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The Whole Works
By Louise Baltruschat Hollis
Photos by Caitlin & Jones
Whether you are looking to DIY your wedding stationery or hire a stationery designer, I know that your wedding invitation wording is super important to you.
Yes, you may have the perfect design all nailed down, but the words you use on your invites also sets the tone for your whole wedding.
Not to mention that even though your invites may look beautiful, if your guests don’t understand them, or get confused, they may not get the correct information. You also want those RSVPs back swiftly, as well as ensure your guests come to the right place at the right time!
Photo: Ellie Gillard Photography via Riverside London Wedding
In my full invite wording guide below, I will be sharing wording templates and examples for different wedding styles that you can copy and paste to use for your own stationery.
Plus I will share the essential must-have elements you may otherwise forget, a checklist so to speak to make sure all the info is included that you need to share. Ohh and all the invites featured are from real weddings too.
Photo: Elaine Williams Photography via Cotswold Woodland Glamping Wedding
First and foremost, before we go any further I must say one thing. There are no rules and there are no wedding etiquette officers that are going to be checking if your invite wording is up to scratch.
Weddings are not always formal or traditional, times have changed and with that, so do other wedding elements such as wedding invitation wording. So, please do make your invites your own, representative of you and your family, rather than what you feel the wording should be.
Let’s take a look at the key parts of your wedding invitation words that are non-negotiable. As well as some elements that may not be suitable for your wedding. It really is up to you what to include and where, it’s all personal preference.
Your guests need to know who the invite is from, so be sure to include your names (potentially with surnames) in the invite card.
Even if you have sent a save the date, it’s imperative that the date and times are front and centre of your invitations. This important detail is the part your guest needs most to see if they are available and then bookmark into their calendar. Don’t forget the end time so they can arrange transport!
Photo: This and That Photography via Boho Rustic Wedding
I recommend adding your guest names to the invitation or the envelope. Try to be specific, for example about adding a plus one or children’s names to make it as clear as possible. This will reduce the number of questions you receive on these two elements.
If you are not inviting plus ones, or children, we’ll get on to this a little later. But where possible add the exact names of the invitees to your stationery.
If you are inviting different guests to the ceremony and reception, be clear about which parts they are invited to. It may be that you have a different invite design for your evening guests for example.
Always add the name and location of your venue(s). Especially if you are planning a long-distance or destination wedding, or guests are travelling a long way. In those instances, be sure to add county or country names too. That way at a glance your guest will understand if the location is local to them.
It’s also a good idea to add detailed addresses as guests may bring their invites with them on the day to ensure they have the right info. It’s something I certainly do as a wedding guest and I would even type in the postcode on my satnav from the invite in the car before I set off.
Another tip is to add what3words destination if your venue is off the beaten track for a more precise location. Your guests will love you for that if they are tech-savvy!
Getting RSVPs back can prove tricky for couples and so you want to make it the easiest possible process. You know how it is when you organise a night out that sometimes getting replies can be tough.
With weddings, unfortunately, it can be even trickier, they are a bigger time commitment and have added factors for guests to consider:
So ultimately, we want to make replying simple for your guests. You could do one or more of the following:
Photo: Georgia Rachael via Fishley Hall Wedding
Then, be sure to include an RSVP deadline, this not only acts as a guideline and gives a sense of urgency for your guests. But, it also means you feel more comfortable chasing those RSVPs after that date. It almost gives you a sense of permission, and a firm date in your diary to check those replies.
When choosing a deadline, liaise with your venue or caterers as they may have deadlines for final guest numbers.
Also, think about asking for the following details or requests in your RSVPs too:
Photo: Charlotte Claricoat Photography via Blue Pigeons Wedding
To be honest, this hosting element is a bit of a funny one, especially in this day and age. It’s totally up to you if you want someone else to appear at the top of your invites, inviting guests on your behalf. It’s quite an old-fashioned tradition but do what feels right to you both.
This is the fun or traditional line to actually say ‘hey you’re invited‘ to our day. Totally optional depending on your wedding stationery design, but it’s where your personality can really shine.
Photo: Red On Blonde Photography via Micklefield Hall Wedding
No one wants to come to a wedding in the complete wrong attire. So a little info on the dress code can be reassuring, let’s face it when it comes to weddings, outfits are a hot topic!
Perhaps you are going for full-on black-tie glamour or you have a farm venue where wellies are a must-have. Then share this with your loved ones.
This can be a tricky one to cover and include in your invites. But it’s the best place to share if you are not inviting your guests’ children. It sets the expectation from the get-go, avoids extra questions from guests and enables families to arrange childcare.
My top tip when planning an adult-only wedding is to try to be consistent with all your guests who have children. Bar close family or flower girls/page boys, try to keep it fair to avoid any unnecessary drama.
A short sentence to explain your circumstances should suffice and be clear, honest communication is always the best policy.
Photo: Terri & Lori Fine Art Photography and Film Studio via Chiltern Open Air Museum Wedding
I highly recommend having a wedding website. It’s such a great way to fill in all the gaps a wedding invite can’t cover. Let’s face it, there is a limited word count on an invitation card!
So, add all the extra text on a wedding website and direct guests there for the full wedding low-down.
Photo: Emily + Katy Photography via Creative Village Hall Wedding
Depending on the current circumstances when your invites go out, it may be worth thinking about whether you wish to include any health and safety guidelines.
We’re used to changing rules and regulations, so don’t worry if later down the line you need to change/update this. Your guests will understand it’s outside of your control.
Photo: Katherine Joy Photography and Video via Farmhouse Wedding
In the examples and templates below, I am using non-gender-specific prompts to be inclusive but also to reiterate that old patriarchal traditions do not need to be followed in your invites if it doesn’t suit you. Please do copy/paste into your stationery designer and edit the prompts to your personal details.
(COUPLES NAMES)
are getting married & invite you to join them to celebrate their wedding on
(DATE & TIME)
(LOCATION)
and afterwards
(LOCATION & TIME)
Party ends at (TIME)
(RSVP DETAILS)
Together with their families
(COUPLES NAMES)
request the pleasure of your company as they get married at
(DATE & TIME)
(LOCATION)
followed by a reception at
(LOCATION & TIME)
Carriages at (TIME)
(RSVP DETAILS)
(HOST NAMES)
request the honour of
(GUEST NAMES)
at the marriage of their (RELATIONSHIP TO BRIDE/GROOM)
(NAME)
to
(PARTNER NAME)
(DATE & TIME)
(LOCATION)
followed by a reception at
(LOCATION & TIME)
Carriages at (TIME)
(RSVP DETAILS)
If you aren’t including specific guest names on your invites, try to do so on the envelope. That being said, if you are inviting children also, there won’t be room, so try to include their names on the invite card itself.
Don’t worry too much about using titles or surnames if they don’t suit you. But ultimately you know your loved ones and whether they appreciate a traditional address or a more informal style.
Photo: Emilie May Photography via Holmes Mill Wedding
Be creative and have fun with your invite wording! You can really show your personality as a couple and as I mentioned before, your words will really set the tone before the wedding commences.
Photo: Jacob and Pauline via Irish Indian Fusion Wedding
Don’t be afraid to reach for the thesaurus or take inspiration from wedding invites you see online. Here are some ideas:
Photo: Anthony Argentieri via Lake Garda Destination Wedding
So there you have it, the ultimate guide on how to word your wedding invitations and nail them!
Be practical but also include some fun and non-essential elements either on the invitation, in additional info cards or on your wedding website. PS. don’t forget, to proofread for any typos/errors.
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