Invitation Wording

With so many different types of families out there, wedding invitation wording can be complicated. Below are several formal wedding invitation wording examples for different family situations.

If you're composing a formal party invitation, include the names of those giving the party, the invitation phrase "request the pleasure of your company" in lieu of "request the honour of your presence", the type of party, the purpose of the party, the date, hour, place and RSVP information.

Although shown is the most common format of wording, there are certain circumstances that require different wording choices. If you fall into another category from what is shown below, please contact me with your questions.

Wedding invitation wording examples for when the parents of the bride are issuing the invitation:

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Evans Smith
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Jane Elizabeth
and
Mr. Stephen James Richardson
on Saturday, the thirty-first of May
two thousand and eight
at two o'clock
Christ the King
30 Beech Street
Sudbury, Ontario


Mr. and Mrs. Robert Evans Smith
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Jane Elizabeth
and
Mr. Stephen James Richardson
son of
Mr. and Mrs. John Tyler Richardson
on Saturday, the thirty-first of May
two thousand and eight
at two o'clock
Christ the King
30 Beech Street
Sudbury, Ontario


Wedding invitation wording examples for when the couple is issuing the invitation:

Jane Elizabeth Smith
and
Stephen James Richardson
request the honour of your presence
at their marriage
on Saturday, the thirty-first of May
two thousand and eight
at two o'clock
Christ the King
30 Beech Street
Sudbury, Ontario


Together with their families
Jane Elizabeth Smith
and
Stephen James Richardson
request the honour of your presence
at their marriage
on Saturday, the thirty-first of May
two thousand and eight
at two o'clock
Christ the King
30 Beech Street
Sudbury, Ontario


Wedding invitation wording examples for when the groom's parents host:

Jane Elizabeth Smith
and
Stephen James Richardson
request the honour of your presence
at their marriage
on Saturday, the thirty-first of May
two thousand and eight
at two o'clock
Christ the King
30 Beech Street
Sudbury, Ontario

Wedding invitation wording examples for when both sets of parents host:

Together with their families
Jane Elizabeth Smith
and
Stephen James Richardson
request the honour of your presence
at their marriage
on Saturday, the thirty-first of May
two thousand and eight
at two o'clock
Christ the King
30 Beech Street
Sudbury, Ontario


Reception Cards

Receptions occur both immediately following the ceremony or later in the day. Both circumstances are shown below. Although reception information is more modernly placed on the invitation itself, for the more classic bride, an additional card containing reception information can be made to match.

Reception
immediately following the ceremony
Hopkinton Country Club
at Bryston’s on the Park

Creighton Road, Copper Cliff, Ontario

Reply card enclosed

Reception Dinner
at seven o'clock
at Bryston’s on the Park

5 Creighton Road, Copper Cliff, Ontario


Wording on response cards has changed dramatically over the years. Many brides use this area to let friends and family know that they are planning for an adult reception. Below is a way of wording this so as not to offend their guests.

The favour of your reply is requested

on or before June 1, 2008

M______________________________________

Number of adults attending_____


Modern brides are also including menu choices on the response card, if it's necessary to order the guests' meals in advance for those who have food allergies. Many are also including a separate sheet with a map or directions, if the ceremony or reception sites are difficult to find or if many of the guests are from out of town. Please, feel free to contact me in order to discuss the many other options available to you.