Wedding Invitation Wording

Gone are the days when wedding etiquette mandated that the bride’s parents, and the bride’s parent’s only, hosted the wedding. Today anyone can foot the bill, and with modern familial arrangements often anything but nuclear, there is no straightforward rule for wording invitations. This wedding invitation wording guide has sorted through the confusion to bring you wording samples for the most common arrangements:

Simple, Traditional Format
[proper names of those hosting] official hosts
request the honour of your presence request line
at the marriage of their [relationship of the bride to the host]
[bride’s first and middle names]
to
[groom’s full name],
the [day of the week] of [day and month of wedding]
at [hour] o’clock in the [time of day] at
[name of wedding venue] in
[city, state]
Reception to follow

Divorced Parents
[proper name of host]
requests the honour of your presence
at the marriage of [his/her] [relationship of the bride to the host]

Or, if parent is remarried and hosting with new spouse:
[proper names of those hosting]
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of [his/her] [relationship of the bride to the host]

Or, if divorced parents are mutually hosting:
[proper name of mother]
and
[proper name of father]
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their [relationship of the bride to the host]

When the bride’s one living parent is hosting
The invitation is issued only in the name of the living parent:
Mr. [Mrs.] Jonathan Stephen Smith and Timothy Wright
requests the honour of your presence
at the marriage of his [her] daughter
Elizabeth Ann

When the Bride and Groom host
The honour of your presence
is requested
it the marriage of
Miss Ashley Johnson
to
Mr. Paul Wilkins

OR

Miss Ashley Johnson
and
Mr. Paul Wilkins
request the honour of your presence
at their marriage

Alternative “Request Line” Options

“pleasure of your company”
“honor of your presence”
“share and celebrate in their joy” another creative idea that reflects the theme and tone of your wedding