:

We’re getting married!
And we’d love for you to be there.
Ellie & Tom
Saturday, September 14 · 4:30 in the afternoon
120 Bay Street, Charleston
Good food, cold drinks, and dancing to follow — RSVP by August 1

Casual wording can use numerals, contractions, first names only, and a touch of personality. The only firm rule is clarity: a guest should know exactly when and where to show up.

Wording for every host scenario

Who’s paying and who’s hosting changes the host line. Here are the most common situations and the line to use:

Who is hosting	Host line
Bride’s parents	Mr. and Mrs. [Name] request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter…
Both sets of parents	Mr. and Mrs. [Bride’s parents] and Mr. and Mrs. [Groom’s parents] request your presence…
The couple themselves	Together with their families, [Name] and [Name] invite you to celebrate…
Couple + all parents	Together with their parents, [Name] and [Name] request the pleasure of your company…
One deceased parent	[Name], daughter of Mr. [Name] and the late Mrs. [Name]… (or “the late” before the name)
Divorced parents	List each parent on a separate line, mother’s name first, no “and” joining them.

For same-sex couples, names can appear in any order — alphabetical or whatever reads best to you. There is no rule requiring a particular order.

RSVP, dress code, and 'adults only' wording

The trickier details — especially the polite ways to set boundaries — trip people up most. Use these tested lines:

RSVP wording:

Formal: “The favour of a reply is requested by the first of August.”
Modern: “Kindly reply by August 1 at [link/email].”
Digital: “RSVP online by August 1 — tap to reply.”

Dress code (place in the bottom corner or on the details card):

“Black tie” · “Black tie optional” · “Cocktail attire” · “Festive / garden party attire” · “Dressy casual.”

Adults-only (the polite phrasings):

“We respectfully request no children at the ceremony or reception.”
“To allow all guests to relax and enjoy, this will be an adults-only celebration.”
Or address invitations only to the specific named guests — the most traditional signal.

Registry / “no gifts”: never put a registry on the main invitation — it goes on a details card or your wedding website. For “no gifts,” try “Your presence is the only present we need.”

What goes on each insert card

The main invitation stays clean. Extra information goes on separate cards so the design isn’t crowded:

Details / information card — full venue address, parking, accommodation, and your wedding website.
RSVP card — a reply card with a return-by date, or a line directing guests to RSVP online.
Reception card — only if the reception is at a different location or time than the ceremony.
Directions / map — helpful for rural or hard-to-find venues.

If you send a digital invitation, all of this can live on one interactive page — details, map link, and an RSVP button — with no separate cards to print or mail. You can build that, or a save-the-date that opens with a reveal, free on Surprises.Gift, and pair it with our guide to what to write in a card for the personal note inside.

Make a wedding invitation or save-the-date guests will open

Have your wording? Pair it with a free interactive card or save-the-date your guests open like a real surprise — add a photo and a personal note. No signup, ready in about a minute.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the correct order for wedding invitation wording?: The traditional order is: host line (who’s inviting), request line (“request the honour of your presence” or “invite you to celebrate”), the couple’s names, the date and time, the location, and the reception line (“Reception to follow”). This order works for both formal and casual invitations — only the tone of the words changes.
How do you word a wedding invitation when the couple is hosting?: When the couple hosts themselves, a warm modern line works well: “Together with full hearts, [Name] and [Name] invite you to celebrate their wedding…” or “Together with their families…” if parents are involved but not the formal hosts. You can use first names, numerals for the date, and a relaxed tone — just keep the date, time, and location crystal clear.
How do you politely word an adults-only wedding?: Use a gentle, inclusive phrasing such as “To allow all guests to relax and enjoy, this will be an adults-only celebration,” or “We respectfully request no children at the ceremony or reception.” The most traditional method is to address each invitation only to the specific named adults, which signals the guest list without a printed note.
What is the proper RSVP wording for a wedding?: Formal: “The favour of a reply is requested by [date].” Modern: “Kindly reply by [date].” For a digital invite: “RSVP online by [date] — tap to reply.” Always include a deadline, typically three to four weeks before the wedding, so you can finalize the headcount with your caterer and venue.
Should you put the registry on the wedding invitation?: No. Listing a registry on the main invitation is considered impolite because it implies gifts are expected. Put registry information on a separate details card or your wedding website instead. If you prefer no gifts, a gracious line like “Your presence is the only present we need” is appropriate.
Do you spell out the date and time on a wedding invitation?: On formal invitations, yes — spell out the date and time in full (“Saturday, the fourteenth of September, two thousand twenty-six, at half after four in the afternoon”). On modern or casual invitations, numerals are perfectly acceptable (“Saturday, September 14, 2026 at 4:30 PM”). Match the formatting to the formality of your wedding.