Wedding Invitation Wording: 60+ Examples for Every Style

You found the venue. You chose the stationery. Now you're staring at the line where the actual words should go.

Wedding invitation wording trips up even organized couples because there's no single right answer. The phrasing depends on who's hosting, how formal the day feels, and whether you're printing paper cards or sending digital invitations.

Below are 60+ examples organized by style. Scroll to yours, copy what fits, and fill in the blanks.

If you're sending digital invitations and want to track RSVPs in one place, Invyt handles the whole flow for free: event pages, guest lists, and real-time responses all in one dashboard.

What to Include on Every Wedding Invitation

Before the examples: every invitation, regardless of formality, needs six pieces of information.

1. Who is hosting: parents, the couple, or "together with their families"
2. The couple's names
3. Date and time: spelled out fully in formal invitations; numerals work for casual
4. Ceremony venue: name and full address (out-of-town guests will need it)
5. RSVP instructions: deadline plus method (reply card, URL, or QR code)
6. Reception information: only needed if the reception is at a different location

Dress code goes at the bottom of the invitation in smaller type. Skip it only if the venue makes the expectation completely obvious.

Formal Wedding Invitation Wording

Formal invitations use third-person phrasing, spell out numbers and dates in full, include middle names, and follow a strict order: hosts first, then the couple, then ceremony details. They suit religious ceremonies, black-tie receptions, and events where tradition matters to the hosts.

Example 1: Parents of the bride hosting

Mr. and Mrs. James Hartley
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Catherine Anne Hartley
to
William Thomas Reed
son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Reed

Saturday, the fourteenth of June
two thousand and twenty-six
at half after four o'clock in the afternoon

Saint Michael's Cathedral
84 Church Lane, Boston, Massachusetts

Reception to follow
The Harvard Club · 374 Commonwealth Avenue

Kindly reply by the twenty-first of May

Example 2: Both sets of parents hosting

Mr. and Mrs. James Hartley
and
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Reed
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of
Catherine Anne Hartley
and
William Thomas Reed

[date, time, venue details]

Example 3: Single parent hosting

Mrs. Patricia Hartley
requests the honour of your presence
at the marriage of her daughter
Catherine Anne Hartley
to
William Thomas Reed

[date, time, venue details]

Example 4: Couple hosting themselves

Catherine Anne Hartley
and
William Thomas Reed
request the honour of your presence
at their marriage

[date, time, venue details]

Example 5: Civil ceremony ("request the pleasure")

"Request the honour of your presence" traditionally signals a religious ceremony in a house of worship. For a civil ceremony or secular venue, swap it:

Mr. and Mrs. James Hartley
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their daughter
Catherine Anne Hartley…

Example 6: Black-tie specification

Add at the bottom of any formal invitation:

Black tie

Or more explicitly:

Black tie required
Gentlemen: dinner jacket
Ladies: floor-length gown

Semi-Formal Wedding Invitation Wording

Semi-formal is the most popular choice for 2026 weddings. The tone is warm and approachable without losing elegance. First names are fine, numerals work for dates, and you can write as a couple rather than in stiff third person.

Example 7: Classic warm invitation

Together with their families,
Emma Clarke and Daniel Park
invite you to celebrate their marriage

Saturday, June 14, 2026 · 4:30 PM

The Rosewood Estate
12 Garden Drive, Napa, California

Dinner and dancing to follow

RSVP by May 21 · emma-and-daniel.invyt.app

Example 8: Both families named

Robert and Susan Clarke
together with Sung-Jin and Mi-Rae Park
invite you to the wedding of

Emma Clarke and Daniel Park

[date, time, venue]

Dinner and dancing immediately following the ceremony

Example 9: With website and QR code RSVP

Emma Clarke and Daniel Park
invite you to celebrate their marriage

June 14, 2026 · Ceremony at 4:00 PM
The Rosewood Estate · Napa, California

RSVP at emma-and-daniel.invyt.app
or scan the QR code on the back of this card
Kindly respond by May 21

Example 10: Destination wedding

Pack your bags.

Sophie Laurent and Marco Rossi
are getting married in Tuscany.

Saturday, September 5, 2026
Villa La Selva · Castelnuovo Berardenga, Italy
Ceremony at 5:00 PM · Dinner at 7:30 PM

RSVP by July 15
Full weekend details at sophie-and-marco.invyt.app

Example 11: Micro-wedding

We're keeping it small.

Nadia Okonkwo and James Trent
are getting married, and we'd love you in the room.

Saturday, June 14, 2026 · 5:00 PM
The Library at Henderson House
12 Park Place, Chicago, Illinois

Seated dinner to follow for 30 guests
RSVP essential by May 20

Example 12: Outdoor garden ceremony

Lily Chen and Marcus Webb
invite you to celebrate their marriage
in the garden

June 14, 2026 · 3:00 PM
Chen Family Garden · 45 Oak Lane, Portland

Outdoor setting, garden party attire suggested
Lawn reception and dinner to follow

RSVP by May 28

Example 13: Ceremony and reception at different venues

Emma Clarke and Daniel Park
invite you to their wedding ceremony

June 14, 2026 · 4:00 PM
All Saints Church · 88 Church Road, Austin

Please join us immediately after for dinner and dancing
The Driskill Hotel Ballroom
604 Brazos Street, Austin

RSVP by May 21

Example 14: Including meal choice

Add at the bottom of the invitation or on a separate enclosure card:

Please indicate your entrée preference when you RSVP:
Beef tenderloin · Pan-seared salmon · Mushroom risotto (V)

Casual Wedding Invitation Wording

Casual invitations speak directly to your guests. They drop third-person formality, use numerals, and sound like the couple actually wrote them. Right for backyard ceremonies, beach weddings, brewery receptions, and anyone who found the examples above too stiff.

Example 15: Short and direct

Jake & Mia are getting married.
June 14, 2026 · 4 PM
Mia's parents' backyard · 45 Maple Street, Burlington, VT

Food, drinks, dancing.
RSVP to jake.mia2026@gmail.com by May 28

Example 16: Storytelling opener

We found each other. Now we want to celebrate with the people we love most.

Mia Santos and Jake Williams
Saturday, June 14, 2026 · 4:00 PM
The Santos Family Farm · Burlington, Vermont

Dinner and dancing to follow
Dress: garden party / wear something you can dance in

RSVP by May 28 · jakemia2026.invyt.app

Example 17: Playful and personal

It's official.

Jake Williams and Mia Santos are actually doing this.

Saturday, June 14 · 4 PM
Backyard at 45 Maple Street, Burlington

Outdoor ceremony followed by a lot of good food.
Kids welcome. Dogs also welcome.

Let us know you're coming by May 28:
jakemia2026.invyt.app

Example 18: Beach ceremony

Sun, sand, and a wedding.

Chloe Richards and Tom Navarro
invite you to celebrate with them

July 19, 2026 · 5 PM
Sunset Beach · Malibu, California

Barefoot-friendly attire · dinner and bonfire to follow
RSVP by June 25

Example 19: Unconventional venue

Great beer. Better company.

Owen Burke and Sara Kim
are getting married at their favorite brewery.

August 22, 2026 · 4 PM
Half Acre Beer Company · 2050 W Balmoral, Chicago

Ceremony, dinner, dancing, and all the craft beer you can manage
RSVP by August 1 · owensara.invyt.app

Example 20: Elopement celebration

We eloped. Now we want to party about it.

Zoe Park and Liam Norris
invite you to their wedding celebration

September 6, 2026 · 7 PM
The Ace Hotel Rooftop · Portland, Oregon

Cocktails, dinner, dancing
No ceremony. We already handled that part.

RSVP by August 20 · zoeliam.invyt.app

Example 21: Weekend celebration

Join us for a whole weekend.

Elena and Rafael are getting married on Saturday, October 10, 2026.

Friday: Welcome bonfire at the lake · 7 PM
Saturday: Ceremony and reception · 4 PM
Sunday: Farewell brunch · 10 AM

La Selva Ranch · Sisters, Oregon

Full schedule at elena-and-rafael.invyt.app
RSVP by September 1

Example 22: Commitment ceremony / civil

Morgan and Alex
invite you to witness their commitment ceremony

Saturday, June 14, 2026 · 4 PM
The Fernwood Estate · Sonoma, California

Ceremony in the gardens · Dinner and dancing to follow
Dress code: creative formal

RSVP at morgan-alex.invyt.app

How to Word the QR Code RSVP Line

Nearly 49% of couples now include a QR code on their printed invitations, up from just 20% in 2022 according to The Knot's wedding data. The code links to a digital RSVP page where guests scan and respond in seconds, with no reply card or stamp required.

The mistake most couples make: printing the code without any explanation. Add one of these lines directly on the invitation or on the back of the card.

Scan to RSVP and view full event details
Please respond by [date]

RSVP online by [date]
[URL] · or scan the QR code on the back

Kindly reply by [date]
Scan the code or visit [URL]

To RSVP and see accommodation suggestions, scan here or visit [URL]

Please let us know you're coming by [date]
Scan below or visit [URL] on your phone

If you're using Invyt's digital wedding invitations for your RSVP page, you get a unique event URL and a QR code ready to print. Guests land on your event page, confirm attendance, and you see responses update in real time.

Digital and Paperless Wedding Invitation Wording

Digital invitations skip the venue address block and the "reply card enclosed" note. The platform handles RSVPs automatically. But the wording still sets the tone, and some couples overthink the header or the intro line.

Example 23: Minimal and modern

Emma & James are getting married
June 14, 2026 · 4:00 PM · The Rosewood Estate, Napa
[RSVP button]

Example 24: Warm introduction

Our wedding day is almost here, and we'd love you to be part of it.

Emma Clarke and James Bennett
Saturday, June 14, 2026 at 4:00 PM
The Rosewood Estate · Napa, California

[RSVP button]

Example 25: WhatsApp or SMS share message

For couples sharing invite links via WhatsApp, keep the message short:

Hey, we're getting married and would love you there. All the details and RSVP are here: [link]. Reply by May 28.

Example 26: Multi-event RSVP

For a wedding with linked events on separate RSVP pages:

Emma Clarke and James Bennett invite you to celebrate their wedding weekend.

Choose the events you'll attend:
· Friday: Welcome Dinner (optional)
· Saturday: Ceremony + Reception
· Sunday: Farewell Brunch

RSVP separately for each event below.

This is where Invyt's multi-event RSVP feature comes in. Guests see all linked events on one page and confirm which ones they'll attend. How to set up your wedding RSVP website →

Example 27: Bilingual invitation

Emma & James · Emma y James
Saturday, June 14 / Sábado, 14 de junio de 2026
The Rosewood Estate · Napa, California

We'd love to celebrate with you. / Queremos celebrar con ustedes.
[RSVP / Confirmar asistencia]

Wording for Tricky Scenarios

Divorced parents, both hosting amicably

List them on separate lines without "and" between them:

Mrs. Susan Hartley
Mr. James Hartley
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their daughter
Catherine Hartley…

Divorced parents, mother hosting alone

Mrs. Susan Hartley
requests the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of her daughter
Catherine Hartley…

Father remarried, stepparent included

Mr. James Hartley and Mrs. Karen Hartley
along with Mrs. Susan Clarke
invite you to celebrate the marriage of
Catherine and William…

Couple hosting themselves with family nod

Emma and James
together with their families
invite you to their wedding…

Plus-ones without names

On the reply card or RSVP form, use:

We have reserved ___ seat(s) in your honour

This signals to guests exactly how many spots they have without forcing you to name every unnamed plus-one on the invitation envelope.

Child-free, politely stated

We love your children dearly. To give all our adult guests a chance to relax and celebrate fully, the ceremony and reception are adults-only. We appreciate your understanding.

All ages welcome

Children welcome · highchairs available on request

Older guests who prefer a phone option

RSVP by [date] at [URL] or call us at [phone number]

RSVP Line Options

The RSVP line is often the most overlooked part of the invitation. Here are clean versions for different response methods:

• Reply card enclosed: Kindly reply by [date]
• Website only: RSVP by [date] at [URL]
• QR code on printed invite: Scan to RSVP · or visit [URL] · Reply by [date]
• Email: RSVP to [email] by [date]
• Phone: Reply by [date] · [phone number]
• Multiple options: RSVP by [date] · [URL] · or scan below

One thing worth knowing from actual RSVP data: giving guests too many response options (reply card + website + email + phone) often results in more confusion and lower response rates than a single clear method. If you're going digital, make it the only option. If you want to accommodate older guests, add a phone number as the one alternative.

Tools like Invyt let you add custom questions to the RSVP form (meal preferences, dietary restrictions, song requests) so you collect that information automatically rather than chasing guests afterward. How online RSVP tracking works →

Getting RSVPs That Actually Come In

Good wording helps. A clear deadline and an easy response method matter more.

Set your RSVP deadline 3-4 weeks before the catering cutoff. Venues typically need final headcounts 2 weeks out. Build in buffer for stragglers and the guests who need a follow-up.

Send one reminder. A short message to non-responders one week before the deadline catches most stragglers. If your RSVP platform sends reminders automatically, turn that on. If not, set a calendar alert and do it manually.

Follow up individually with anyone still missing. For events under 100 guests, a personal text gets a response faster than any automated reminder. More strategies for getting wedding guests to RSVP →

FAQ

What is the proper wording for a formal wedding invitation?

Formal invitations use third-person phrasing, spell out all dates and times, include middle names, and follow a strict order. "Mr. and Mrs. James Hartley request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Catherine Anne Hartley to William Thomas Reed, on Saturday, the fourteenth of June, two thousand and twenty-six, at half after four o'clock in the afternoon."

Should I say "request the honour of your presence" or "invite you to celebrate"?

"Request the honour of your presence" traditionally signals a religious ceremony in a house of worship. For civil ceremonies, outdoor venues, or non-religious settings, "invite you to celebrate" or "request the pleasure of your company" is more appropriate and widely used.

How do you word a wedding invitation when divorced parents are both hosting?

List them on separate lines without "and" between them: "Mrs. Susan Hartley / Mr. James Hartley / request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter..." Separate lines keep formality intact without implying the parents are still a couple.

How do I add a QR code RSVP line to a printed invitation?

Print the QR code on the back of the card with a short line: "Scan to RSVP by [date] or visit [URL]." According to The Knot, 49% of couples included a QR code on their 2025 invitations, up from 20% in 2022. The biggest mistake is printing the code without any instruction for what guests should do with it.

What is the difference between a save-the-date and a wedding invitation?

Save-the-dates go out 4-12 months in advance and include only the date, general location, and couple's names. Formal invitations go out 6-8 weeks before the event and include everything guests need to attend: full venue address, ceremony time, RSVP instructions, and dress code. Wedding RSVP wording examples and templates →

Wording sorted? Create your free wedding RSVP page on Invyt, add your guest list, set your event details, and share the link or print the QR code. Most couples have it live in under five minutes.