Wedding Invitation Wording: 30+ Examples for Every Style
Getting the wording right on your wedding invitation sets the tone for the entire day. Whether you’re going full formal or keeping things relaxed, here are 30+ templates you can copy, paste, and personalise.
5 March 2026 · 14 min read
Formal traditional wording
Formal invitations follow long-standing conventions around host lines, titles, and fully spelled-out dates. If your ceremony is in a church or cathedral, or if your families are traditional, these templates are the right starting point.
Classic formal
Mr and Mrs John Andrew Smith request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Emily Anne to Mr James Robert Taylor son of Mr and Mrs Robert Taylor on Saturday, the fifteenth of November two thousand and twenty-six at half past three in the afternoon St Mary's Cathedral Melbourne, Victoria
Both parents hosting
Mr and Mrs John Smith and Mr and Mrs Robert Taylor request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their children Emily Anne Smith and James Robert Taylor on Saturday, the fifteenth of November two thousand and twenty-six at four o'clock in the afternoon The Grand Ballroom Melbourne, Victoria
Bride's parents (divorced, both hosting)
Mrs Jane Smith and Mr John Smith request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Emily Anne to Mr James Robert Taylor on Saturday, the fifteenth of November two thousand and twenty-six at half past three in the afternoon The Estate at Yarra Valley Victoria
Groom's parents hosting
Mr and Mrs Robert Taylor request the honour of your presence at the marriage of Miss Emily Anne Smith to their son James Robert Taylor on Saturday, the fifteenth of November two thousand and twenty-six at four o'clock in the afternoon The Chapel at Stones Yarra Valley, Victoria
Modern wording
Modern invitations drop the formality but keep the elegance. They’re warm, personal, and feel like something you’d actually say out loud. Most couples today land somewhere in this range.
Couple hosting
Emily Smith and James Taylor invite you to celebrate their marriage on Saturday, 15 November 2026 at 3:30 pm The Grounds of Alexandria Sydney, New South Wales Dinner, drinks, and dancing to follow
Together with families
Together with their families Emily Smith and James Taylor invite you to share in the joy of their wedding day Saturday, 15 November 2026 at half past three The Farm at Byron Bay New South Wales Cocktails and celebration to follow
Warm and personal
With full hearts and excitement, Emily and James invite you to celebrate their love as they say "I do" Saturday, 15 November 2026 · 3:30 pm The Terrace at Werribee Park Victoria Dinner reception to follow
Simple and direct
You're invited to the wedding of Emily Smith & James Taylor 15 November 2026 · 3:30 pm The Boathouse, Melbourne Join us for the ceremony, dinner, and a night of celebration.
Playful modern
We're getting married! Emily Smith + James Taylor are tying the knot on Saturday, 15 November 2026 at The Stables, Brisbane Ceremony at 3:30 pm Drinks, dinner, and bad dancing to follow
Casual wording
For backyard weddings, elopement parties, and celebrations where the vibe matters more than the protocol. Casual doesn’t mean careless — it means the invitation sounds like you.
Laid-back
Hey! We're getting married. Emily & James 15 November 2026 · 3:30 pm The Backyard, 42 River Road, Noosa Wear something you can dance in. BBQ and drinks provided.
Elopement announcement invite
We eloped! Emily and James tied the knot on 12 September 2026 and we'd love to celebrate with you. Join us for a party Saturday, 15 November 2026 · 5 pm The Rooftop Bar, Melbourne Drinks and canapés. No gifts — just your company.
Weekend wedding
Save the whole weekend! Emily & James are getting married 14–16 November 2026 Lake House, Daylesford, Victoria Friday: Welcome drinks Saturday: Ceremony & reception Sunday: Farewell brunch Details and RSVP at emilyandJames.com
Destination wedding wording
When you’re asking guests to travel, the invitation needs to acknowledge the commitment. Include a travel details line and reference your wedding website for logistics. For a full planning guide, read our article on destination wedding planning.
Destination wedding
Emily Smith and James Taylor invite you to celebrate their wedding in the heart of Tuscany Saturday, 15 November 2026 at four o'clock in the afternoon Villa di Maiano Fiesole, Italy Accommodation and travel details enclosed
Beach destination
Toes in the sand, drinks in hand. Emily and James are getting married! 15 November 2026 · 4 pm Ayana Resort, Bali, Indonesia Join us for a week of sun, celebration, and love. Travel info: emilyandJames.com
Adventure destination
We're saying our vows against the mountains of Queenstown. Emily Smith & James Taylor Saturday, 15 November 2026 The Remarkables, New Zealand Ceremony at 3 pm · Reception at Amisfield Winery Guest travel guide enclosed
Cultural and religious wording
Many cultures have specific phrases, blessings, or structural conventions for wedding invitations. These templates honour those traditions while remaining accessible to all guests.
Hindu ceremony
With the blessings of Lord Ganesh Mr and Mrs Raj Patel request the honour of your presence at the wedding of their daughter Priya with Arjun Kumar son of Mr and Mrs Vikram Kumar Mehndi: Thursday, 13 November 2026 Ceremony: Saturday, 15 November 2026 Sankalp Banquet Hall, Melbourne
Jewish ceremony
Mr and Mrs David Cohen and Mr and Mrs Michael Levy joyfully invite you to share in the marriage of their children Sarah Rachel Cohen and Daniel Levy Saturday, 15 November 2026 at half past six in the evening The Great Synagogue, Sydney Dinner and dancing to follow
Chinese bilingual
誠邀您出席 Mr and Mrs Wei Chen and Mr and Mrs Li Wang request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of Mei Chen and Jun Wang Saturday, 15 November 2026 · 12 pm Golden Dragon Restaurant, Melbourne Banquet reception to follow
Muslim ceremony
Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem Mr and Mrs Ahmed Hassan request the honour of your presence at the Nikah ceremony of their daughter Fatima with Omar Ali son of Mr and Mrs Yusuf Ali Saturday, 15 November 2026 at 2 o'clock in the afternoon Lakemba Mosque, Sydney Walima dinner to follow at The Grand Hall
Evening-only invitations
Not every guest attends the ceremony. Evening-only invitations are common in the UK and increasingly popular in Australia for larger celebrations. Keep the tone warm — these guests are still wanted.
Evening-only invitation
Emily Smith and James Taylor invite you to celebrate their marriage Saturday, 15 November 2026 from 7:30 pm The Grand Ballroom, Melbourne Drinks, dancing, and late-night supper
Formal evening-only
Following their marriage earlier today, Mr and Mrs James Taylor request the pleasure of your company at an evening reception Saturday, the fifteenth of November two thousand and twenty-six at half past seven in the evening The Ivy, Sydney Black tie · Carriages at midnight
RSVP wording
The RSVP card (or section of a digital invite) needs to be crystal clear. Tell guests exactly how to respond, by when, and what information you need. Our guest management toolsmake tracking RSVPs effortless — no spreadsheet required.
Formal RSVP
The favour of a reply is requested by the first of October 2026 M________________ will _____ attend
Modern RSVP
Kindly respond by 1 October 2026 at emilyandJames.com/rsvp We've reserved ___ seats in your honour
Casual RSVP
Let us know by 1 October 2026 Text Emily: 0412 345 678 or RSVP online: emilyandJames.com Please mention any dietary requirements
Meal choice RSVP
Please respond by 1 October 2026 Name: ________________ ___ Joyfully accepts ___ Regretfully declines Meal preference: ___ Beef ___ Fish ___ Vegetarian Dietary requirements: ________________
Etiquette rules worth knowing
You don’t have to follow every tradition, but it helps to know the rules before you break them. Here are the conventions that still matter:
Whoever is paying traditionally "hosts" the invitation
If the bride's parents are paying, the invite reads "Mr and Mrs [Parent] request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter." If the couple is paying, list your names first.
The bride's name comes first on traditional invitations
In formal wording, the bride is listed first regardless of who hosts. In modern wording, many couples simply list names alphabetically or by personal preference.
Use full names on formal invitations, first names on casual
Formal: "Miss Emily Anne Smith." Casual: "Emily & James." There's no middle ground — pick a register and commit to it.
Titles matter in formal invitations
Use "Mr and Mrs," "Dr," "The Honourable," etc. for formal invitations. For casual, drop the titles entirely. Mixing titles and first names looks inconsistent.
"Honour" vs "pleasure"
"Request the honour of your presence" is for religious ceremonies. "Request the pleasure of your company" is for secular venues. This is a traditional distinction — modern invitations can use either.
Spell out dates and times on formal invitations
"Saturday, the fifteenth of November, two thousand and twenty-six, at half past three in the afternoon." Numbers are fine for casual: "15 November 2026 · 3:30 pm."
Don't mention gifts on the invitation
Gift registry information goes on the wedding website or a separate enclosure card — never on the invitation itself.
Include an inner and outer envelope for formal invitations
The outer envelope has the mailing address. The inner envelope lists exactly who is invited: "Mr and Mrs Smith and Family" or "Ms Jane Smith and Guest."
What to include on the invitation
Every invitation needs the essentials. The optional items depend on your format — a printed suite might include separate cards, while a digital invitation can link to your wedding website. Use our wedding checklist to track stationery milestones.
| Item | Required? |
|---|---|
| Names of the hosts | Essential |
| Names of the couple | Essential |
| Date and time | Essential |
| Venue name and address | Essential |
| RSVP date and method | Essential |
| Reception details (if separate from ceremony) | Essential |
| Dress code | Optional |
| Wedding website URL | Optional |
| Accommodation information | Optional |
| Meal choice or dietary request | Optional |
| Transport or parking info | Optional |
| Plus-one indication | Optional |
Digital vs printed invitations
There’s no wrong answer here — only trade-offs.
Printed invitationsfeel premium and tangible. Guests keep them on the fridge. They’re a design object in their own right. The downsides: cost ($3–$15+ per suite), lead time (6–8 weeks for printing), and no built-in RSVP tracking.
Digital invitationsare fast, free (or nearly), and environmentally friendly. You can embed RSVP forms, meal choices, and links to accommodation. The trade-off is they’re easier to ignore — an email competes with 50 others in the inbox.
The best approach for most couples: send digital save-the-dates early, then printed invitations 8–12 weeks before the wedding. Use your wedding website for RSVP tracking and details. For dress code guidance on your invite, see our wedding dress code guide.