TL;DR: For a nonreligious wedding, swap faith-based phrasing like "together with their families" plus "holy matrimony" for secular lead-ins such as "together with joyful hearts" and action verbs like "marry," "wed," or "celebrate the marriage of." Keep the five essentials — hosts, couple, date, time, place — and drop anything that references God, church, blessings, or sacraments.

Direct answer

Nonreligious wedding invitations work the same as traditional ones structurally; only the language changes. Replace three common religious phrases:

• "The honour of your presence" → use "The pleasure of your company" (the first phrase traditionally signals a house of worship).
• "Request the honour of your presence at the marriage of" → "Invite you to share in the celebration of their marriage" or "Request the pleasure of your company as they exchange vows."
• "In holy matrimony" / "united before God" → "As they begin their life together" or simply "as they marry."

Everything else — names, date, time, venue, dress code, reply card — stays standard.

Practical sections

The 5 parts of a nonreligious invitation

1. Host line. "Together with their families," "Together with their parents," or the couple's own names if self-hosting. Skip "with the blessing of."
2. Request line. "The pleasure of your company" or "Invite you to celebrate."
3. Couple's names. First and last, or first and middle if formal.
4. Action + date/time. "As they marry on Saturday, the fourteenth of June, two thousand twenty-five, at half after four in the afternoon."
5. Venue. Full name, city, state. No "church," "chapel," or "sanctuary" unless the building is literally named that and you're fine with it.

Secular request-line options by tone

• Formal: "Request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of"
• Warm/modern: "Invite you to celebrate as they say 'I do'"
• Casual: "We're getting married — come celebrate with us"
• Minimalist: "[Name] & [Name] are getting married"
• Playful: "Please join us as we tie the knot"

Words to cut

Audit your draft for: holy, sacred, blessed, bless, God, Lord, faith, prayers, church, chapel, sanctuary, ceremony of marriage (when implying rite), sacrament, union before. Replace with neutral equivalents: celebrate, marry, join, witness, share, exchange vows, begin.

If one side of the family is religious

A nonreligious invitation doesn't have to be anti-religious — it just stays neutral. You can still honor religious parents in the host line ("Together with their families") without adopting religious wording. If a parent pushes back, the compromise is usually the ceremony program (which can include a reading or moment of silence), not the invitation itself.

What to include beyond the main card

• Details card: reception time/location, dress code, website URL.
• RSVP card: meal choice, song request, plus-one confirmation.
• Ceremony note (optional): one line like "A secular ceremony will be officiated by [Name]" helps guests who might expect a religious service.

Timing and quantity

• Send date: 6–8 weeks before the wedding; 10–12 weeks for destination weddings.
• Save-the-dates: 6–8 months ahead.
• Quantity: order one invitation per household, not per guest. Add 15–20% for mistakes, keepsakes, and last-minute additions.
• Budget: expect $400–$1,200 for 75–100 invitation suites with standard printing; $1,500–$3,500+ for letterpress or custom design.

Build yours in a few minutes

Skip the blank page. The Wedding Invitations Generator asks for your hosts, names, date, venue, and tone (formal / warm / casual / minimalist) and drafts secular wording you can copy straight into your designer's template.

Related pages

• Wedding Invitations Generator
• Wedding Invitations Guide
• Wedding Invitations Examples
• Wedding Invitations Templates
• Wedding Invitations Etiquette
• Wedding Budget Guide

FAQ

What's the difference between "honour of your presence" and "pleasure of your company"?

"The honour of your presence" traditionally signals a ceremony in a house of worship, while "the pleasure of your company" signals a secular venue. For a nonreligious wedding, always use "the pleasure of your company" — even longtime etiquette guides like Emily Post's make this distinction. It's the single most common tell on a religious vs. secular invitation.

Can we still say "together with their families" if we're not religious?

Yes. "Together with their families" is entirely secular and is the most common modern host line. It credits both sides without implying any religious blessing and works whether parents are contributing financially or not.

How do we word the invitation if we're having a civil ceremony at a courthouse or city hall?

Treat it like any other venue: "Invite you to celebrate their marriage on [date] at [courthouse name], [city]." If the ceremony is small and only the reception is open to guests, make that clear: "A private ceremony will be followed by a reception at [venue] at 6:00 p.m."

Should we mention that our officiant is not religious?

Only if you think guests will assume otherwise. A short line on the details card like "Our ceremony will be officiated by a close friend" or "A secular ceremony will be held outdoors" sets expectations. It's not required, and most guests won't notice either way.

What if our parents want religious wording and we don't?

The invitation reflects the couple's ceremony, not the hosts' beliefs. A calm compromise: keep the invitation secular, and offer to include a religious reading, blessing, or moment of silence in the ceremony program instead. The invitation is public-facing; the program is where personal touches live.

Are humanist or "celebration of love" invitations different from nonreligious ones?

They overlap heavily. Humanist invitations often lean into language about love, commitment, and shared values ("celebrate the love and commitment of"), while a plain nonreligious invitation can be as simple as stating the facts. Both avoid religious references — humanist wording is just a warmer, more philosophical subset.

Do we need to order a separate RSVP card for a nonreligious wedding?

No — the RSVP card is purely logistical and has no religious content in the first place. Standard fields (name, attending/not attending, meal choice) work regardless of ceremony style.

Sources

• The Knot 2024 Real Weddings Study (invitation costs and timelines)
• Emily Post Institute, Etiquette (wording conventions for religious vs. secular ceremonies)
• WeddingWire Newlywed Report (send-date norms and quantity guidance)

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