Wedding Invitation Wording

Proper wedding invitation wording is critical and depending on the location of the ceremony, the level of formality should be reflected. A church wedding will feature different wording than a home wedding, and the same holds true for a second marriage or a garden ceremony.

For a church wedding, the wording is, not surprisingly, the most formal of all types. It is traditionally engraved and does not require any written acknowledgement (RSVP) in return. As for the exact wording, an example (with “/” representing a new line) would be: “Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Smith / request the honor of / (guest’s name) / presence at the marriage of their daughter / Sarah Lynn / with / Mr. Thomas Jones / Wednesday, the sixth of June.”

For a home wedding, one difference is that an RSVP is most likely required, as the family will need to know how many will be attending as soon as possible for catering and dinner counts. By contrast, with a church wedding, a certain number can be accommodated without much change to plans.

As for the wording of the invitation itself, aside from the RSVP difference, the wording may also replace “request the honor of your presence” to “request the pleasure of your company.” While the church wording can also be used for a home wedding, it is simply good to remember that a less formal request is just as acceptable.

In regards to a reception card, while traditional, it is no longer necessary – especially if the reception is at the same location. A hand-written note at the bottom of the wedding invitation is fine: “Reception to follow.” Or if at a different location, include this in the invitation itself: “… Wednesday, the sixth of June, at four o’clock in the afternoon and afterwards, for a reception at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel.”