By Mustafa Bilgic · Last updated 23 June 2026
Wedding Invitation Wording Examples
Stuck on what to write? Here are ready-to-use wedding invitation wording examples for every style — formal, casual, modern, and religious — plus a five-line template so you can build your own from scratch.
The five lines every invitation needs
Almost every wedding invitation, traditional or relaxed, is built from the same five parts. Get these right and the rest is style:
- Host line — who is inviting guests (parents, the couple, or both).
- Request line — "request the honour of your presence" (formal) or "invite you to celebrate" (relaxed).
- Couple's names — full names for formal, first names for casual.
- Date, time & year — spelled out for formal, numerals for modern.
- Venue — name, then city and state.
For the deep dive on each line see our wedding invitation wording guide.
Formal wedding invitation wording
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Anderson
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Emily Grace
to
Mr. James Whitfield
Saturday, the twelfth of September
two thousand twenty-six
at half after four in the afternoon
St. Mary's Church · Boston, Massachusetts
See more in formal wedding invitation wording.
Casual wedding invitation wording
Emily & James
are getting married!
Join us as we say "I do"
Saturday, September 12, 2026 · 4:30 in the afternoon
The Old Barn, Asheville, NC
Dinner, dancing & happily ever after to follow
Modern wedding invitation wording
Together with their families
Emily Anderson & James Whitfield
invite you to celebrate their wedding
Saturday, 12 September 2026 at 4:30 PM
The Old Barn · Asheville, North Carolina
Reception to follow
More at modern wedding invitation wording.
Couple hosting their own wedding
Emily Anderson & James Whitfield
invite you to share in their joy
as they exchange marriage vows
Saturday, the twelfth of September, two thousand twenty-six
at half after four in the afternoon
The Grand Hall, Chicago, Illinois
Both families hosting
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Anderson
together with
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Whitfield
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their children
Emily Grace & James Edward
Saturday, the twelfth of September, two thousand twenty-six
Riverside Gardens · Portland, Oregon
See both parents hosting wording for variations.
Religious wedding invitation wording
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Anderson
request the honour of your presence
at the Nuptial Mass uniting their daughter
Emily Grace
and
James Edward Whitfield
Saturday, the twelfth of September, two thousand twenty-six
at four o'clock in the afternoon
St. Mary's Catholic Church · Boston, Massachusetts
More in religious wedding invitation wording.
Three wording mistakes to avoid
- Mixing styles — don't spell out the date but use numerals for the time.
- Putting registry or gift info on the invitation (keep it on your website or an insert).
- Forgetting the year, or the RSVP detail and deadline.
Word it, then make it beautiful
Pick a template, type your wording straight onto it, and download a print-ready invitation in minutes. Free, no account, no watermark.
Open the free editor →Frequently asked questions
What should be written on a wedding invitation?
A wedding invitation needs five things: who is hosting, a request to attend, the couple's names, the date and time, and the venue. Add an RSVP method and deadline on the invitation or a reply card.
How do you write wedding invitation wording?
Start with the host line, then the request to attend, the couple's names, the date and time, and the venue. Choose one tone — formal, modern or casual — and keep every line in that style.
Should the date be spelled out on a wedding invitation?
Spell the date and time out in words for a formal invitation ("Saturday, the twelfth of September"). For modern or casual invitations, numerals like "September 12, 2026 at 4:30 PM" are perfectly correct.
Do you put the reception details on the invitation?
If the reception is at the same place, add "Reception to follow." If it's elsewhere or has a separate guest list, put the details on a small enclosure card rather than the main invitation.
Can I copy and paste these wedding invitation examples?
Yes. Use any example above as a template, swap in your own names, date, time and venue, and adjust the host line to match who is hosting your wedding.
Related: the free editor · Wording guide · Formal wording · Casual wording · Modern wording · What to include · Etiquette