TL;DR: Below are 10 real wedding invitation wording examples — formal, modern, casual, religious, hosted-by-couple, hosted-by-parents, second marriage, destination, elopement reception, and bilingual — each with the full text you can copy, swap names into, and send.

Direct answer

A wedding invitation example needs five things in this order: host line, request line, couple's names, date/time/place, and reception line. Formality changes the phrasing, not the structure. Below are full examples for every common situation. Pick the one that matches your hosts, tone, and ceremony type, then change the names and details.

Practical sections

1. Traditional formal (parents hosting)

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Whitman request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Eleanor Grace to Mr. James Patrick O'Donnell Saturday, the fifteenth of June two thousand twenty-five at four o'clock in the afternoon Saint Mark's Cathedral Boston, Massachusetts Reception to follow

Use when: both sets of parents are paying, the ceremony is in a house of worship, and you want classic etiquette. "Honour" with the British spelling signals a religious ceremony.

2. Modern formal (couple hosting)

Together with their families Eleanor Grace Whitman and James Patrick O'Donnell request the pleasure of your company at their marriage Saturday, June 15, 2025 at four in the afternoon The Langham Hotel Boston, Massachusetts Dinner and dancing to follow

Use when: the couple is paying, but you still want a formal tone. "Pleasure of your company" signals a non-religious venue.

3. Casual (couple hosting)

Ellie and James are getting married! Join us Saturday, June 15, 2025 at 4:00 PM The Barn at Willow Creek 1245 Orchard Road, Concord, MA Dinner, drinks, and dancing to follow

Use when: backyard, barn, or brewery wedding, first-name-basis crowd, and no religious ceremony.

4. Both sets of parents hosting

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Whitman together with Dr. and Mrs. Patrick O'Donnell invite you to celebrate the marriage of their children Eleanor Grace and James Patrick Saturday, June 15, 2025 at four o'clock in the afternoon The Langham Hotel, Boston

5. Divorced parents hosting

Mrs. Linda Whitman and Mr. Thomas Whitman request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Eleanor Grace Whitman to James Patrick O'Donnell…

Mother's name goes on a separate line above the father's. No "and" between them if they are not remarried to each other.

6. Second marriage

Together with their children Eleanor Grace Whitman and James Patrick O'Donnell invite you to share in their joy as they exchange vows Saturday, June 15, 2025 at four in the afternoon Private residence, Concord, Massachusetts

Mentioning children is optional but common when either partner has kids from a prior marriage.

7. Religious ceremony (Catholic)

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Whitman request the honour of your presence at the Nuptial Mass uniting their daughter Eleanor Grace and James Patrick O'Donnell Saturday, the fifteenth of June two thousand twenty-five at two o'clock in the afternoon Saint Mark's Cathedral

"Nuptial Mass" signals a full Catholic ceremony with communion.

8. Destination wedding

Pack your bags — Ellie and James are getting married in Tulum! Saturday, June 15, 2025 Ceremony at 5:00 PM on the beach Rosa del Mar Resort Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico Please RSVP by March 1 so we can hold your room

Include travel and lodging info on a separate enclosure card, not the main invite.

9. Elopement reception (already married)

Eleanor Whitman and James O'Donnell were married in a private ceremony on April 12, 2025 Please join us for a celebration dinner Saturday, June 15, 2025 at six in the evening Café Lucia, Boston, Massachusetts

Past tense is the key signal — you're hosting a party, not a wedding.

10. Bilingual (Spanish/English)

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Whitman y Sr. y Sra. Patricio O'Donnell tienen el honor de invitarles al matrimonio de sus hijos Eleanor Grace & James Patrick request the honour of your presence at their marriage Sábado, 15 de junio de 2025 — 4:00 PM Saint Mark's Cathedral, Boston

Alternate languages by line or run them as two columns side by side.

Generate your own invitation wording

Don't want to hand-edit any of the above? The Wedding Invitations Generator takes your hosts, names, date, venue, and formality level and returns wording in under a minute. It also formats reception, RSVP, and details cards to match.

Start here: create_free_account

Related pages

• Wedding Invitations Generator
• Wedding Invitations Guide
• Wedding Invitation Templates
• Wedding Invitations Etiquette
• Formal Wedding Invitations Guide
• Wedding Budget Guide

FAQ

How do I word a wedding invitation when both the couple and parents are hosting?

Use a combined host line: "Together with their families, [Couple Names] invite you…" or list the parents first followed by "together with [Couple Names]". This avoids ranking one side over the other and works when multiple parties contribute financially.

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

"Honour of your presence" (with the British spelling) is traditionally used only for ceremonies held in a house of worship. "Pleasure of your company" is used for all other venues. Mixing them is the single most common wording mistake on formal invitations.

Should I spell out the date and time or use numerals?

For formal invitations, spell everything out: "Saturday, the fifteenth of June, two thousand twenty-five, at four o'clock in the afternoon." For modern or casual invitations, numerals are fine: "Saturday, June 15, 2025 at 4:00 PM." Don't mix styles within one invitation.

How do I word an invitation if one or both parents have passed away?

You can still honor them by using "the late" before their name ("daughter of Mr. Thomas Whitman and the late Mrs. Linda Whitman") or by wording the invitation as hosted by the couple "together with their families". Do not list a deceased parent as a current host, since hosts are the living people inviting guests.

Do I need a separate reception card?

You need one if the reception is at a different location, has a different start time, or has restricted attendance (ceremony-only vs. full guest list). If the reception immediately follows at the same venue, "Reception to follow" on the main invitation is enough.

What do I put on the invitation if my wedding is adults-only or has a dress code?

Put adults-only or dress code notes on the details card or RSVP card, not the main invitation. Phrases that work: "Adult reception" or "We respectfully request an adults-only celebration" for kids, and "Black tie", "Cocktail attire", or "Garden formal" for dress code.

How far in advance should I send invitations once I've picked my wording?

Send invitations 6–8 weeks before the wedding for local guests, and 10–12 weeks before for destination weddings or events over a holiday weekend. Set the RSVP deadline 3–4 weeks before the wedding so you have time to follow up with non-responders before your caterer's final headcount.

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