If you’ve settled on a style of wedding invitations and explored our curated list of stationers in Ireland, it’s time to craft the perfect wording. To ease your stress and ensure your invitation conveys the right tone for your special day, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide below. Follow along as we walk you through what to include and how to make sure your message is both informative and inviting.
Where to Start
When it comes to crafting the perfect wedding invitation, many couples feel overwhelmed by the etiquette and rules surrounding this crucial piece of communication. But fear not! With these simple guidelines, you’ll be well on your way to creating a beautiful and meaningful invitation that sets the tone for your special day. To get started, ask yourself two essential questions: What kind of wedding are you planning – formal and traditional or more laid-back and casual?
Who is footing the bill for the big day – just you and your partner, or are your parents helping out with the costs? The style of your wedding will dictate the tone of your invitation wording. For a traditional affair, stick to formal language that reflects the occasion’s gravity. On the other hand, if you’re planning a more relaxed celebration, feel free to add some personality and humor to your wording.
Ultimately, the key is to stay true to your own unique voice and style while still being mindful of the etiquette and expectations surrounding wedding invitations.
Wedding Invitation Wording: The 5 Essentials
When crafting your wedding invitation, there are five crucial details that must be included to ensure your guests have all the necessary information. First and foremost, specify the time frame covered by the invitation – whether it’s a ceremony and reception, just the reception, or an evening-only celebration. Next, provide the venue’s name and address, allowing guests to easily locate the ceremony and reception sites.
Additionally, include the date and time of the wedding, being mindful that some civil ceremonies have strict timing requirements (e. g., ‘3pm sharp’ for a ceremony where the bride cannot be late). Furthermore, include RSVP information, which should detail where responses should be sent – whether via an RSVP card or email address. Finally, provide a clear RSVP deadline, typically four weeks prior to the wedding, when final headcounts are required by your venue or caterer.
Wedding Invitation Templates
To make it easier for you to create your own unique wedding invitations, we’ve put together some basic templates that can be easily customized to fit your special day. For instance, if you’re having a church wedding or civil ceremony, you may want to include that detail in the invitation – we’ve simply used ‘ceremony’ as a placeholder here.
Additionally, for LGBTQ+ couples, feel free to modify the language to better suit your style, whether that means changing up the terms ‘son/daughter’ or ‘bride/groom’ as needed.
Basic Invitation Wording – Parents Paying for the Wedding
It is with great pleasure that the families of [names of those hosting], request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their beloved daughter, [bride’s first and middle names], to [groom’s full name]. The celebration will take place on [day of the week] the [day] of [month] at [time] o’clock in the [time of day] at [location of wedding ceremony] in [city/town]. A reception will follow at [location of wedding reception] in [city/town].
To ensure your spot, kindly RSVP by [date RSVP is needed by] or contact us at [how to RSVP]. We are thrilled to share this special moment with you and look forward to seeing you there. Stationery by Wildpaper | Photo by Carola Scandella via One Fab Day
Invitation Wording – One or Both Sets of Parents Paying for Part of the Wedding
It’s with great joy that we announce the forthcoming union of [names of the bride and groom], accompanied by their proud parents, [optional; add in parents names here]. They request the honor of your presence at their special day, which will take place on [day of the week] the [day and month of wedding] at [time of wedding] in the afternoon. The ceremony will be held at [location of wedding ceremony], situated in the beautiful city/town of [city / town where wedding ceremony will take place].
Following the nuptials, guests are invited to join the celebration for a reception at [location of wedding reception] in [city / town where wedding reception will take place]. To confirm your attendance, kindly RSVP by [date RSVP is needed by] or [how to RSVP]. We’re thrilled to share this momentous occasion with you and look forward to your presence. The lovely stationery was designed by Wellwood Wedding Stationery.
Invitation Wording – Couple Paying for the Wedding
It is our great pleasure to request the honor of your presence at the marriage celebration of [names of the bride and groom]. The ceremony will take place on [day of the week, day and month of wedding] at [time of wedding] in the [time of day] at [location of wedding ceremony], located in [city/town where wedding ceremony will take place]. A reception will immediately follow at [location of wedding reception] in [city/town where wedding reception will take place].
We kindly request that you RSVP by [date RSVP is needed by] or through [how to RSVP].
Wedding Invitation Including the Name of the Guests
The esteemed hosts, [names of those hosting], respectfully extend an invitation to join them in celebrating the union of their beloved daughter and her soon-to-be husband. On [day of the week, day and month of wedding] at [time of wedding], [groom’s full name] will tie the knot with [bride’s first and middle names] at [location of wedding ceremony], [city / town where wedding ceremony will take place].
The joyous occasion will be followed by a reception at [location of wedding reception], [city / town where wedding reception will take place]. Guests are kindly requested to RSVP by [date RSVP is needed by] or according to the provided instructions. With special stationery courtesy of Little Ivory Weddings, this promises to be an unforgettable experience.
Full Weekend Wedding Invite
The esteemed hosts, whose names are listed below, cordially invite the distinguished presence of all guests to join in celebrating the joyous union of their beloved daughter. The radiant bride-to-be, [bride’s first and middle names], will be exchanging vows with her soulmate, [groom’s full name]. This momentous occasion is scheduled to take place on [day of the week, day and month for the first day] through [day of the week, day and month of wedding for the last day].
The ceremony will be held at the picturesque [location of wedding venue], situated in the charming city/town of [city / town where wedding will take place]. All guests are kindly requested to RSVP by [date RSVP is needed by] or [how to RSVP]
Evening Invitation Only
The esteemed individuals listed below kindly request the pleasure of your company at an evening celebration honoring the union of their daughter, [bride’s name], a [bridal last name], and her beloved spouse. The joyful occasion will take place on [day of the week], [day] [month] at 6:00 PM. Guests are cordially invited to join us at [location of wedding reception] in [city/town]. To ensure an accurate headcount, kindly RSVP by [date RSVP is needed by] to [RSVP details].
The elegant stationery design was crafted by Keady Row.
Modern, Semi-formal Wedding Invitation
With a blend of tradition and modernity, the union between [couple’s full names] and their families is a joyous celebration to share with loved ones. They are thrilled to invite [guest’s name] to join them on [day of the week], [day] of [month] at [time of wedding] as they exchange vows at [location of wedding ceremony], [city/town]. Following the ceremony, the festivities will continue into the night with dinner, drinks and dancing at [location of wedding reception], [city/town].
To ensure an accurate headcount for the celebration, please RSVP by [date RSVP is needed by] or according to [how to RSVP]. The beautiful stationery was crafted by Calligraphy by Laura, while the memories will be captured by Lima Conlon Photography via One Fab Day.
Fun, Laid-back Wedding Invitation
Get ready for an unforgettable celebration! We’re thrilled to invite you to join us on a day filled with joy, love, and memorable moments. The nuptial festivities will kick off with a heartwarming ceremony on [day of the week, day and month of wedding] at [time of wedding] in the morning at [location of wedding ceremony], [city / town where wedding ceremony will take place].
Following the ceremony, we’ll head to [location of wedding reception], [city / town where wedding reception will take place] for an evening of delightful dinner, refreshing drinks, and energetic dance moves. Don’t miss out on the fun! RSVP by [date RSVP is needed by] or follow the instructions provided.
Wedding Invitation for a Second Marriage
The esteemed [names of the bride and groom] cordially invite you to share in their joyous celebration as they exchange vows. The ceremony will take place on [day of the week, day and month of wedding] at [time of wedding] o’clock in the [time of day] at the picturesque [location of wedding ceremony], [city / town where wedding ceremony will take place].
Following the ceremony, guests are warmly invited to join the celebration at a reception to be held at [location of wedding reception], [city / town where wedding reception will take place]. To ensure an accurate headcount for this momentous occasion, kindly RSVP by [date RSVP is needed by] or [how to RSVP].
Wedding Invitation Wording: Informal Alternatives
While maintaining formal undertones, we’ve crafted alternative phrasings that subtly shift the tone of ‘request the honour of your presence’. For instance, ‘request the pleasure of your company to celebrate the marriage of’ offers a slightly more relaxed atmosphere without sacrificing formality. Less formal options include ‘invite you to celebrate the marriage/wedding of’, which provides an inviting vibe, and ‘invite you to the wedding celebration of’, perfect for casual gatherings.
Alternatively, you could opt for ‘invite you to share in the festivities’, suitable for informal weddings or post-wedding celebrations. For a truly laid-back tone, consider ‘would love you to join them in celebrating their wedding’, setting the stage for an unforgettable and enjoyable experience.
