Wedding invitation wording: 20+ examples to copy
You have the design and the date... and then it's time to write. It's the part where most couples get stuck, so here are examples for every part of the invitation. Copy them as they are or use them as a starting point: the wording that works best always sounds like you.
How a wedding invitation is structured
Most invitations follow the same order:
- An opening line or quote (optional).
- Who's hosting and who's getting married.
- The date, time and place.
- The reception.
- The RSVP and its deadline.
- Practical details: dress code, transport, children, gift list.
Formal and traditional wording
Perfect for church weddings or when the parents are hosting.
Mr and Mrs John Smith
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their daughter
Emma
to
James Taylor
on Saturday, the twelfth of June, two thousand twenty-seven
at half past two in the afternoon
St Mary's Church, Oxford
and afterwards at Ashby Manor
Together with their families,
Emma Smith and James Taylor
invite you to celebrate their marriage
on Saturday 12 June 2027 at 2:30 pm
at Ashby Manor, Oxfordshire.
Warm and heartfelt wording
After ten years, two house moves and one dog, we've decided to get married.
And we can't think of a better way to celebrate than with you.
The magic of life isn't in living special moments,
but in sharing them with the people we love most.
Nothing would make us happier than having you with us.
We're getting married, and our story wouldn't be complete without you.
Come and celebrate with us on 12 June.
Fun and casual wording
For couples who love a laugh (and whose grandparents aren't the strictest readers).
Yes, finally. Yes, really. Yes, there's an open bar.
Emma and James are getting married on 12 June.
We found someone who puts up with us.
We're celebrating on 12 June and you need to be there.
Warning: this wedding may include happy tears, hugs and dancing we'll regret.
RSVP by 1 May at your own risk.
Quotes to open the invitation
"Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction." Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
"Whither thou goest, I will go." Book of Ruth
"And suddenly, everything made sense."
"With you, every road is the road home."
RSVP wording
It's the most important line on the invitation: give a specific date and say how to reply.
Kindly reply by 1 May using the form on this invitation.
It would help us so much to know if you can make it. Please RSVP by 1 May (the caterer is asking for numbers!).
Coming? Let us know by 1 May and tell us about any allergies or dietary requirements.
Adults-only wording
Kind and clear: the clearer you are, the fewer misunderstandings.
We love your little ones, but we've decided to make our wedding an adults-only celebration. Thank you for understanding!
We'd like this to be a night off for you too: our celebration will be adults only.
And if children are invited:
Little ones are invited too: there'll be a kids' menu and a supervised play area.
Gift list and honeymoon fund wording
Always at the end and kept light. Nobody minds if it's said with a smile.
Your presence is the best gift. If you'd like to give us something, a contribution to our honeymoon fund would be wonderful.
We already have a home, a sofa and even a toaster. If you'd like to help us with our honeymoon, you'll find the details below.
Dress code and other details
Dress code: formal. The ceremony is on the lawn, so watch out for stilettos!
A shuttle will leave the town square at 1:45 pm and return from 1 am.
We've reserved rooms at the Plaza Hotel with a 15% discount: just mention Emma and James's wedding.
Tips for wording that works
- Less is more. The cover only needs names, date and place; everything else can go further down.
- Choose a tone and stick to it across the whole invitation.
- Check the dates twice, and make sure the weekday matches the calendar.
- Read it out loud. If it sounds odd to you, it'll sound odd to your guests.
In our invitation websites you type every line straight onto the design, so you see right away how it looks. And if you spot a mistake after sending it, you fix it and the link stays the same.