Wedding Invitations Templates

TL;DR: Use a wedding invitation template that matches your formality level: formal (hosts + full names + spelled-out dates), semi-formal (couple-first wording), or casual (conversational). Copy the block that fits, swap in your names, hosts, date, time, venue, and RSVP details, and you're done in about 10 minutes.

Direct answer

A wedding invitation template is a fill-in-the-blank wording block with the six required pieces: who's hosting, the request line, the couple's names, the date and time, the venue, and the reception line. Pick a template by formality, not by aesthetic — the wording tells guests what kind of wedding to expect.

Three templates cover 95% of weddings:

Formal / traditional — parents host, third-person wording, spelled-out numbers.
Semi-formal / modern — couple hosts (or parents + couple), warmer voice.
Casual / celebratory — conversational wording, contractions allowed.

Formal template (parents hosting)

Use this when one or both sets of parents are paying or traditionally hosting, or when the wedding is black-tie.

Mr. and Mrs. John Alexander Smith request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Sarah Elizabeth to Mr. Daniel James Carter Saturday, the fifteenth of June two thousand twenty-five at half after four in the afternoon Saint Mark's Church 112 Elm Street Boston, Massachusetts Reception to follow

Rules to follow: spell out dates, times, and years. Use "honor of your presence" for a religious ceremony and "pleasure of your company" for secular. No punctuation at line ends.

Semi-formal template (couple hosting, or both families)

Use this when you're hosting yourselves, splitting costs, or want a warmer tone without losing structure.

Together with their families Sarah Elizabeth Smith and Daniel James Carter invite you to celebrate their marriage Saturday, June 15, 2025 at four thirty in the afternoon The Greenhouse at Willow Farm 44 Harvest Lane, Concord, MA Dinner and dancing to follow

When to use "Together with their families": both sets of parents are contributing, or you want to honor both families without listing four parent names.

Casual template (conversational)

Best for backyard, destination, elopement-plus-party, or any wedding where "Mr. and Mrs." wording would feel off.

Sarah and Dan are getting married! Join us Saturday, June 15, 2025 at 4:30 PM Willow Farm, Concord, MA Dinner, drinks, and dancing to follow RSVP by May 10

Contractions, numerals, and first-names-only are all fine here. Just keep the six required pieces intact.

What to fill in every template

Hosts line — parents, couple, or "together with their families."
Request line — "honor of your presence" (religious), "pleasure of your company" (secular/venue), or casual.
Couple's names — formal uses full names; modern can use first and last; casual can use first names only.
Date and time — spelled out for formal, numeric for modern/casual.
Venue — name and city minimum; full address on a details card if space is tight.
Reception line — "Reception to follow," "Dinner and dancing to follow," or omit if the reception is at a separate venue (then use a reception card).

Enclosure card templates

If your main invitation is tight, move details to enclosures:

Reception card: "Reception immediately following / [Venue] / [Address]"
RSVP card: "Kindly reply by [date] / M ____ / ___ accepts with pleasure / ___ declines with regret"
Details card: dress code, parking, shuttle, kids policy, wedding website URL.

Generate your templates in one step

Rather than copy-pasting and reformatting, our free generator produces all three versions (formal, semi-formal, casual) from your details — plus matching save-the-date and RSVP wording — in about 60 seconds.

Try the Wedding Invitation Generator

FAQ

What are the six required elements of any wedding invitation?

Host line, request line, couple's names, date and time, venue, and reception line. Every template — formal or casual — includes these six pieces; only the phrasing and formatting change. If any are missing, guests will have to ask, which defeats the purpose of a printed invitation.

Do I have to use formal wording if we're having a nice wedding?

No. Formality of wording should match the formality of the event, not the price tag. A $60,000 garden wedding with a food-truck reception can use semi-formal wording; a smaller church wedding with traditional vows usually calls for formal wording. Match the guest experience.

How do I word the invitation if divorced parents are both hosting?

List each parent on their own line, with the bride's mother first and the bride's father second (no "and" between them). Example: "Mrs. Jane Smith / and / Mr. John Smith / request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter." If either parent has remarried and the stepparent is hosting, include them on the same line as their spouse.

Should I use "honor" or "honour" on the invitation?

Use "honour" and "favour" for ultra-formal, traditional, or religious ceremonies — especially Episcopal, Catholic, or British-influenced weddings. Use "honor" for modern American formal invitations. Either is correct; just be consistent throughout the suite.

Can I put the dress code and website on the main invitation?

Keep the main invitation clean — dress code, website, and logistics belong on a details card. The only acceptable exception is a short dress code line at the bottom right (e.g., "Black tie") for formal weddings. Overcrowding the main card makes it harder to read and cheapens the design.

Do I need to spell out the time on a semi-formal invitation?

Not required. Semi-formal wording can use either "four thirty in the afternoon" or "4:30 PM" — pick one and stay consistent across the save-the-date, invitation, and RSVP card. Formal invitations should always spell out the time.

How far in advance should invitations match a template and be sent?

Mail invitations 6–8 weeks before the wedding for local guests, and 10–12 weeks before for destination weddings or guests who need to travel internationally. Whatever template you choose, finalize wording at least 3–4 weeks before mailing to allow for printing and addressing.

Sources

The Knot 2024 Real Weddings Study
Emily Post Institute — Wedding Invitation Etiquette
Crane & Co. Wedding Blue Book

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