Learn
Invitation wording & etiquette
Seven lines, in order. Choose who is hosting and the tone, and the builder writes the invitation; every line is also a preset in the editor.
The wording builder
Every line here is a preset in the editor; "write my own" is always there too. Open it in the Suite Builder →
1 · The host line
Whoever is hosting is named first. Married parents are named together; divorced parents each get their own line, in the order you choose, never joined by "and". A parent who has died is honoured, not listed as a host: "and the late Mrs. Grace Okafor". When the couple hosts with help from both families, "Together with their families" says it without a ledger.
2 · The request line
"The honour of your presence" is the traditional line for a ceremony in a place of worship; "the pleasure of your company" for everywhere else. Modern invitations say "invite you to celebrate" and nobody minds. British spelling (honour, favour) is a style choice; keep it consistent across the suite.
3 · Names
Formal invitations use full names, no nicknames, the person whose parents are hosting listed first. When the couple hosts, order is your call; many couples put the names on their own lines with "and" between them so neither is first.
4 · Date and time
Formal: spelled out, "Saturday, the fourteenth of June, two thousand twenty-seven, at four o'clock in the afternoon". Modern: "Saturday, June 14, 2027, at 4 pm". Never both styles on one card. "Half after four" is the formal way to say 4:30.
5 · Venue
Venue name on one line, city and state on the next. Street addresses belong on the details card, not the invitation, unless the venue is a private home.
6 · The reception line
If the reception is at the same place: "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow". If elsewhere, use a reception card, or one line with the venue: "Cocktails and dinner to follow at The Driskill".
Dress code and website
Dress code goes in the lower corner of the invitation or on the details card: "Black tie", "Black tie optional", "Cocktail attire", "Garden party". The wedding website goes on the details card, never the invitation. Registry information never appears on the invitation.
Mistakes to skip
- Mixing spelled-out and numeric dates.
- Abbreviations on a formal card (St., Dr., TX).
- "Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Okafor" when the couple hosts: that formula names only one person.
- Registry or gift language anywhere on the invitation.
- Punctuation at the ends of lines; formal invitations carry none.