By Mustafa Bilgic · Last updated 20 June 2026
Welcome Party Invitation Wording (Wedding Weekend Kickoff)
The first hello of the weekend — drinks, no schedule, everyone in one place. Here's how to word a welcome party invitation so it feels like the relaxed kickoff it should be, with come-and-go examples for weddings near and far.
What a welcome party is — and isn't
A welcome party is the social opener of a wedding weekend: an easygoing gathering, almost always the night before, where guests who've travelled in can unwind, meet each other, and say a first hello to the couple. It's most popular at destination weddings, where people have flown in and a relaxed first evening turns a guest list into a crowd that already feels like friends by the time the ceremony starts.
It is not a rehearsal dinner. The rehearsal dinner is smaller, often seated, and follows the ceremony rehearsal for the wedding party and family. The welcome party is bigger, looser, and frequently open to everyone — see how the two compare and how to host both in our rehearsal dinner invitation wording guide.
Who do you invite?
| Guest list | When it works | How to word it |
|---|---|---|
| All wedding guests | You want one big social kickoff for the whole weekend. | "All are welcome — let's start the celebration together." |
| Out-of-town guests only | Budget is tighter, or you want to thank travellers especially. | "To everyone who's travelled to be with us — join us for a drink." |
| Wedding party + family + travellers | A middle path that keeps numbers manageable. | "Family, wedding party, and out-of-town guests — come say hello." |
Any of these is correct. The only rule is to be clear and consistent about who's included so no one's left wondering whether the invitation is for them.
Make "come and go" explicit
The magic of a welcome party is that nobody has to stay the whole time — guests arrive jet-lagged, in waves, at their own pace. Say so: "Drop in any time between 7 and 10" or "Come and go as you please" frees people to settle into their rooms first and wander down when they're ready.
Welcome drinks wording (casual)
Lead with warmth and keep it short. The tone should promise a good, low-key time:
Join us for welcome drinks
to kick off the weekend
Friday, September 11 · from 7:00 pm
The Harbour Terrace, The Seaview Hotel
Come and go as you please · Casual
Olivia & James invite you for
drinks, bites and first hellos
the evening before the wedding
Friday at 7 · The Rooftop Bar, Positano
Drop by any time — no need to RSVP
Destination & out-of-towner wording
When guests have crossed time zones to be there, a welcome party doubles as a thank-you. Acknowledge the journey:
thank you, and welcome to the Amalfi Coast!
Join us for welcome drinks
Friday, September 11 · 7:30 pm 'til late
Terrazza Mare, Positano
Come straight from the airport if you like — we'll have a cold drink waiting
A slightly more polished version
If your welcome party leans upscale — a cocktail hour at the resort rather than a beach bar — you can dress the wording up a touch while keeping it friendly:
to welcome the weekend
with cocktails and canapés
Friday, the eleventh of September
seven o'clock in the evening
The Garden Terrace · The Belmont Resort
Resort casual · Hosted by the couple
How to include it in your stationery
Because the welcome party is informal, you rarely need a standalone printed invitation. Most couples fold it into the weekend timeline:
- A weekend-events insert card tucked in with the wedding invitation, listing the welcome party, ceremony, and any day-after brunch together.
- Your wedding website, where an "Events" or "Weekend Schedule" page can carry the full run of show.
- A standalone card only if the welcome party is a larger, hosted affair you want to feel special on its own.
Whichever you choose, slot it into the broader plan using the wedding invitation timeline so the welcome party, wedding, and brunch all land in guests' hands with enough notice.
Design a welcome party invite or weekend card
Make a welcome party invitation or a weekend-events insert in our free editor. Pick a design, drop in any wording above, and download a print-ready PNG — no sign-up.
Open the free editor →Frequently asked questions
What is a wedding welcome party?
A casual gathering, usually the evening before the wedding, that kicks off the weekend. It's especially common at destination weddings, where it lets travelled-in guests relax, meet one another, and say a first hello to the couple. Think welcome drinks and easy food, not a formal sit-down.
Who do you invite to the welcome party?
It varies by budget. Many couples invite every wedding guest, making it the social opener for the whole weekend; others limit it to out-of-town guests who've travelled in. Either is fine — just make who's included clear and consistent so no one's left guessing.
How do you word a welcome party invitation?
Keep it relaxed and inviting. "Join us for welcome drinks" or "Let the weekend begin" sets the tone, followed by the date, time, place, and a come-and-go note like "drop by any time after seven." It should feel like the easygoing warm-up to the wedding, not a second formal event.
Is a welcome party the same as a rehearsal dinner?
No. A rehearsal dinner is a smaller, often seated meal for the wedding party and close family after the rehearsal. A welcome party is larger and more casual, frequently open to all guests, and purely social with no rehearsal attached. Some weekends have both.
When does the welcome party take place?
Almost always the evening before the wedding, once most guests have arrived. At a destination wedding it may be the first night of a multi-day celebration. Keep the start time relaxed and the end open so jet-lagged or just-arrived guests can drop in when they can.
Related: the free editor · Rehearsal dinner wording · Day-after brunch wording · Engagement party wording · Destination weddings · Wedding invitation wording · The stationery suite