How do you word a wedding invitation when both the couple and parents are hosting?

A common modern host line is: 'Together with their families, [Name] and [Name] invite you to celebrate their marriage.' This credits everyone without listing four sets of parents, and works whether one family, both, or the couple themselves are paying.

Should the reception details go on the invitation or a separate card?

If the reception is at the same venue, a single line such as 'Reception to follow' on the main invitation is enough. If it is at a different location or you need to convey meal or dress-code details, use a separate enclosure card so the main invitation stays clean.

Wedding Invitation Wording: Examples for Every Style

Q: What is the correct order of information on a wedding invitation?

From top to bottom: the host line (who is inviting), the request line, the couple's names, the date and time written out, the venue name and address, and finally the reception or RSVP line. This order has been standard for formal invitations for over a century and reads clearly to guests of any age.

Q: Do you put the year on a wedding invitation?

Formal invitations traditionally spell out the year (for example, 'two thousand twenty-six') on its own line. It is optional on casual or modern invitations, where 'September 12, 2026' on a single line is perfectly acceptable and clearer for some guests.

Whether you want a formal invitation that sounds like your grandmother would approve, or something relaxed in your own voice, here is the exact wording — ready to copy, adapt, and drop straight into your invitation.

The short answer: A wedding invitation reads top to bottom in this order — host line → request line → couple's names → date & time → venue & address → reception/RSVP line. Keep that skeleton and you can write the rest in any tone you like, from black-tie formal to backyard casual.

The 6 building blocks of a wedding invitation

Almost every invitation, in every style, is made of the same six pieces. Once you can name them, writing your own is easy:

Host line — who is inviting people (the couple, one or both sets of parents, or "together with their families").
Request line — the invitation itself: "request the pleasure of your company" or simply "invite you to celebrate."
The couple's names — traditionally the bride's name first in different-sex weddings, though any order you prefer is fine today.
Date and time — fully spelled out for formal invitations, or written as numerals for casual ones.
Venue and address — the ceremony location; city and state are usually enough if guests have directions elsewhere.
Reception / RSVP line — "Reception to follow," a separate reception line, or where and by when to reply.

Formal wedding invitation wording

Formal wording spells almost everything out, avoids abbreviations, and uses the third person. It suits a religious ceremony, a black-tie reception, or any wedding where the tone is traditional.

Hosted by the bride's parents (most traditional)

Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Carter
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Olivia Grace
to
James Bennett
Saturday, the twelfth of September
two thousand twenty-six
at half past four in the afternoon
The Rosewood Garden · Charleston, South Carolina

Note the British spelling of "honour" — by long convention it signals a ceremony in a house of worship, while "the pleasure of your company" is used for non-religious venues. Either is correct; pick the one that fits your day.

Hosted by both sets of parents

Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Carter
and Mr. and Mrs. David Bennett
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their children
Olivia Grace Carter
&
James Michael Bennett

Modern wedding invitation wording (couple hosting)

Today, many couples pay for their own wedding, or share costs with family, and the host line reflects that. The "together with their families" opening is the most popular modern solution because it is warm, inclusive, and sidesteps the question of who paid.

Together with their families
Olivia Carter & James Bennett
invite you to celebrate their marriage
Saturday, September 12, 2026 · 4:30 in the afternoon
The Rosewood Garden, Charleston
Dinner and dancing to follow

If the couple is hosting entirely on their own, you can open directly with their names or with a line like "The pleasure of your company is requested at the wedding of."

Casual & relaxed wedding invitation wording

For a backyard party, a barn, a brewery, or an elopement-style celebration, you can drop the formality completely and write the way you actually talk. Casual wording is shorter, often funny, and uses numerals and contractions freely.

We're getting married!
Olivia & James
would love for you to join the party
Saturday, Sept 12, 2026 — 4:30 pm
The Rosewood Garden, Charleston
Good food, cold drinks, and dancing till late

Destination wedding wording

For a destination wedding, the invitation does extra work: it gently signals that travel is involved, so include the location prominently and point guests to a details card or wedding website for logistics.

Olivia & James
invite you to celebrate their wedding
on the Amalfi Coast
Saturday, the twelfth of September, 2026
Villa Mare, Positano, Italy
Travel & stay details enclosed

A note on names and titles

Use whatever feels right for your families. Traditional invitations use courtesy titles (Mr., Mrs., Dr.); modern ones often skip them. For same-sex couples, list names alphabetically or in whatever order looks and sounds best to you — there is no rule. The "rule" that matters most is that the people you love feel honoured.

How to word the reception & RSVP line

Keep it brief on the main card. Common, correct options:

Same venue: "Reception to follow" or "Dinner and dancing to follow."
Different venue: a short reception line, or a separate enclosure card with the second address.
RSVP: "Kindly reply by August 1st" with a return method, or point to your wedding website: "RSVP at oliviaandjames.com."
Adults-only: handle this by how you address the envelope and on your website rather than on the invitation face. (More on that in our etiquette guide.)

Fill-in-the-blank template

Copy this, replace the brackets, and you have a complete invitation. It works for almost any wedding:

[Host line — e.g. "Together with their families"]
[Name] & [Name]
[Request line — e.g. "invite you to celebrate their marriage"]
[Day], [Date], [Year]
[Time]
[Venue name]
[City, State]
[Reception line] · [RSVP line]

See your wording on a real invitation

Paste any example above into our free editor and watch it come to life on 16 designs. Change the words, fonts and colours, then download a print-ready PNG — no sign-up.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the correct order of information on a wedding invitation?

Top to bottom: the host line, the request line, the couple's names, the date and time, the venue and address, and the reception or RSVP line. Keeping this order makes the invitation instantly readable to guests of any age.

Do you put the year on a wedding invitation?

Formal invitations spell out the year on its own line ("two thousand twenty-six"). On casual or modern designs it is optional — "September 12, 2026" on one line is perfectly correct and often clearer.

How do you word it when the couple and parents both host?

The simplest, warmest solution is "Together with their families, [Name] and [Name] invite you to celebrate their marriage." It honours everyone without listing every parent, and works no matter who is paying.

Should reception details go on the invitation or a separate card?

Same venue: a single "Reception to follow" line is enough. Different venue, or lots of logistics: use a separate enclosure card so the main invitation stays uncluttered.

Whose name goes first on a wedding invitation?

By tradition the bride's name comes first in a different-sex wedding. For same-sex couples, or by personal preference, any order is correct — choose what reads and sounds best to you.