Modern wording

Modern wording drops the hosts, the titles and the written-out dates, and lets the couple speak for themselves. It is not less polite — it is differently polite: short sentences, exact information, and nothing the guests do not need.

Example 1 — The couple hosts, clean and complete

Emma Hartley & Liam Bennett are getting married Saturday 12 June 2027, 2.00 pm St Lawrence’s Church, Bourton-on-the-Water Then dinner, drinks and dancing at The Manor House Hotel, Castle Combe Reply by 1 May — link on our invitation page

Example 2 — City wedding, one venue

Together with their families Emma & Liam invite you to their wedding Saturday 12 June 2027 Ceremony at 3 pm, party until late The Orangery, Holland Park, London Dress: smart and comfortable Please reply by 1 May

Example 3 — Relaxed outdoor wedding

We’re getting married! Emma Hartley + Liam Bennett Saturday 12 June 2027 from 1 pm The Meadow Barn, Kingham Ceremony outside (weather permitting), barbecue, live band, last dance at 11. Bring a layer for the evening — the field gets cool. Reply by 1 May, and tell us about any dietary needs

How it is put together

First person, present tense — “We’re getting married” or names + “are getting married” replaces the hosts’ request line entirely.

Numbers, not words — “12 June 2027, 2.00 pm” — digital invitations especially read better with figures guests can copy into a calendar.

Practical lines included — Modern wording happily carries dress code, dietary requests and the reply deadline on the same page — one reason it suits a link invitation.

Good to know

“Together with their families” is the standard modern nod to parents without making them the hosts.
Keep the jokes and the logistics in different paragraphs; guests skim, and the time and place must survive skimming.
If some guests are invited to the evening only, they need their own version — never one invitation with a line struck through.