Wedding invitation wording should be one of the easier parts of planning. You are telling people where to be and when. But somehow it becomes a minefield of etiquette questions: whose names go first? Do you include parents? How formal is too formal? What if the couple is hosting themselves? What if one set of parents is paying but the other is not?
This guide gives you exact templates you can copy, customize, and send. Pick the one that matches your situation, fill in the details, and stop overthinking it.
Template 1: Traditional Formal (Parents of the Bride Hosting)
This is the most traditional format. It implies that the bride's parents are hosting (and typically paying for) the wedding.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Johnson
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Emily Anne
to
Michael James Carter
son of Mr. and Mrs. David Carter
Saturday, the twenty-first of June
two thousand twenty-six
at four o'clock in the afternoon
Rosewood Gardens
Charleston, South Carolina
Reception to follow
RSVP by May 24th
emilyandjames.com
Notes: "Honour" with a u is traditional for religious ceremonies. "Honor" is used for secular ceremonies. The bride's first and middle name appear without a surname (because she shares the host's last name). The groom's full name is listed with his parents below.
Template 2: Modern (Couple Hosting Themselves)
This is the most common format for couples in their late twenties and older who are paying for their own wedding.
Together with their families
Emily Johnson
and
Michael Carter
invite you to celebrate their marriage
Saturday, June 21, 2026
4:00 PM
Rosewood Gardens
Charleston, South Carolina
Dinner and dancing to follow
RSVP by May 24th at emilyandjames.com
Notes: "Together with their families" acknowledges family without assigning hosting roles. Both names appear equally. The tone is warm but not stuffy. Date and time can use numerals for a modern feel.
Template 3: Both Sets of Parents Hosting
Use this when both families are contributing and you want to honor both equally.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Johnson
and
Mr. and Mrs. David Carter
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of
Emily Anne Johnson
and
Michael James Carter
Saturday, June 21, 2026
at four o'clock in the afternoon
Rosewood Gardens
Charleston, South Carolina
Reception to follow
Kindly respond by May 24th
emilyandjames.com
Notes: Traditionally, the bride's parents are listed first. Both partners use their full names since both sets of parents are listed. "Request the pleasure of your company" is standard for secular venues; "request the honour of your presence" is for religious venues.
Template 4: Casual and Informal
For backyard weddings, small gatherings, or couples who want the invitation to sound like them.
Emily and Michael are getting married!
Join us to celebrate
Saturday, June 21, 2026
4:00 PM
The Johnson Family Farm
42 Oak Lane, Charleston, SC
BBQ, drinks, and dancing to follow
RSVP to emilyandjames.com by May 24th
Notes: First names only. No titles. Conversational tone. This works for weddings where the vibe is relaxed and the couple does not want the invitation to feel more formal than the event itself.
Template 5: Destination Wedding
Destination wedding invitations need to do more work because guests are committing to travel, not just an evening.
Emily Johnson and Michael Carter
invite you to join them for their destination wedding
Saturday, June 21, 2026
4:00 PM
Villa Paraiso
Tulum, Mexico
Welcome dinner Friday evening
Ceremony and reception Saturday
Farewell brunch Sunday morning
Accommodation and travel details at
emilyandjames.com
RSVP by April 15th
Notes: Include the multi-day schedule so guests know the full commitment. Link to a website with hotel blocks, flight recommendations, and travel logistics. Send destination invitations 10 to 12 weeks ahead (earlier than the standard 6 to 8 weeks) to give guests time to book travel. For help managing your overall wedding budget, especially with destination costs, see our budget guide.
Template 6: Second Marriage
Second marriages typically have the couple hosting themselves, with a warm but understated tone.
Emily Johnson and Michael Carter
together with their children
Lily, Jack, and Sophie
joyfully invite you to celebrate
their marriage
Saturday, June 21, 2026
4:00 PM
Rosewood Gardens
Charleston, South Carolina
Cocktails and dinner to follow
RSVP by May 24th at emilyandjames.com
Notes: Including children by name is a meaningful touch for blended families. Parents of the couple are typically not listed as hosts for second marriages, but "together with their families" is perfectly fine to add if desired.
Template 7: Same-Sex Couple
The etiquette is the same as any modern couple-hosted wedding. The only decision is whose name goes first (alphabetical is the simplest default).
Together with their families
James Harrison
and
David Morales
invite you to celebrate their marriage
Saturday, June 21, 2026
4:00 PM
The Botanical Conservatory
Portland, Oregon
Dinner and celebration to follow
RSVP at jamesanddavid.com by May 24th
Notes: Names can be listed alphabetically or in whichever order the couple prefers. "Celebrate their marriage" works universally. If parents are hosting, use the same parent-hosting templates above with the appropriate parent names.
Template 8: Evening Reception Only
For couples having a private or small ceremony and inviting a larger group to the reception.
Emily Johnson and Michael Carter
invite you to celebrate their marriage
at an evening reception
Saturday, June 21, 2026
7:00 PM
The Grand Ballroom
Hotel Montague
Charleston, South Carolina
Cocktails, dinner, and dancing
RSVP by May 24th at emilyandjames.com
Notes: "Celebrate their marriage" implies the ceremony has already happened or will happen separately. Do not say "reception only" — it sounds exclusionary. The invitation should feel like an invitation to a celebration, not a consolation prize for missing the ceremony.
General Rules for All Invitations
Whose name goes first?
Traditionally, the bride's name appears first. For same-sex couples, alphabetical order or personal preference is standard. For modern couple-hosted invitations, the order is up to you. Pick one and be consistent across all your stationery.
Titles: Mr./Mrs. vs. first names
Formal invitations use full titles (Mr. and Mrs., Dr., etc.). Modern invitations use first and last names without titles. Match the titles to the formality of the event. A black-tie ballroom wedding warrants Mr. and Mrs. A barn wedding does not.
RSVP: response cards vs. website
Physical response cards with pre-stamped return envelopes are the traditional approach. Website RSVPs are the modern standard and make tracking dramatically easier. You can include both options. Most guests under 50 will use the website. Most guests over 70 will appreciate the card. For guidance on who to invite and the plus-one question, see our etiquette guide.
When to send invitations
Standard: 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding. Destination: 10 to 12 weeks before. Save-the-dates: 6 to 8 months before (especially for destination or holiday-weekend weddings). For a complete planning timeline, including when to order stationery, see our checklist.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Misspelling names. Triple-check every name, especially parents' names, venue names, and your partner's middle name. This sounds obvious. It happens constantly.
- Wrong date format. If you spell out the date ("Saturday, the twenty-first of June"), do not mix in numerals. If you use numerals ("June 21, 2026"), do not mix in spelled-out words. Pick a format and be consistent.
- Missing RSVP deadline. Every invitation needs a clear RSVP date. Without one, people respond whenever they feel like it, and you cannot finalize your headcount for your caterer.
- Forgetting the year. Especially on save-the-dates sent months in advance. Include the year. Always.
- Unclear venue location. Include the venue name and the city and state at minimum. For venues with confusing locations, include the full address or a note to "see website for directions."
The Bottom Line
Your wedding invitation is a practical document dressed up in nice paper. Its job is to tell people who, when, where, and how to respond. Get those right, match the tone to your event, and do not lose sleep over whether you used "honour" or "honor." The people who love you are coming either way.
If you are still in the early stages of planning your wedding, invitations are one piece of a much larger puzzle. WeddingBot can help you organize the rest — timeline, budget, vendors — so you can focus on the details that matter to you.