Invitation wording, sorted by style
The design gets the attention; the wording does the work. Every page below gives three complete invitations you can copy, change the names and dates in, and send — plus a breakdown of what each line is for and the etiquette that still matters.
British invitations traditionally come from the hosts — often the bride’s parents — and say “request the honour of your presence” for a church ceremony. Modern couples increasingly host themselves and write plainer. Neither is wrong; they signal different weddings. Choose the voice that sounds like your day.
Classic
Traditional wording, hosts named, “the honour of your presence” — for church and formal weddings.
Modern
The couple hosts, the sentences are short, and the details do the talking.
Funny
Warm and light without tipping into a comedy set — humour that grandparents survive.
Hosted by parents
Invitations issued in the parents’ names, for one family or both together.
Second marriage
Graceful wording for an encore wedding — hosted by the couple, sometimes with their children.
The five parts of any invitation
The hosts — Who is inviting — the couple, one set of parents, or both families. This line sets the formality of everything after it.
The request — “Request the honour of your presence” (church, formal) or “invite you to celebrate with them” (everywhere else).
The couple — Full names, traditionally the bride first in the UK. Include surnames unless the hosts share them.
The day — Date written out in words for formal invitations, day of the week first, then time and the ceremony venue with its town.
What follows — Reception venue if different, and the reply line: “Kindly reply by …” with where replies should go. Dress code and details usually sit on the invitation page or an insert, not the card itself.