write a invitation

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How to Write a Formal Invitation

Last Updated: March 25, 2024

This article was co-authored by Ivy Summer . Ivy Summer is a Certified Wedding Planner and the Owner of Voulez Events. Ivy has over 10 years of experience consulting, planning and coordinating weddings around the globe. She has also created a DIY online wedding planning workshop for couples, called "Plan Your Wedding Like A Pro." She currently resides in Greece where she continues to work with a worldwide network of planners and wedding professionals. This article has been viewed 1,155,011 times.

Sending a formal invitation - whether on paper or electronically - is one of the most important steps in planning a formal event. It sets the general tone for the event and lets your guests know what to expect. Choosing the appropriate invitation wording for your event and then properly addressing the invitation can make your invitations look great and impress your guests.

Using Proper Wording for Formal Invitations

• For example, you should write “Saturday, the nineteenth of November” instead of “Saturday, November 19th.”
• You should also write “253212 Boston Street” instead of “253212 Boston St.”

• For example, you should start a dinner invitation by saying "Sam and Ellen Smith invite you to a dinner celebrating the graduation of their daughter Leslie from graduate school."

Making Adjustments for a Formal Wedding Invitation

• If you are writing an invitation for a same-sex wedding, you can list the parents’ names in whatever order makes sense to you. This might be alphabetical order or you might just want to flip a coin to see who goes first.

• If the parents of the bride or groom are still married write “Mr. and Mrs." followed by the bride's father's name. So Tiffany Smith's parents should be written as "Mr. and Mrs. John Smith” or “Mr. and Mrs. James Carter” on the first line of the invitation. The groom's parents should be written the same way, on the third line (with "and" on its own on the second line).
• If both families – including the bride and groom – are hosting, you should write “Together with their families," on the first line, then the name of the bride, "and," and the name of the groom on the second, third, and fourth lines respectively.
• If the bride’s parents are divorced and remarried but hosting together, you should write list the mother's new name first, followed by the father's name. So for example, you might write “Mr. and Mrs. Jill Willby and Mr. and Mrs. Greg Smith." Again, each couple gets their own line with “and” on the second line.
• If someone other than parents or stepparents are hosting, write the host(s) name(s) and their relationship to the bride or groom. So, for example, if the bride’s brother is hosting, you should write “Mr. Stanley Smith requests the honor of your presence of the marriage of his sister Stephanie Smith.”

• For example, you might say “ [Hosts' names] request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Tiffany Smith to Adam Jones” (if the bride’s parents are hosting) or “[Hosts' names] request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of Tiffany Smith to their son Adam Jones” (if the groom’s parents are hosting. [1] X Research source

• If you include the reception information on the invitation itself, it should come last on the invitation and include the time and place. So, for example, you could say “Reception to follow at 5 pm at The Country Club 3000 Country Club Lane Minneapolis, Minnesota.” “Reception to follow” and “at 5 pm” should get their own lines, as should the street address, venue name, and venue city.
• If you include a separate reception card, write it as you would on the bottom of the invitation. [2] X Research source

• For example, a standard RSVP card will say “M.______________ __ will attend __ will not attend.” The “M.” at the beginning allows them to write “Ms.,” “Mr.,” “Mr. and Ms.,” or “Mr. and Mrs.” and lets you know how many people are attending.
• If you are asking your guests to make a meal selection, this should be listed on the RSVP card as well. List their meal options and leave a space underneath each for the names of the guests requesting that particular meal.

Using the Proper Form for Non-Wedding Events

• You may or may not have hosts to lists for a formal dinner, but if you do, their names should go at the top of the invitation.

• For example, you could write “Dan and Carol Smith are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Their children invite you to join them for a reception at The Country Club.”
• If you do not wish guests to bring gifts for the couple, you can simply note “No gifts please” at the bottom of the invitation.

• For example, you could write “You are cordially invited to a bridal shower in honor of Tiffany Smith on November 5th at 6 pm. The Country Club Minneapolis, Minnesota.”

Addressing the Invitation

• For example, you could write “Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Smith,” “Mr. Stanley Smith and Mrs. Emma Stone,” or “Mrs. Julia Gould and Mrs. Elizabeth Gould.”

• For example, you could write “Dr. Stephanie and Mr. James Smith” if they have the same last name, “Dr. Stephanie Jones and Mr. James Smith” if they have different last names or “Dr. Stephanie Jones and Dr. James Smith” if they have different last names but both have distinguished titles.

Formal Invitation Template

Expert Q&A

• The font used on a formal invitation should reflect the mood of the event and/or the corporate identity of the brand behind the event. Common selections for both business and social invitations include Aristocrat, Balmoral, and Bank Gothic. Thanks Helpful 26 Not Helpful 9
• If you’re writing a wedding invitation, include information about where the couple is registered on a separate card (most stores with wedding registries will provide these cards). Don’t write it directly on the invitation. Thanks Helpful 8 Not Helpful 1
• Any single person, child over the age of 18, or couple should receive his or her own invitation. Thanks Helpful 9 Not Helpful 5

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://emilypost.com/advice/samples-of-formal-wedding-invitation-wording/
• ↑ http://theeverylastdetail.com/stationery-week-rsvp-card-insight/
• ↑ Ivy Summer. Certified Wedding & Event Planner. Expert Interview. 9 February 2021.

About This Article

To write a formal invitation, start with the full, formal names of the hosts on the first line, such as “Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Smith,” followed by “requests your presence” or something similar. Next, include the reason for the occasion for celebration. Then, on the next lines, include the date, time, and location of the event. Make sure to write out any words or dates that are usually abbreviated, such as “the nineteenth of November” instead of “November 19th,” or “Street” instead of “St.” in an address. For tips on how to formally address an envelope in a variety of situations, like when a married couple has different last names, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Party Invitation Wording: How To Write A Party Invitation

Written by  Shutterfly Community Last Updated: May 27, 2022

Whatever your reason for throwing a party, you’re getting into the mood to celebrate. Now all that’s left is finishing the party planning and sending out the invites. Sending party invitations is the best way to communicate to your guest what it is that you are celebrating and what the event is all about. When creating your party invitations , there are a few things to think about with the party invitation wording. That’s why we’re here. We’ll help you figure out how to write a party invitation before you pop them into the mail. Whether you’re throwing a birthday party or incorporating these invites into this season’s Christmas cards , we’ve got plenty of ideas below.

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Guidelines on invitation wording for parties, steps for how to write a party invitation, party invitation wording examples and templates.

• Why: Use the wording and design of your party invitation to tell the guest exactly why you are throwing the party. If it’s for a birthday party make sure to include who it’s for and age they are celebrating. Same goes for graduation, list which education milestone they completed and who it is that is graduating.
• Who: Provide the name of the host for the party. If it’s a child’s birthday party, make sure to also list the parents’ names and contact information.
• What: Tell the recipients what the event is all about and what to expect. This is the description of your theme, activities, and any requests of the guests.
• When: Make sure to be clear about the date and time of your party. Always include the day of the week as well. For instance, Sunday May 22nd from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
• Where: Be clear on the location. If the party is held off-site, meaning not at your home, give not only the physical address but also the name of the business and phone number for directions.

• Make a Guest List: Making a guest list ahead of time will help you make sure you don’t leave anyone out of the party. It will also give you a clear estimate of how many people to expect and plan for.
• Establish a Theme: Picking a party theme is important to help give your party a cohesive look and feel. This theme will be used in everything from the invitations to the decorations.
• Find a Location and Date: Once you settle on a location for your party, you’ll want to choose a date that not only works with most of your guest’s schedules but that also works with seasonality and expected weather. This is the most important information to include on your invitations.
• Pick an Invitation Design: This invitation design should not only follow your chosen theme, but it should appear clear and legible to your guests.
• Address the Recipient by their Proper Name: On the envelope you should address your guest by their titles such as “Mr.,” “Mrs.,” “Ms.” or “Miss.” 
• Include the five W’s in the Invitation: Making sure the who, what, when, where, and why is covered within the invitation ensures that your guests get all the information they need.
• RSVP And Other Details: Provide the guests with a phone number or email address to contact you. The invitation should also let your recipients know if they are allowed to bring a guest.
• Additional Instructions: If guests need to dress a certain way or bring anything to the party make sure you communicate that clearly on the invitation and provide this information as a reminder during the RSVP call.

Looking for more specific examples of party invitation wording? Whether you’re writing for a cocktail party or incorporating a Christmas party invite into this year’s holiday card , we’ve provided templates below for party invitations of any occasion.

Cocktail Party Invitation Wording

Sip! Sip! Hooray!

Join us for a cocktail party

Saturday, July 12th, from 5-7pm

The Tulley Residence

3242 Blackwood Road, Kentwood

No RSVP Needed

Hope to See You There!

Birthday Party Invitation Wording

We hope you’ll join us for

Jamie’s 5th birthday party!

A barnyard bonanza

1359 Cromwell Way, Montecito

RSVP to Grace at 245-385-3704 by June 10th

Graduation Party Invitation Wording

Mr. and Mrs. Black

Are pleased to announce

The graduation of our daughter

Sarah Black

From Washington University

Please join us to celebrate this success

June 12th at 5 PM

1231 Herring Way, Seattle

Dinner will be served

Please RSVP by May 15th

Michelle at 232-534-7444

Halloween Party Invite Wording

Trick or Treat!

Join us For a Halloween Celebration

At the Mullville Family’s House

October 31st at 6:00 pm

4005 Willison Street, Minneapolis

Holiday Party Invitation Wording

Happy Holidays!

Join Us For a Festive Celebration

At the Green Residence

December 17th at 7 PM

Torrey St, Vaccaville

RSVP to Jane at 237-645-9348

Retirement Party Invitation Wording

He’s (finally) made it official!

Come help us celebrate Steven’s retirement

Saturday, October 5th, at 5pm

At Steven’s new office (his home)

2359 Ferry Way,

Monterrey, CA

We hope to see you there!

Bachelorette Party Invitation Wording

Before she says “I Do”

Let’s have a drink or two

Join us for a bachelorette party honoring

Friday, September 28th at 6 PM

The Olive Martini Bar

342 West 10th Avenue, Los Angeles

Hosted by Janice Gram

RSVP to Janice at 408.244.1430

Engagement Party Invitation Wording

Please join us for an

Engagement party for

Jason and Maddie!

Saturday, October 10th

6:00pm – 9:00pm

The Aoki Residence

324 Herring Way, Dallas

RSVP by September 1st – 555.627.9375

Resources Related to Party Invitation Wording

Always read over party invitation wording to see how it sounds before sending them out. If you are ordering them online, we suggest writing all the information down beforehand to make sure you have everything clear. And if you’re looking for additional related resources before your party, make sure to check out the following guides:

• Holiday Party Invitations
• Important Information To Include On Party Invitations
• Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Invitation Wording
• Dinner Party Invitation Wording

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How to Create a Formal Invitation: Word Choice and Design Inspiration

Whether you’re hosting a birthday party, bridal shower, graduation party, or another celebration for a milestone, words matter. Using the right word choice in an invitation is a great way to set the tone for your event.

Formal invitations show guests what to expect at your event, but they also guide them on what to wear and who’s invited to participate. Using the right words in an invitation imparts an air of elegance and sophistication while setting a high standard for the big day.

So, how do you find the right words to say? Here, we’ll show you exactly how to write a formal invitation. From small details like writing out dates and using formal wording, you’ll discover everything you need to know to craft a beautiful formal invitation that wows your guests.

How to Write a Formal Invitation

Writing a formal invitation is simple once you know what to include and understand a few key concepts. First and foremost, most formal invites have the information completely written out. That means, for these types of invites, you’ll need to ditch the informal abbreviations. Second, formal etiquette involves using proper titles when addressing guests. If you’re inviting someone who is a doctor or in the military, you’ll want to use their correct titles.

Here’s what to include on formal invitations.

Who’s Hosting

One of the key components of a formal invite is the host details. This is particularly important if you’re writing a formal wedding invitation . The host information reflects who’s footing the bill — whether that’s you, your parents, or another family member.

It should be immediately obvious who is hosting the event so put the host details at the top of the invitation. Include the full names of the hosts, including their middle names.

Sometimes, more than one family may be hosting the event. This is particularly common for wedding invitations and graduation parties where divorced parents host a joint celebration. In these cases, list both sets of host names. For formal wedding invites, the names of the bride’s parents should be listed before the groom’s.

In cases where you’re hosting the event with the support of your family, you can precede the host names with the phrase “together with their families.” Here’s an example:

Together with their families

Peter John Smith

Anna Louise Thompson

Invite you to their wedding

To reflect the formality of the event, use phrases like “your presence is requested” and “we request the pleasure of your company” rather than “you’re invited.”

Full Guest Names

Address the invitation  using the full names of all invited guests. Don’t use nicknames or initials and make sure to double-check the spelling for every guest name. For example, if you’re inviting a married couple with the same last name, address the invite to Mr. and Mrs. John Doe. For couples that are not married, write their names on two separate lines making sure to use their full first and last names. For couples that are married but have different last names, put their names on two separate lines using the word “and” to connect them.

If the couple you’re inviting includes two professionals or service members, address them like this: Dr. Julia Smith and Colonel Peter Davis, U.S.N.R. For military members, always make sure to include the agency they work for after their name and title.

Make sure to include all the invitees on the invitation, including all children and plus ones. Formal events typically have a strict guest list so be clear about whether you’re inviting the entire family or just the adults.

Date, time, and location of the event

A proper invite should include all the relevant information for the big day, including the date, time, and location. In contrast to casual invites, you would typically write out this information completely on formal invites. That means you would write the date as “Saturday, the seventeenth of August” rather than “Saturday, August 17th”.

Addresses would also be written out without using abbreviations. Instead of writing 2345 Sunset Dr., you would write 2345 Sunset Drive.

The time of the event should also be spelled out. The time should be followed by phrases such as “in the morning,” “in the afternoon,” or “in the evening.” Use the term morning for events scheduled between midnight and noon, use the term afternoon for events between noon and six p.m., and use the word evening for events between six p.m. and midnight.

Use the word “o’clock” only if the event is on the hour. When the event is scheduled sometime other than on the hour, hyphenate the time. Here are a few examples of proper wording for the time on a formal invite.

• Six o’clock in the evening
• Four-thirty in the afternoon
• Nine forty-five in the morning

Most formal events, including cocktail parties, business events, and weddings, are a time for everyone to get dressed to the nines. If you’re hosting a formal event, you probably have a dress code — after all, you don’t want people showing up in flip flops and a Hawaiian shirt.

Clearly state the desired attire on your formal invitation. State whether the event is a white tie affair — requiring a floor-length dress or full suit — or black tie where guests can wear fancy cocktail dresses or tuxedos. For formal holiday parties, you can ask guests to dress in festive colors.

Most formal invitations include an RSVP card so the hosts know exactly how many guests to prepare for. If you’re sending invitations by mail, you’ll need to include an RSVP card and a pre-addressed and pre-stamped envelope with your return address so guests can return their response card.

The beauty of online invitations  is that you don’t have to organize a bunch of paper cards or deal with the hassle of tracking responses. With digital invitations, you get easy online tracking  for your RSVP  responses and answers to questions about food choices. You don’t have to worry about invitations or responses getting lost in the mail. With Greenvelope, you can see who’s already opened your invitation and who’s responded.

5 Fancy and Formal Invitation Suites

Now that you know the etiquette of formal invitations from wording to what to include, you’re ready to pick out the perfect invite. We’ll show you five stunning ways you can invite guests to your next formal event. If you’d like to see even more invite ideas, check out our full collection of invitations  that offers tons of formal options to choose from.

1. Hydrangeas Invitation

Design: Laura Bolter Design

This elegant invitation  design features delicate hand-lettering and stunning floral blooms to announce a formal event. You can use it to invite guests to a lavish wedding or a formal garden party. The classic typography adds a touch of regal style while the five different accent colors make it easy to match the invitation to your color scheme. The entire suite features coordinating invitations, save the date cards, and thank you cards.

2. Princess Carriage Invitation

Design: Signature Greenvelope

This sweet birthday party invitation  is the perfect way to throw a fancy soiree for the littlest royal in your home. With whimsical elements and crisp, sophisticated text, it’s a great choice for a formal birthday invitation.

3. Open Floral Wreath Invitation

Design: Claudia Owen

This delicate invitation  uses scrawling script and understated illustrations to invite guests to a formal party. The open floral wreath creates a touch of sophistication while framing the important event details. It’s a great choice as a bridal shower invitation, baby shower invitation , or formal dinner party invitation.

4. Ombre Laurels Invitation

Design: Stacey Meacham Design, llc

In this stunning yet simple graduation invitation , watercolor branches gracefully frame modern type to announce a student’s latest accomplishment. It’s a great way to announce a formal graduation party to celebrate hard work and success. Pair it with a graduation announcement  to share the happy news with family near and far.

5. Clean and Elegant Invitation

Design: WonderWed

This contemporary and elegant invitation  features subtle gold foil accents that add an understated air of sophistication. The envelope liner features marbled veiling and the distinctive, delicate script lends to the fancy design. This wedding invitation wording is a perfect example of how to write a formal invitation.

Fashion a Formal Event with Greenvelope

Whether you’re looking for party invitations for a rehearsal dinner, wedding, birthday party, or graduation, we have you covered. Our collection of event invitations makes it easy to find the perfect match for your formal affair.

From sleek graduation invitation  cards and fancy dinner invitations  to elegant monogram designs , Greenvelope offers a wide range of formal invitations. Choose the perfect design for your event and use the tips above to write the perfect formal invitation for any event.

Invitation Letter

Our daily lives are filled with one or another event. These can be weddings, anniversary celebrations, anniversaries, sporting events, birthday parties, and more. We receive invitations to all these events and distribute them when we host them. There are several reasons why you should spend your time writing letters inviting people to parties and events. First and foremost, the most important reason your invitation should be to the point is to set the tone of your event. Exactly! when it comes to the invitation letter, the first impression is really the last impression. Texting guests is rarely appropriate if your event is truly professional.

Formal Invitation Letter – Guidelines and Tips

• A formal invitation letter is written to an honouree so it should contain proper information about the venue, date, etc. of the event.
• Usage of standard phrases (e.g. requesting the pleasure of your company, requesting your gracious attendance) is advised.
• The purpose of invitation should be clear.
• The name of the honoree must be mentioned.
• The event date and time must be written in letters, do not use abbreviations.
• Venue Name and Venue’s Full Address are important.
• RSVP (Reply if you like it) – Add RSVP – This elegant abbreviation is a French phrase Derived from “Répondez, s’il vous Plais”; means “answer me” in English. RSVP is essential for any party where you need to know exactly who is coming so you can organize things according to your convenience.
• The host phone or mobile number or address needs to be mentioned so that the receiver can contact the host in any case.
• Other relevant details should be added.

Informal Invitation Letter – Guidelines and Tips

• It is written in the first person (I/we).
• The sender’s address is written as usual but the receiver’s address is not mentioned.
• The date of writing the invitation is given but there is no need to write the year.
• The salutation is Dear + name.
• The complimentary close is ‘Yours sincerely’.
• Various tenses of the verb are used, unlike the formal invitation.
• The invitation does not ask for a reply as in the formal invitation. However, it is polite to reply to the invitation.
• The vocabulary is less formal.

Format of An Invitation Letter

[Sender’s Name]

(Recipient’s Name)

Dear Sir/Madam,

Body of the letter

Yours Sincerely

[Name of the Sender]

Sample Invitation Letter 1 – Wedding Anniversary Invitation

Recipient Email ID: [email protected]

Subject: 25th Wedding Anniversary Invitation

Dear Salvia,

I have decided to celebrate my parents’ 25th wedding anniversary on January 15, 2022. I made plans for the weekend so that everyone could participate. It’s a surprise, so I’d be happy if you could make it with your family.

We will celebrate their anniversary at our house. It would be a small gathering of close relatives, I am writing to you now because I need your help with planning and organization. It would be great if you could come home a few days early and help me with everything. Please let me know when you can come. Plan accordingly.

I look forward to hearing from you.

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Sample Invitation Letter 2 – Marriage Ceremony Invitation

December 22, 2021

48/97 Golden Flats,

Sathya Nagar 2nd Street,

Mogappair West,

Chennai – 600023

Dear Vinith,

I would like to inform you that my son will be getting married in January 2022. I would love to cordially invite you for the same. The wedding starts at 7:00 am. Reception is from 12:00noon the same day. We would be pleased to have you with us.

We would appreciate it if you could contact me at least a day or two in advance. Please notify us of your arrival as early as possible so that we can arrange transportation and accommodation for you and your family.

We look forward to hearing from you.

NAVEEN KUMAR

Sample Invitation Letter 3 – Invitation to be the Chief Guest

The Vice Principal

Karpagam College of Arts and Science

Sundarapuram

Coimbatore – 641054

Dr Shankar Devan

21/56, E C Layout

East Tambaram

Chennai – 600089

Subject: Formal Invitation to be the Chief Guest for the Graduation Ceremony

We are pleased to invite you to be the Chief Guest for the Graduation Ceremony that is to be held on the 24th of January, 2022 at Karpagam College of Arts and Science. We would be honoured to have you present our students with their degree certificates. It would be a great chance for the students also to interact with you about the different career opportunities they have. We genuinely hope that you would accept our invitation. It would be highly appreciated if you could reply to us by the 13th of January, 2022, so that we can make the necessary arrangements for your travel and accommodation.Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanking you in anticipation.

Yours sincerely,

ILAMARAN VISWA

FAQs on Invitation Letter

Q1. How to write an Invitation letter?

Answer. Invitations can be formal or informal and can follow formal or informal letter format, depending on the nature of the invitation. Regardless of the type of invitation, there are some details that should not be overlooked. The address of the recipient, the subject (for formal invitations), and the date and location of the event are some of the details that absolutely must be mentioned.

Q2.What is a formal invitation?

Answer. A formal invitation is a formal letter addressed to a dignitary or prominent official inviting them to attend a particular event. This letter needs to be a well-formatted and formally written letter with proper information about the venue, date, time, etc. so that the chief guest can schedule accordingly.

Q3. Who can I send informal invitations to?

Answer. Informal invitations can be sent to relatives, friends and close acquaintances. The language used can be much more casual than the formal invitation. This letter need not use formal words and phrases and can have casually used words.

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How to Write an Invitation Letter and Free Templates

An invitation letter can come in many formats and instances, and it is one of the many letter formats that we should be familiar with. At some point in your life or career, you’re going to need to send an invitation letter.

In this article, we’re going to discuss everything associated with an invitation letter, and round it off with some samples to serve as pointers to help you write your invitation letters. 

Without further ado, let’s start by answering the question right off the bat, what is an invitation letter?

What is an Invitation Letter?

As the name depicts, an invitation letter is a letter written to invite you to a particular event. An invitation letter can come in various forms for various events ranging from ceremonies, job events, visa invitations, exhibitions, etc. The list of events that require an invitation letter is inexhaustible. 

An invitation letter is essential for a myriad of purposes. Some of these include ensuring you have the right amount of guests in your event (guests who RSVP your invitation letter), making sure information doesn’t fall through the cracks and the invitees know they’re expected to accept or decline your invitation. 

How to Decline an Invitation for Different Events or Occasions by Email

Key Points to take note of When Writing an Invitation Letter

Before proceeding to write your invitation letters, there are some key points you must ensure you take note of, they are:

• Who ? This answers the question of who the invitation letter is addressed to.  
• Why ? This answers the question of why the invitation letter is written, and what the invitee is to expect.
• Where ? Is the invitation for a virtual event? Is it restricted to a particular location? All of these are questions that should be answered in this section of the invitation letter.
• When? This answers the question of time. Is the event slated for a particular time, are there any special information in regards to the time? All of this information should be provided in this section of the article. 
• The action they must take. With every invitation, there should be a necessary action for the invitee to take. For example, is the recipient supposed to RSVP, should they relate their response? Including this information in the email makes it easier for the recipient to know the best way to respond. 

How to Write Your Invitation Letter

Like all letter types , invitation letters also have a structure they must follow to ensure the message is passed across effectively. In this section of this article, we’re going to discuss everything you need to know when writing your invitation letter. 

An effective subject line : When it comes to writing an effective letter, the subject line is easily the most important part. This determines whether the recipient will give your letter the attention it deserves. So, when writing the subject line of your invitation letter, be sure to include the reason for the letter right there in the subject. 

An opening: There’s no straight rule when it comes to writing the opening of your invitation letter. The opening of your letter can take various forms, all of them depending on your relationship with the recipient. If you’re familiar with the recipient, you can decide to take an informal tone. But if you’re not familiar with the recipient, it is advised you don’t include any informality in your letter. 

Reason for the invitation: This is the most important part of your letter and as such, it should be given the most attention. This doesn’t mean stretching it out longer than it has to be, no. The reason for an invitation can be as short as two sentences long. 

If there are specific things you’d like the recipient to know about or points you want them to research, this is the section where you list out these points to ensure you play your part in ensuring they’re prepared. 

Details: When writing an invitation letter, it is important to ensure nothing is lost in the cracks. In this section of the letter, you make sure you include all the necessary information concerning venue, time, duration, etc. 

When sending invitations, make sure to include multiple dates at different times. This shows the recipient that you value their time and are open to a meeting whenever is most convenient for them. 

Also, note that this is not the case for all invitations letters as some events have specified times. 

Necessary action: As said earlier in this article, the necessary action refers to the action the invitee must take to confirm their attendance and receipt. For events, it can be sent requesting an RSVP, for online meetings it can be something as simple as ticking “yes”. 

The necessary action that must be taken depends on the kind of event they’re being invited for. If you’re unsure how to proceed with this, a simple, “Acknowledge receipt” or “looking forward to your reply” is enough to do the trick. 

Closing: Following up on the last point, using closing remarks that encourages the recipient to respond to the invitation letter also doubles as a great way to close your invitation letter. When closing the letter, also remember to include your closing signature. 

Sample RSVP E-mail Responses for Accepting or Declining Invitations

Invitation Letter Sample and Templates

In this section of this article, we’re going to offer some samples that would serve as guides when you’re writing your invitation letters. 

Invitation Letter Template One

Invitation letter template two, invitation letter sample one, invitation letter sample two.

We have discussed everything that goes into writing an invitation letter. To make sure you don’t leave out any important bit, it is advised you jot down your thoughts on your notepad before actually writing the letter. We’ve also included some samples to give you a head start when you need to write your invitation letter. 

About The Author

Jim Blessed

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86 Example Invitation Letters, Guides and Samples

Regardless of the situation, always write invitation letters that impress, choose a topic to view example invitation letters:, more invitation letters, accept an invitation, announce or cancel an invitation, confirm or decline an invitation, recommended invitation letter articles.

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• Invitation Letter

Invitation Letter - Explore How to Write and Invitation Samples

Our everyday lives are filled with one event or the other. It can be a marriage, an anniversary function, an annual day, a sports event, a birthday party, etc. We receive invitations for all these events and hand out invitations when we are hosting the event. In order to know how to write an invitation letter, go through the topics given below.

Formal Invitation Letter

Informal invitation letter, invitation letter for event – formal invitation letter for graduation ceremony, informal invitation letter for a wedding, invitation mail for parents’ 25 th wedding anniversary celebration.

• FAQs on Invitation Letter Format

Points to Remember when Writing an Invitation Letter

An invitation letter can be written in the format of a formal letter or an informal letter according to the relationship you have with the person or group of people you are writing to. Invitation letters will help the host have an account of the number of people who would be able to attend the event and the people whom the host should expect at the event so that they could make the necessary arrangements. When writing an invitation letter, be sure to mention the date on which the event will be held and the location where the event will take place. Most importantly, ensure that you send out the invitation letters well in advance so that the people who are invited can clear their schedules and make arrangements to come for the event.

A formal invitation letter follows the general format of a formal letter. The letter should mention all the necessary details about the event in the letter. You have to keep it formal and professional when you write a formal invitation letter. Also, remember to keep it clear and precise.

An informal invitation letter is written in the format of an informal letter. The letter should state the date and venue of the event. You can have a more positive and relaxed tone when writing an informal invitation letter. Make sure you proofread before you send it to the respective guests.

Invitation Letter Samples

Here are some sample invitation letters for your reference.

Check out the article on Letter Writing for more sample letters.

The Vice Principal

Karpagam College of Arts and Science

Sundarapuram

Coimbatore – 641054

Dr. Shankar Devan

21/56, E C Layout

East Tambaram

Chennai – 600089

Subject: Formal Invitation to be the Chief Guest for the Graduation Ceremony

We are pleased to invite you to be the Chief Guest for the Graduation Ceremony that is to be held on the 24 th of January, 2022 at Karpagam College of Arts and Science. We would be honoured to have you present our students with their degree certificates. It would be a great chance for the students also to interact with you about the different career opportunities they have.

We genuinely hope that you would accept our invitation. It would be highly appreciated if you could reply to us by the 13 th of January, 2022, so that we can make the necessary arrangements for your travel and accommodation.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

ILAMARAN VISWA

22 nd December, 2021

48/97, Golden Flats

Sathya Nagar 2 nd Street

Mogappair West

Chennai – 600023

Dear Vinith,

This is to inform you that my son is getting married on the 10 th of January, 2022, at NMR Conventional Centre, Bangalore. The wedding ceremony will begin at 7 a.m. The reception will be held on the same day from 12 p.m. onwards.

We wish and hope that you will be able to make it one or two days in advance. Kindly let us know as soon as possible when you will be reaching so that we could arrange transportation and accommodation facilities for you and your family.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Kind regards,

NAVEEN KUMAR

Recipient’s mail id: [email protected]

Subject: Invitation for 25 th Wedding Anniversary

Dear Salvia,

We have decided to celebrate our parents’ 25 th wedding anniversary on the 15 th of January, 2022. We have planned it for the weekend so that everyone would be able to make it. It is planned as a surprise, so it will be great if you and your family are able to make it.

The anniversary celebration will be held at our house. I am writing to you now because I need your help with the planning and arrangements. It would be really helpful if you could come home a few days earlier to help me with everything. Let me know when you will be able to come so I can plan accordingly.

Waiting for your response.

Frequently Asked Questions on Invitation Letter Format

How do you write an invitation letter.

An invitation letter can be formal or informal, and according to the type of invitation, the letter can follow the format of a formal or informal letter. Whatever be the type of invitation letter you are writing, there are some details that you should not miss out. The receiver’s address, the subject (in the case of a formal invitation letter), the date and venue of the event are some of the details that you have to take care to mention.

What is an official invitation letter?

An official invitation letter is a formal letter that is written to higher authorities or distinguished officials to invite them to attend a particular event.

For whom can I send an informal invitation letter?

An informal invitation letter can be sent out to relatives, friends or any close acquaintances. The language used can be much more casual than a formal invitation letter.

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Nov 30, 2022

How to write an invitation email — 7 examples and a template

In this guide on how to write invitation emails, we break down the writing process into simple steps

Lawrie Jones

Table of contents

You’re invited to read the best invitation email guide online. RSVP if you’re interested in learning more.

In this guide on how to write invitation emails, we break down the writing process into simple steps.

Then, we provide 8 invitation email examples for information and inspiration. By the end, you’ll understand the building blocks to write the best invitation emails.

How to write an invitation email

Email marketers, event organizers, and interviewers all know that invitation emails are hard to write.

Get it right, and you’ll have a room full of happy faces. Get it wrong, and you could find yourself all alone.

We’ve written a lot about formal writing at Flowrite, but invitation emails are a chance to get creative and write compelling messages that demand a reply. It’s the best way to secure a slot in the calendar.

So, ready to get started?

What are invitation emails (and why do they matter?)

Invitation emails are, as you’d expect, used to encourage someone to do something. It could be an invite to an interview, an event, a meeting, a webinar, or a sales presentation.

In each case, the purpose of the message is to inspire action – generating attendees for your event, candidates for your interview, or meat in your meeting.

These aren’t sales emails (we’ve written about those before) but messages to someone you know (or who will know you). As such, you don’t have to go too hard on the sales and push the promo, but be clear about what you’re inviting the person to and why. 

The bottom line is to ensure every message has value to the person receiving it. 

Before we illustrate this with examples, let’s email the ideal invitation email format. 

Invitation email format

Invite emails are easy to write (if you follow this format). First, a strong, simple subject line spells out what you want.

That’s followed by a body copy that offers value and contains all the details people need (such as date, time, and location). Finally, you finish with more information on how people can sign-up and a positive sign-off. 

Let’s show you how that works… 

1. Invitation email subject line

Your subject line should get straight to the point. You’ll want to grab the reader’s attention and explain to them what the message is about (and why they should care). In the case of interviews or meetings with colleagues, the process is pretty straightforward:

• Interview Invitation – 25 Jan @ 9:00 am 
• Meeting Request – 2023 Strategy & Planning – 25 Jan @ 9:00 am 

Simple, clear, and straight to the point! That works for this type of invitation, where people will know who you are and what you’re asking. It gets a little more complicated when writing emails to people you don’t know (what marketers call cold emails ).

Crafting cold emails is a big challenge, with millions of words written about how to optimize them. But it boils down to finding words that grab someone’s attention and gets them to click.

Here are a couple of examples:

• Do you want priority access to our latest event? Open your invitation here!
• We’re looking for a legend. Could you be our latest guest speaker?
• Want to play a part in our industry-leading podcast?

These examples (and millions more you can find online) attempt to hook you in with a tasty proposition.

2. Invitation email body

All email invitation body copy works similarly, with the same structure. It goes a little something like this:

• Intro to you/your business
• Explanation of why you’re emailing
• Details of the invite
• Dates, times, and attendance info

Following this format will ensure you have all the essential details in your invitation email. You don’t need to be boring; you can get creative if you want – but always include everything from the list above.

You can see how we do this below in the 8 invitation email samples.

3. How to end an invitation email

You’re inviting someone to something, right? So you’ll want them to confirm their attendance. So spell it out in a clear CTA. Something like this can work well:

• Please confirm that you can attend. You can email me at (insert address) or call me at (insert number). 

If you’re inviting someone for an interview, this will be enough. However, for an event, you may want to add an incentive or put a time limit on it.

• Sign-up today, and you’ll receive a 25% discount!
• Places are strictly limited, so sign-up today (or prepare to be disappointed).

You’ll also need to include contact details or links to an online form where people can sign-up for the event. Don’t forget to add your name, job title, and company information.

7 invitation email examples

OK, we’ve come to the part where we stop telling and start showing!

Here are 8 invitation email examples that cover some of the situations you might need to write one. We’ve got a simple invitation example, an interview email, and an invitation to an online video call, among others.

If you want to use these examples, you can cut and paste them, but always change them to suit your circumstances. 

1. Simple invitation email sample

Let’s start with a simple invitation sample. This covers the basics and is a standard and (if we’re honest) quite dry approach.

Of course, if you want, you can liven this up – but even if you use it as-is, it will get the job done.

2. Reply to the interview invitation email sample

In this reply to the interview invitation sample, we provide a ready-made template to agree to the interview time and date. Good luck!

3. Event invitation email sample

When writing an event invitation email, you’ll need to be more creative and create a compelling case for someone to attend. You should explain what your event is about and its relevance.

You should provide details of why the person should attend and, as outlined earlier, offer an incentive or introduce some peril. 

4. Meeting invitation email sample

If you’re employed anywhere, you’ll probably spend most of your life in and out of meetings (and probably get hundreds of meeting requests a year).

This meeting email invite is more than a simple placeholder; it provides information on the meeting and why someone would want to attend. Your recipients will thank you for this level of detail.

5. Zoom invitation email sample

This Zoom meeting invite is similar to the meeting request above but includes login information and tips to get the best out of a Zoom meeting.

How many Zoom meetings have you been to that don’t start on time because someone’s camera isn’t working or the sound isn’t on? Exactly. Tell people about the behaviors you want to see (and be sure to embody them!).

• Bullet points are great!

6. Webinar invitation email sample

Webinars are an effective way to showcase your products or services, share insights, and build an audience.

Like the event template above, you must provide reasons for someone to give up their time and attend – which we do here.

You’ll need to try and find what will motivate your audience to engage with you.

7. Guest speaker invitation email sample

Guest speakers are a great addition to your event, but how do you hook one in?

By using our guest email invite template! Anyone brave enough to stand up in front of a crowd will have an ego, so providing a few compliments alongside the context of your event is a good thing.

Set out what you want them to do and when you want an answer.

Proven invitation email template

OK, so we can’t guarantee this initiation template will work, but it follows all our rules and recommendations, so it’s about as close as you can. So fill in the gaps, and focus on providing the details, and you’ll get the results you want from every message.

Invitation email template with Flowrite

If you're still struggling to find the right words for interview invitation emails, then sign up for Flowrite – it transforms sequences of words into clear, consistent, and compelling emails, like this:

Here's another example of how Flowrite could write your event invitation email fos you:

Final words

We started by saying that writing invitation emails isn’t easy, but if you follow our advice, it is.

The crucial thing is to follow the format and ensure that you include everything – including dates, times, and essential details. Focus on cracking the structure, use the tips outlined above, and never try to be funny!

Master that, and your invitation emails will ensure you’ve got people queuing around the block for a bit of the action.

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Try it yourself

Interview invitation

Reply to: "

Dear Hiring Manager, ‍ Reading your job posting on LinkedIn for a Content Marketing Manager piqued my interest. Your description of the work responsibilities closely match my experience, so I am excited to submit my application for your consideration. ‍ In my current position as an Content Lead for BookSum, I write articles for the company website, manage the editing and posting of articles of our guest post program, manage the social media presence of the company, and write and sent out a weekly newsletter. Within six months I've grown the subscriber base of the newsletter by 40%. ‍ My resume is attached. If I can provide you with any further information on my background and qualifications, please let me know. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Jess Smith

Received message

interview next tue at 4 pm PST via Zoom?

Generate a reply

Generate an outreach

Event invitation

our online summit on personal productivity at work on dec 9 10 am GMT featuring adam grant and speakers from calendly and notion read more on flowrite.com/summit rsvp by answering to this email

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What to Write on Your Wedding Invitations, Line by Line

• Naoimh writes articles for The Knot Worldwide, specializing in shoppable roundups from gift guides to wedding fashion
• Before working on editorial content, Naoimh wrote storefront descriptions for some of The Knot Worldwide's many wedding vendors
• Naoimh studied creative writing at the National University of Ireland, Galway

You picked your color scheme, artsy details and font, now comes your wedding invitation wording. And, good news: It's not nearly as hard to decide what to write on wedding invitations as it is to pick a design. But just to ensure you're headed in the right direction, we're sharing wedding invitation wording etiquette (with wedding invitation examples), below.

First and foremost, the text on your wedding invitations should be informative. It should spell out all the important details of your big day like who's getting married, who's hosting and where and when the ceremony and reception will take place. ( Psst , everything else—like your registry and travel info— goes on your wedding website .) Your invites can also offer a sneak peek of your wedding aesthetic and style as a couple. For instance, if you're planning a black-tie affair, formal verbiage would be most appropriate. However, don't be afraid to go with casual or unique wedding invitation wording if that suits your relationship and nuptial plans better.

Ultimately, it's up to you to do what you want with your invitations. (Read more about stationery traditions you can leave behind to see what we mean.) That's why we've included both informal and formal wedding invitation wording samples below that fit all types of celebrations. Plus, read up on the biggest wedding invitation wording FAQs so you can nail every line.

In this article:

What to Put on Your Wedding Invitations

Wedding invitation wording examples, wedding invitation wording etiquette, wedding invitation wording faq.

So what should wedding invitations say, exactly? Of course, you'll want to include the who, what, where and when, but how and in what order? There's a lot to consider when deciding on a wedding invitation format. To make things as easy as possible for you, we've broken it down into a few simple steps.

The host line. The opening line on a wedding invitation is typically reserved for the hosts of the event. If multiple parties are hosting, it's only necessary to include names if you want formal invitations. If you're hosting the wedding yourselves, this line can be omitted.

The request to attend. An explicit request to attend lets guests know exactly what they're being invited to (cue the squeals of excitement). There are many different ways to word this request depending on the level of formality required. See our examples below for inspiration.

The couple's names. Next comes the most important information of all: the names of the couple. These are usually printed in a larger font than the rest of the wedding invitation text. Feel free to play around with fancy typefaces here, too.

The date and time. When stating the wedding date and time, there are two things to keep in mind: formality and clarity. Traditional wedding invitation wording requires the date and time format to be spelled out in full, while figures are often used on modern invites. If you're using figures, make sure the font you choose is clearly legible—a "2" that's easily mistaken for a "5" could cause a lot of confusion.

The venue location. Be as specific as possible when writing the name and full street address of your wedding venue, including the state and zip code. If your wedding is taking place abroad, include the country as well. It's important that guests know exactly where they are expected to be so they can organize travel and nearby accommodations if necessary. Plus, you don't want anyone lost and, thus, late to the ceremony.

The reception details. Finally, you need to let guests know whether or not the reception is taking place at the same location as the ceremony. If that's the case, you can simply state, "Reception to follow." If it's in a different location, you can include that information on your invites or on a separate details card.

The dress code. Including dress code information isn't compulsory, but it can be very helpful for guests. You can state the dress code in the lower corner or centered at the bottom of the invite. Alternatively, use a details card or your wedding website.

So you've picked your stationery design (if you haven't, be sure to check out The Knot Invitations for hundreds of stunning and affordable options)—next comes figuring out how to write a wedding invitation. Here are a few basic tips before we get into wedding invite examples: If one person's parents are hosting, it's customary to leave off that person's last name. However, if the person getting married has a different last name from their parents, write their full name. The person's last name should also be included if their partner's parents are involved in hosting.

Formal Wedding Invitation Wording Samples

The biggest difference between formal wording on wedding invitations and informal or casual wording is that you have to spell everything out. Specifically, the date and time should be written as words, not numbers. Additionally, remember that you should use the full name of the hosts and include the middle names of the individuals getting married.

Wording when parents are hosting

One set of parents:

Mr. and Mrs. John L. Smith

request the pleasure of your company

at the marriage of their son

Jack Alexander

Mason Jacob Kim

Saturday, the seventeenth of August

two thousand twenty-four

at half after four

Both sets of parents:

Kenzie M. Smith and Jennifer L. Smith

Mark Franklin and Mary Elizabeth Reyes

request the honor of your presence

at the marriage of their children

Olivia Rose

John Michael

at half after four in the afternoon

Wording if the couple is hosting

The honor of your presence

is requested at the marriage of

Jack Alexander Smith

to Mason Jacob Kim

Together with their families wording

Olivia Rose Smith

John Michael Reyes

together with their parents

and Mark Franklin and Mary Elizabeth Reyes

at their wedding

Casual Wedding Invitation Wording Samples

Whether you're having a small, laid-back wedding or your style is just short and sweet, informal wedding invitation wording is an appropriate choice. The request to attend can feel more casual and conversational and numbers should be used to convey the date and time.

John and Eliza Smith

invite you to share in their joy at the marriage of their son

Saturday, August 17, 2024

at 4:30 in the afternoon

Kenzie and Jennifer Smith

along with Mark and Sally Reyes

invite you to share and celebrate the marriage of their children

and John Michael

Jack Alexander Smith &

invite you to share in their joy at their wedding

invite you to their wedding

Before you really get after it, consider these important etiquette tips about the language of your wedding invitations. You'll find that while the invite is the star of your paper suite, insert cards can be really useful to your guests.

Be concise. It's important that your guests have all the necessary information to attend your wedding, but overloading your invites with text can actually result in them missing something important. Not to mention, it takes away from the gorgeous design you picked out. Clarity is key, so just give the essential details and leave the rest for your insert cards or wedding website.

Consider who's hosting. Traditionally, wedding invitation wording included the name of the person hosting (i.e. paying for) the wedding. Nowadays, this isn't always the parent(s) of a bride. You could be funding the wedding yourselves as a couple or have the help of both of your parents or loved ones. As such, it's respectful to list anyone contributing to your big day on your invites, either by name or in the form of a short line, such as, "Together with their families."

Reflect your wedding's formality. How you word your wedding invitations is an indication of the overall formality of the occasion. If you want guests to wear black-tie attire, opt for traditional wording. Conversely, if you'd prefer to keep it casual on your wedding day, feel free to explore modern and playful wording examples. Choosing the appropriate type of wording is especially important if you don't plan to explicitly state the dress code on invites.

Include an insert card. There are certain pieces of information that don't belong in a wedding invitation suite—most notably, your registry details. Instead, provide guests with a link to your wedding website on a separate insert card. ( Psst , The Knot has matching wedding websites and invitations for a cohesive design experience.) You can also use an insert card for anything that doesn't fit on your wedding invites, such as dress code advice or details of a backup venue in case of bad weather.

Still have some questions about how to write your wedding invitations? We address the most common wording questions below, including the protocol for whose name goes first and the proper language to use for dress code details.

Whose name goes first on wedding invitations?

If you're following traditional etiquette, the bride's name always goes first on wedding invitations. That said, it's really up to you to decide whether or not this tradition is something you want to follow. For couples that don't identify as a bride and groom, or if there are two brides, names are typically listed in alphabetical order. But again, it's your choice if you want to embrace tradition or forge your own unique path.

How do you word a reception-only wedding invitation?

It's important to use the proper wedding invitation wording when requesting guests' attendance at a reception-only celebration. Make some small tweaks to the wedding invitation copy, such as replacing "request the honor of your presence at the wedding of" with "request the honor of your presence to celebrate the wedding of." If you've already held the ceremony, the invites can double as wedding announcements. Feel free to add a line at the top stating that you've tied the knot, followed by a request to attend the reception.

How should you write the dress code on a wedding invitation?

Stuck on wedding invitation verbiage etiquette for requesting a specific dress code? As we mentioned earlier, this should be stated at the bottom of your invitations, on a separate insert card or dress code can be put on your wedding website . There are a few different ways to phrase this information. Try using one of these simple wedding invitation wording ideas if you're looking for something concise to add to your invitation:

Black tie optional.

Cocktail attire.

Dress casual.

Can you list multiple venues on your wedding invitation?

Whether you're holding additional events (think: an after-party) or the ceremony and reception are in separate locations, sometimes it's necessary to include more than one address on your wedding stationery. If the event is taking place on the same day as the ceremony and there's space for more copy on your wedding invitations, feel free to add the details beneath the reception information. If the event is taking place the following day or throughout a wedding weekend, like a welcome party or farewell brunch, the easiest way to inform your guests without overloading your invites is by including a separate details card outlining the timeline of events.

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How to write invitations

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Do you have an engagement, wedding, baby shower, or graduation coming up? Is there a performance, school event, or meeting to which you want to invite people? Any special religious ceremonies like Communion or a Bar Mitzvah? Do you want to invite someone to speak at your meeting or conference? Whatever your event is, the following will help you write an effective invitation.

Guidelines for writing invitations:

• State the occasion, date, time, and place. Include addresses and a map if necessary. Mention if refreshments will be served. List any charges that may apply. Include a telephone number for RSVPs. If there is a dress code, state the preferred dress in the lower left-hand corner of the card.
• If you need a response, include a self-addressed, stamped reply card or envelope with your invitation.
• Express that you are looking forward to seeing the person.
• Do not use abbreviations and do not use contractions (don’t; we’ll) except for name titles, such as Mr., Mrs., etc.
• If dinner will be served, state two separate times: the time people can start arriving and the time dinner will be served.
• If you do not want gifts, briefly state that gifts are not wanted or needed. Explain that their presence is the only gift you need.
• Make sure you send your invitations out with ample advance notice.
• If you have guests coming from out of town or from other countries, you may want to send out your invitation several months in advance (especially if your event takes place around a holiday.) This will allow your guests adequate time to make preparations, reservations, save money, etc.
• For smaller, less formal events that include local guests or guests from nearby areas, you may only need to provide a few weeks’ notice.
• Name of the conference and the sponsoring organization;
• Date, time, place of the conference and speech;
• Type of audience;
• The type of speech, topic, and how long the speech should be;
• Any accommodations that will be made, including lodging, meals, and transportation;
• The name of the contact person along with phone numbers and addresses where the person can be contacted; and
• Finally, articulate your pleasure of having the person speak at the meeting or conference.

Helpful words you can use: Click on each word to get definitions and examples from WordNet 1.7 Vocabulary Helper.

Format for writing invitations:

Formal Invitation

Business Invitation

Personal Invitation

Sourced by Janel Muyesseroglu

202-448-7036

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Your (Stress-Free!) Guide to Wedding Invitation Wording

Wedding invitation wording doesn’t have to be complicated. With these line-by-line instructions (and examples), you’ll have your invites done in no time.

Chick Invitations

When it comes to your wedding invitations, the decision-making doesn’t stop at choosing your design and paper colors . In fact, the biggest impression you’ll make with your invites might not be how they look at all, but what they say! That’s because, traditionally, wedding invitation wording reveals who was involved with paying for your wedding (or, in more delicate language, who is “hosting” it). If your wedding was a group effort and/or you’re a non-traditionalist who doesn’t feel like playing into these types of “wedding rules,” that’s totally ok! Feel free to word your invite however you like.

If you’d like to follow more traditional wedding invitation wording, here’s how to work though every single line. 

1. name the hosts..

To begin your wedding invitation wording, you’ll want to introduce the hosts of the event (aka the people who are paying). This lets all of your guests know—elegantly and subtly—who to thank when they’re celebrating. If your or your partner’s parents are paying for the wedding, this is a great way to extend thanks for covering the cost of your big day . And if you and your partner are paying for the wedding yourselves , you should highlight it as such. Here are a few examples of how to word the host line of your wedding invitations:

• If one partner’s parents are paying, formal: Mr. and Mrs. Brad Jones 
• If both sets of parents are paying, formal: Mr. and Mrs. Brad Jones and Mr. and Mrs. Barry Smith 
• If both sets of parents are paying, casual: John and Elise Smith and Barry and Lisa Jones
• If one partner’s parents are paying, casual: Barry and Lisa Jones
• If parents are divorced, include both names on separate lines, not connected with the word “and”. Stepparents may be listed on the same line as the parent to whom they are married (see below for examples). 
• If couple sharing the cost and hosting duties with parents: Together with their families or Together with their parents
• If couple is paying: Simply start with a request like “please join us” (see step 2) or with the couples’ names (see step 4). You might also begin on a celebratory note, with the words “with great joy”.
• If a parent is deceased and you’d like to include him or her on the invitation, you’ll want to rearrange the wording a bit. In the part of the wedding invitation where the couples’ names are stated, you can include “son of” or “daughter of” and add their parents’ names, including “the late” in front of the deceased parent’s name (see below for examples).

2. Make a request—as formally or as casually as you’d like.

Now it’s time to actually do the inviting! Here, you’re asking your guests to come to your event. There are a few ways to do this, whether you’re sending out a formal wedding invitation or something more casual. 

• For a religious service: “request the honor of your presence” 
• For a formal wedding: “request the pleasure of your company”, “joyfully request the pleasure of your company”, or “request your presence” 
• For a casual wedding: “joyfully invite you”, “cordially invite you”, “invite you to celebrate”, or “invite you to share in their joy”

3. Say it’s a wedding.

The next line of traditional wedding invitation wording states the obvious: Your guests are being invited to a wedding. Here are some examples:

• If both sets of parents are hosting: “at/to the wedding (or marriage) of their children”
• If one set of parents is hosting: “at/to the wedding (or marriage) of their son/daughter”
• If couple is hosting: “to celebrate the marriage of” or simply, “to the wedding of".

Lo and Behold Photography

4. State the guests of honors’ names.

Okay, so whose wedding is this? Based on the formality of your wedding, you can decide how you want to feature your and your partner’s names. The only rule? Keep it consistent. You can’t include a middle name for one partner, and not the other. In terms of the order, for different-sex couples, write the bride’s name first. For same-sex couples, names may be listed alphabetically or really, arranged in any way you’d prefer. 

5. Include date and time information.

Now that you’ve clarified who’s hosting, what’s going on, and who the guests of honor will be, it’s time to spell out the important details: When is the event? Remember, that you’re referring specifically to your ceremony here—we’ll talk about the reception later on. 

First you’ll want to share the date, and there are a few ways you can do this, depending on the formality. For a more formal wedding invitation, the date should be fully written out: Saturday, the first of June, two thousand nineteen. For a more informal wedding, you can write the date numerically: Saturday, June 1st, 2021. Some informal invitation designs allow the date to be written out completely numerically—6-1-21—but only write it out this way if your invitation design permits.

In terms of stating the time of your event, you have a lot of options in terms of wedding invitation wording. Here are a few examples:

• If your wedding takes place on the hour, the time can be listed more formally as “six o’clock” or “six o’clock in the afternoon”, or more casually as “6:00 p.m.”
• If your wedding takes place on the half hour, you can write it out formally as “half past six o’clock” or “six-thirty in the evening” (if your wedding takes place before 5 p.m., you would say “in the afternoon” and before noon, “in the morning”, or casually as “6:30 p.m.”

6. Share the venue. 

The next step of how to word wedding invitations is to name your venue and provide location information. After stating the date and time, write out the name of your venue on one line, followed by the city and state on the next. You don’t have to write out the full address for your venue, unless you are getting married at a private home. If you do choose to list the address, you can choose whether or not to write out the state or use the abbreviation (California vs. CA), but don’t include the zip code. A few examples: 

Breaux Vineyards Purcellville, Virginia

The Smith Residence 325 Wide Oak Lane Longville, Tennessee

7. Add additional reception information, if necessary. 

So, everything you just wrote referred to your ceremony. If your reception will take place immediately after your ceremony and at the same location, you can simply write “reception to follow,” “festivities to follow” or “dinner and dancing to follow” (or something even more creative!) at the bottom of your invitation. If your reception will take place at a different time or at a different location, you’ll probably want to include an additional printed card that spells out that information. 

8. Attire instructions are optional. 

If you’d like to provide your guests with a dress code , you can do so at the bottom of the invitation (traditionally, the lower right hand corner, but it depends on your invitation design). Most invitations these days do not include a dress code—it’s really only necessary if you’re hosting a formal or black tie wedding. 

Sarah Bradshaw Photography

Wedding invitation wording examples

Wedding invitation wording if both sets of parents are paying (formal):

Mr. and Mrs. Randall Apple and Dr. and Mrs. Charles Pear request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their children Blake Riley and Avery Emerson Saturday, the fourth of December, two thousand twenty-one at five o’clock in the evening Oheka Castle Huntington, New York Reception to follow

Wedding invitation wording if both sets of parents are paying (informal):

Randall and Tina Apple and Charles and Melissa Pear  joyfully invite you to the wedding of Blake  and  Avery Saturday, December 4th, 2021 at 4:30 p.m. West Light Farm High Springs, FL Festivities to follow 

Wedding invitation wording if one set of parents are paying (formal):

Mr. and Mrs. Randall Apple  request the honor of your presence  at the marriage of their daughter Blake Riley to Avery Emerson son of Dr. and Mrs. Charles Pear Saturday, the fourth of December, two thousand twenty-one at five o’clock in the evening The Westin Denver Downtown Denver, Colorado Reception to follow

Wedding invitation wording if the couple and parents are paying together (casual):

Together with their families Blake Riley Apple and Avery Emerson Pear joyfully invite you to their wedding Saturday, December 4th, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. Corner Loft Traverse City, MI Celebration to follow 

Wedding invitation wording if the couple is paying themselves:

Blake Riley Apple and Avery Emerson Pear cordially invite you to their wedding Saturday, December 4th, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. Greenpoint Loft Brooklyn, NY Reception to follow

Wedding invitation wording if one set of parents is divorced:

Mr. and Mrs. Randall Apple and Ms. Melissa Johnson Dr. Charles Pear request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their children Blake Riley and Avery Emerson Saturday, the fourth of December, two thousand twenty-one at five o’clock in the evening Amarillo Botanical Gardens Amarillo, Texas Reception to follow 

Wedding invitation wording if stepparents are included:

Julie and Randall Apple Lisa and Barry Taylor Melissa and Charles Pear joyfully invite you to the wedding of their children Blake  and  Avery Saturday, December 4th, 2021 at 4:30 p.m. The Barn at Stoney Hills Cushing, MN Festivities to follow 

Wedding invitation wording if there is a deceased parent:

Blake Riley Apple son of Randall Apple and the late Julie Apple and Avery Emerson Pear son of Dr. and Mrs. Charles Pear joyfully request the pleasure of your company at their wedding Saturday, the fourth of December, two thousand twenty-one at five o’clock in the evening The Clayton on the Park Scottsdale, Arizona Reception to follow

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wedding invitation wording & etiquette

• WHAT TO INCLUDE
• WORDING EXAMPLES
• COMPLETE YOUR SUITE
• ETIQUETTE FAQs

• Monogram This element symbolizes the union and uses the initials of the couples’ first names.
• Hostline Whoever is hosting the celebration is mentioned first.
• Couples’ Names The bride’s typically comes before the groom’s.
• The Details Spelling out the date in words helps to avoid confusion.
• Reception Set the tone for after the ceremony.

Crafting your wedding invitation wording can be a little tricky due to the etiquette rules to navigate and maybe a couple of sticky situations to figure out. But in a nutshell, the wording should reflect the overall vibe of your wedding day. We’ve compiled several wedding invitation wording examples, tips and etiquette to help and inspire you.

what to include

If the couples are either paying for the wedding themselves (in this case, you can omit the host line entirely) or receiving financial contributions from parents on both sides—in this case, you can list all parents’ names or opt for something simpler like, “Together with their parents” or “Together with their families.”

Tip : It is important to word the host line so that it feels comfortable to you and your spouse-to-be as a couple. Here are a few rules to help you figure out the best host-line wording for your family dynamics:

• The word “and” in between two names traditionally implies that those people are married.
• Hosts who are not married should be on separate lines.
• If the parents are divorced and you want to include both as hosts, keep each parent on a separate line.
• If you’re going to include the name of stepparent, keep it on the same line.
• Names should not be listed in order of who paid more.
• If you want to include the name of a deceased parent, you’ll need to rearrange things a bit, as someone who has passed can’t actually serve as a host. A common way to honor a deceased parent is alongside one of the couple’s names as “Lauren Martinez, daughter of Marta Martinez,” or “Lauren Martinez, daughter of Robert Martinez and the late Marta Martinez.”

See Host line wording examples

One Set of Parents Hosting (Married) Include the parents’ full names, with middle names (for very formal weddings), and never their initials. If they have different last names, write “and” to join the two names.

• Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Timothy Williams (very formal; middle name is included)
• Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Williams (formal)
• Mr. and Mrs. Christopher and Sarah Williams (formal; includes both first names)
• Christopher and Sarah Williams (less formal)

One Set of Parents Hosting (Divorced) Include the mother’s name first, followed by the father’s name. Do not use “and” to connect the two names; rather, each name should get their own separate line.

• Mrs. Rachel Arroyo
• Mr. Michael Nguyen

Both Sets of Parents Hosting For different-sex couples, list the bride’s parents’ names at the top of the invite, then the groom’s parents’ names. For same-sex couples, list the names according to preference or in the order that looks best with the invitation design .

• Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Wong and Mr. and Mrs. Adam Hollis (formal)
• Aaron and Alisha Wong together with Adam and Beatrice Hollis (less formal)

Couple is hosting with their families When the couple and both of their families are contributing to the cost of the wedding, many choose to add a line such as “Together with their families” as the host line.

• Together with their families
• Together with our families
• Together with their parents

Couple Is Hosting If the couple is hosting the wedding themselves, you can skip the host line altogether or start the invitation wording with a warm and welcoming introduction, such as:

• With open hearts
• Together with full hearts
• With great joy
• With hearts full of love and joy

Green Wreath by Lori Wemple

Wedding Invitations

by Hooray Creative

Buffalo, NY

Forever And

by Jen Banks

Baltimore, MD

by Everett Paper Goods

by Ana Sharpe

Fort Lee, NJ

Shop Wedding Invitations

Request line

The request line is the "please come" line. This is where you extend the invitation to attend your wedding. Use this section to set the tone for your celebration. If the wedding is formal, use a more formal language to reflect the occasion (e.g., “request the honor of your presence…”); if the wedding is casual, you can use a less formal language (e.g., “Would love for you to join them...” or “Want you to come party with us…”). Here are a few more things to keep in mind:

• “The honor of your presence” is traditionally used to denote a religious service. Some couples opt to spell “honour” using the British spelling to evoke a more formal and traditional feel. (Note: If you’re using “honour” on the invitation, we recommend matching it with “favour” as in “favour of your reply” on the RSVP card.)
• “The pleasure of your company” (or variations on this) is used to denote a non-religious ceremony locale.

See Request line wording examples

• request the honor of your presence
• request the honour of your presence (for formal, religious ceremonies)
• request the pleasure of your company
• cordially invite you to attend
• would love for you to join them
• would be delighted by your presence
• invite you to celebrate with them
• invite you to their wedding
• joyfully request the pleasure of your company
• invite you to celebrate their marriage
• invite you to join them
• invite you to the celebration of
• invite you to share in the festivities
• invite you to share in their joy
• would love your presence
• extend this invitation to celebrate
• invite you to witness their love story

Coupled by Jessica Williams

by Susan Asbill

by Alethia Frye

Charlotte, NC

Minimal Circle

by Kelly Schmidt

Vancouver, CA

Classic Touch

by April Astudillo

Action line

Here, you’re outlining what you are inviting people to share in. Some examples:

• Traditionally, with the bride’s parent’s hosting, this line is usually something like, “At the marriage of their daughter.”
• If both parents are hosting, the line might read “At the marriage of their children.”
• If you’re hosting yourselves, the line could be something like “At the celebration of their union” or “As they tie the knot.”

See Action line wording examples

• at the marriage of their daughter (if the bride’s parents are hosting)
• at the marriage of their children (if both sets of parents are hosting)
• at the celebration of their union
• as they tie the knot
• as they say “I do!”
• in celebration of their marriage
• to celebrate their wedding

Arches by Kelly Schmidt Formal by Jessica Williams

by Amy Kross

by Jennifer Postorino

Scottsdale, AZ

The Biltmore

by Stacey Meacham

Greenville, SC

The Field Of Love

by Petra Kern

Ljubljana, SI

Couples’ Names

This one might seem easy—that is, until you start thinking about the nitty-gritty details. Whose name goes first? Do you have to include last names? What about middle names? There really are no right or wrong answers, so do whatever feels most comfortable to you both, but here are a few suggestions:

• For different-sex couples, the bride’s name typically goes first, followed by the groom’s name. If the bride’s parents’ names are listed at the top, the bride’s name can just be her first and middle name (without last name), while the groom’s name is listed in full, or his first and middle names are listed, followed by the line “Son of Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Wong.”
• For same-sex couples, you can list the names in alphabetical order by last name, or in the order you choose (or perhaps in the order that looks best with the invitation design).
• For a less formal feel, you may opt to list first names only.

Garden Beauties by Lori Wemple Minimalist Deco by Nazia Hyder

by Carolyn Nicks

Loveland, CO

by Kate Ahn

Iowa City, IA

by Laura Hankins

by Kanika Mathur

San Jose, CA

Date & Time

• Traditionally, the date and time should be spelled out in full. For example, if your ceremony is on September 15, 2024, at 4:30 p.m., the wording should read, “Saturday, the fifteenth of September, two thousand twenty-one, at half after four in the afternoon.”
• The day of the week and the month should be capitalized. The year should be lowercase.
• There is no “and” when spelling out the year.
• Time of day should be spelled out as “four o’clock” or “half after four o’clock.” Note that “half after” is the most traditional way to indicate time. However, less formal invitations can use “half past four o’clock” or “four-thirty.”
• Traditionally, there is no need to add phrases such as “in the afternoon” or “in the evening” unless the event takes place at times like 8, 9 or 10. You should then designate “in the morning” or “in the evening” for clarity. However, some stationery designers add these phrases to fill out a line to improve the overall look of the invite design. This is totally up to you and your designer.
• Evening begins at five o’clock, otherwise it is considered afternoon from noon until four o’clock.
• It is important to note that these formal date and time rules are frequently broken in more modern invitation designs, where the date and time are listed using numerals; using numerals is also preferred for more informal weddings. Be consistent with the level of formality you want your wedding to be from the invitation wording to the attire, ceremony, venue, and party.

See Date & time wording examples

• four o’clock (traditional)
• four o’clock in the afternoon (also acceptable)
• 4:00 p.m. (informal)
• 4:00 p.m. in the afternoon (informal)
• half after four o’clock (traditional)
• half past four o’clock (also acceptable)
• four-thirty in the afternoon (also acceptable)
• 4:30 p.m. (informal)
• 4:30 p.m. in the afternoon (informal)
• half after five o’clock (traditional)
• half past five o’clock (also acceptable)
• five-thirty in the evening (also acceptable)
• 5:30 p.m. (informal)
• 5:30 p.m. in the evening (informal)

Crescendo by Griffinbell Paper Co

by Heather Cairl

Singapore, SG

Joyous Occasion

by Design Lotus

Fall Garden Bouquet

by Grace Kreinbrink

• List the ceremony venue as follows: “Venue Name” on one line with “City, State” on the following line; for formal weddings, the state name is usually spelled out (instead of abbreviations).
• The venue’s street address is traditionally not included (although you may decide to list it), unless it is a private residence.
• Zip codes are not usually included.

Bella Mia by Petra Kern Woodland Hills by Eric Clegg

Happiness x 2

by Melanie Kosuge

Chicago, IL

Block Print Frame

by Katharine Watson

Portland, ME

by Pixel and Hank

Plainwell, MI

by Kristie Kern

Reception line

• If the reception will be at the same location as the ceremony, you can simply say, “Reception to follow” or “Dinner and dancing to follow.”
• If the reception is at a different location, you can list the venue on the following line, or you may decide to include a separate insert card (called a reception card) inviting guests to the reception, with the venue’s full address.
• If you’re not serving a full meal, this would be a great place to let guests know by saying something like, “Cake, punch, and merriment to follow” or "Join us after the ceremony for cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and dancing."
• You can also use this line to get creative and set the tone for the reception with something like, “Join us for an intimate dinner following…” or "Drinks, dancing, and shenanigans to follow."

See Reception line wording examples

• Reception to follow
• Reception immediately following the ceremony
• Dinner and dancing to follow
• Cake, punch, and merriment to follow (if you’re not serving a full meal)
• Join us after the ceremony for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and dancing. (if you’re not serving a full meal)
• A dessert reception following the ceremony (if you’re not serving a full meal)
• The celebration continues with a reception
• Join them for the reception celebration
• An evening of celebrating to follow
• A celebration with dinner, drinks, and dancing will follow
• Join us for dinner, dancing, and celebrating
• Fabulous food, fun, and festivities to follow
• Dine, dance, celebrate…
• Some dinner, some dancing, and all eternity to follow
• Feasting and merriment to follow
• Feasting and fun to follow
• Dining, dancing, and happily ever after to follow
• To share in our happiness, kindly join us for a dinner reception
• Dinner and dancing under the stars
• Shake, rattle and roll with us
• Bring your dancing shoes! Dinner and music immediately following the ceremony.

Classy Type by Hooray Creative

by Leah Bisch

Palos Verdes Pen., CA

by Jen Owens

Warrenton, MO

by chocomocacino

Botanical Edge

by Susan Moyal

Toronto, CA

Other Considerations

Dress code This is optional but can be helpful for guests. However, if your wedding is black tie, you must include that on the invitation. If you don’t include dress code information on the invitation, then guests will infer attire details based on the formality of the wedding invitation itself (i.e., if the invitation is very fancy, guests will likely anticipate a formal affair). The dress code line should be listed on a line following the reception location.

Wedding website Typically you don’t print your wedding website on the main invitation card; rather, you should list it on one of the accompanying cards (like a reception card or additional information card). It’s also a good idea to have your wedding website URL (or the QR code) on your wedding save the date card.

wording examples

Use these sample wedding invitation templates to figure out how to word your own. (Pro tip: Minted Design Associates can also help craft your copy so that the wedding invitation wording perfectly reflects your big day.)

Who is hosting the wedding?

Both parents, traditional religious.

Held in a religious venue, hosted by both sets of parents

Mr and Mrs Charles Hoffman and Mr and Mrs Lucas Harrison request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their children Alexandra Quentin and Brian Forsyth Saturday, the Ninth of June Two thousand twenty-four half past five o’clock in the evening Cathedral of Christ the King Atlanta, Georgia celebration following

Love Stories by Liz Conley

Traditional Secular

Held in a secular location, hosted by both sets of parents

Mr. and Mrs. Donald Anderson together with Mr. and Mrs. Liam Smith request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their children Elizabeth May and Charles Smith the twenty-second of August at half past three in the afternoon two thousand twenty five The Mayflower Grace Washington, Connecticut dinner and dancing to follow at Piedmont Hotel

Elysium by Design Lotus

Casual Informal

Held in a casual location, hosted by both sets of parents

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hunter And Mr. and Mrs. George Temple request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their children Estella and Grayson April 24th, 2025 at 4 O’Clock The Gardens Edge Inn Seattle, Washington formal reception to follow

Flourishing Edge by Grace Kreinbrink

Bride’s Parents

Held in a religious venue, hosted by the bride’s parents

Mr. and Mrs. Yuri Smith joyously invite you to attend the wedding of Rebecca Leigh and Phillip Austin October 20th, 2024 3:00 in the afternoon Second Presbyterian Church Richmond, Virginia merriment to follow

Eternal by Carly Reed Walker

Held in a secular location, hosted by the bride’s parents

Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Walker cordially invite you to attend the wedding of Laura June to Emerson Fournier August 5th, 2024 Saturday evening at 5:30pm Hotel Sorrento 90 Madison Street Seattle reception to follow

Monogram a la Mode by Hooray Creative

Held in a casual location, hosted by the bride’s parents

Eli and Cristina Mullins request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of Clara & Sebastian saturday, october 18th, 2024 6 o’clock in the evening king plow arts center atlanta, ga reception to follow

Bold Geometric by Morgan Kendall

Groom’s Parents

Held in a religious venue, hosted by the groom’s parents

Mr. and Mrs. John Kowalski request the honor of your presence at the marriage of Allegra Rose Harrington to their son Harris Nolan Kowalski Saturday, August 26th, 2024 3pm at Ashton Gardens 89 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard Sugar Hill, Georgia reception to follow

Held in a secular location, hosted by the groom’s parents

Jean & Frederick Coppola joyfully invite you to the marriage of Jessica and their son Charles August 11, 2025 at 6 PM Calistoga Ranch Calistoga, California reception to follow

Wedding Nosegay by Chris Griffith

Held in a casual location, hosted by the groom’s parents

Mallory & Kenneth Harper request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of Sophia Renee Enriquez to their son Jackson Douglass Saturday, Sepember 21, 2024 at four thirty in the afternoon Studio 817 817 Sixteenth Street Sacramento, California dinner and dancing to follow

Printed by JoAnne Jinks

Held in a religious venue, hosted by the couple

Ava Edwards and Nicholas Eckerd request the honor of your presence at the celebration of their union Saturday, the Fifth of August Two Thousand Twenty-Four at five o’clock in the evening Mosaic Church Austin, Texas reception to follow

Eloquent by Carolyn Nicks

Held in a secular location, hosted by the couple

Sophia Anderson and Jaden Harper invite you to their wedding September 14, 2024 Saturday at four o’clock in the afternoon Willow Creek Vineyard Seattle, Washington reception to follow

Magazine Serif by Elly

Held in a casual location, hosted by the couple

Olivia Chandler and Solomon Miller invite you to their wedding October 6, 2025 | 4pm Foundry Park Conservatory Seattle, Washington reception to follow

Love Story by Kate Ahn

Both Families & Couple

Held in a religious venue, hosted by both families and the couple

Together with Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Han and Mr. and Mrs. George Thompson Amanda Marie Han and Louis Jeremy Thompson request the honor of your presence at the celebration of their union Saturday, the twenty-sixth of May Two thousand twenty-four at six o’clock in the evening Saints Peter and Paul San Francisco, California

Antoinette by Lulu and Isabelle

Held in a secular location, hosted by both families and the couple

Amelia & James Riley Jane & Thomas Evans along with Serafina and Samuel joyfully invite you to their wedding October 14th, 2024 at five o’clock in the afternoon The Cloister at Sea Island Sea Island, Georgia black tie reception to follow

Serafina by Melanie Kosuge

Held in a casual location, hosted by both families and the couple

Please join us in the joy of celebrating the wedding of Emma Finch & Alvin Morris Saturday, May Fourth Twenty twenty-four at six o’clock in the evening The Drake Hotel Chicago, Illinois

Color Arch by Baumbirdy

Special Cases

Divorced parents.

Both parents’ names on separate lines

Ms. Elaine Robbins Mr. Bradley Hunter request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Candace and Emerson May 15th, 2025 at six in the evening The Frick Collection New York, NY dinner and dancing to follow

Deco Starburst by Ana de Sousa

Remarried Parents

You can use a similar format when one parent has remarried

Ms. Noelle Miller Mr. and Mrs. Sean Cartwright request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter Sophia to Joshua The twentieth of June two thousand twenty five at six o’clock in the evening Midtown Loft & Terrace 267 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY reception to follow

complete your suite

Wondering what else to send with your wedding invitation? Our guide below outlines exactly what you'll need to include, along with wording suggestions for each card.

“ Sense and Sensibility ” invitation suite by Design Lotus Photo: Anna Delores Photography

Good news! Wording the RSVP card (also called the reply card or response card) is a simpler task than the invitation. Here’s what you’ll need to include:

RSVP date : The first piece of information on the card is the reply-by date, which is typically three to four weeks before the wedding. This will give you enough time to get a final head count to the caterer (one week before) and to finalize your seating chart.

• Remember to keep the wording consistent with the invitation: For example, “the favor of a reply” typically matches the invitation wording “the honor of your presence.” For less formal wedding invitation wording, such as “request the pleasure of your company,” the RSVP wording would typically be “Kindly reply by” or “Kindly respond by.”

Guest(s) names: Next is a line for guests to write their names, along with checkboxes for accepting or declining the invitation.

• The M line: The “M” line on the RSVP card is the place where guests will write in their names. The “M” itself is meant to designate the first letter of the formal salutation (Mr., Mrs., Miss or Ms.), which the guest would write along with their name(s). The most traditional weddings might use the “M” line; for less formal celebrations, we suggest the more straightforward “Name(s)” instead.

Additional information you can include:

• Meal choices may also be included on the reply card, along with checkboxes or illustrated icons.
• It’s becoming more popular to include a song request line, something along the lines of, “We promise to dance if you play __________.”

Plaza by Lauren Chism

Example: Formal

A reply is requested by the tenth of July

  [Insert Name(s)]     accepts with pleasure   declines with regret

Minimalist Deco by Nazia Hyder

Example: Casual

Please respond by the thirteenth of June

  [Insert Name(s)]     happily accepts   regretfully declines

Vitrage by Petra Kern

Example: with Meals

Please reply by March 27

M   [Insert Name(s)]     will attend   will not attend

Meal choices:   chicken   salmon   vegetarian

Shop RSVP Cards

Reception Cards

If the ceremony and reception are held at the same venue, include the line “Reception to follow” at the bottom of the invitation. However, if the reception is held at a different location, it should be treated as a separate event—include a separate reception card with the event details as part of the invitation suite.

Marked by JoAnn Jinks

Example: Reception Card

Please join us for an dinner and dancing immediately following the ceremony in the Allegro Ballroom

Shop Enclosure Cards

Activity Card

Activity cards can be very helpful if your wedding has multiple events taking place during the wedding weekend. List all of the festivities guests open to guests in chronological order. This way, you wedding invitation suite gives clear information of what the guests should expect. If you choose not to include the activity card inyour invitation suite, make sure you list out this information on your wedding website.

Sedona by AK Graphics

Example: Activity Card

Activities A wedded weekend

Friday Meadowood Winery Tour | 1:00 pm | Please meet in the hotel lobby Rehearsal Dinner | 7:00 pm | Meritage Resort | 875 Bordeaux Way

Saturday Ladies Tea | 11:00 am | Churchill Tea Room | Please meet in the hotel lobby

Sunday Farewell Brunch | 11:00 am | Bouchon Bistro | 6534 Washington Street

Information Card

An information card can be enclosed with your wedding invitation if you’d like to provide any additional wedding details to guests: directions, transportation information, lodging suggestions, etc. Make sure to check out our guide on how to assemble your wedding invitation suite , especially if multiple enclosure cards are involved.

Ring Box by Phrosné Ras

Example: Information Card (directions)

More details

If you would like to book a room at the hotel, please call The Ivy Reservations 0712 334 4444, quote ‘Stewart-Long wedding accommodation June 17th’ to receive the discounted rates available for a one or two night stay at our hotel.

For more info, visit our website: rayandphoenix.minted.us or call Jane on 0403 333 444

etiquette FAQ

As you can see, there are plenty of things to consider when it comes to writing and finalizing your wedding invitations. We've got the answers to all of your pressing wedding invitation etiquette questions below.

How do we let guests know we’re having an adults-only wedding?

Two best practices are to include only the adult names on the envelopes and to mention "adult-only event" on your wedding website.

Here are more details on how to let your guests know (without hurting their feelings):

• Address your wedding invitations carefully . If you’re doing formal invitations with both an outer mailing envelope and an inner envelope, list only the names of the invited adult guests on both the inner and outer envelopes. If you’re sending outer envelopes only, only list the names of the invited adult guests. Do not write “The Smith Family,” since that would indicate that all family members, including children, are invited. You can also write the names of each invited guest on the response card. This technique makes it very clear who is invited to the wedding and all your guests would need to do is check "will attend" or "will not attend."
• Do not put "adults only" on the wedding invitation . Resist the urge to have this phrase printed on your invites because it might be a little jarring for some guests who might be sensitive to this. The more tactful, gentler way to spread the word is to encourage family members, wedding-party members, and friends to spread the word to other guests by mouth.
• Do include it on your wedding website . Your wedding website is the perfect place to convey additional wedding details, such as keeping your wedding an adults-only event, links to your wedding registry, travel and transportation details, dress code, and recommended local babysitting services.

Where do you include information such as your wedding website and wedding registry?

It is not advised to include your wedding website URL and wedding registry information on the main invitation card itself. Include an additional insert card in your invitation suite. This will be the best place to put a QR code to your wedding website and/or your website URL (and password if you have one). If you’re already including an insert card with travel information or additional wedding details, you can print the URL on the bottom of that card. Registry details are not typically included in the invitations. You can keep that information on your wedding website, with links to each online store, if possible, for added convenience.

Do you write guests' full names on the wedding invitations?

If following proper wedding invitation etiquette, yes. When you are addressing your invitation envelopes, you should spell their names out in full (title, first name, middle name (optional), and last name). Avoid using nicknames or initials. Be sure to use appropriate social titles as well, addressing married couples as "Mr. and Mrs." or "Mr. and Mr." For more on addressing your invitation envelopes, please see our in-depth guide to wedding envelopes and addressing .

When should our wedding invitations be sent out?

In order to send your wedding invitations in a timely fashion, aim to stick to the following timeline:

• 4–5 months before the wedding: Order wedding invitations
• 6–8 weeks before the wedding: Mail wedding invitations

If you’re hosting a destination wedding or are tying the knot over a holiday weekend, you’ll need to factor in more time so guests can make any necessary travel arrangements. Mail your wedding invitations three months ahead of time.

How much time should we give guests to RSVP for the wedding?

Set your RSVP deadline for three to four weeks before the wedding date. This timeframe will give you enough time to provide your caterer with a final head count, which is usually needed one week before the wedding. An accurate headcount will also allow you to finalize your wedding seating chart .

If some guests still have not responded by your RSVP deadline, give them a quick phone call to follow up.

Who should get a plus-one and who doesn’t?

This is a tricky question, so be sure to tread carefully as you and your partner determine what makes the most sense for your wedding guest dynamics. Here are our general wedding etiquette rules on plus-ones and whether or not you should give guests the opportunity to bring a date to the wedding:

• Married, engaged, and cohabitating guests should get a plus-one.
• Wedding-party members (bridesmaids, groomsmen, etc.) should get a plus-one.
• Guests who have been with their partner for a lengthy amount of time should get a plus-one. This, of course, is tricky. What constitutes a long enough period of time? While this varies for everyone, in general, our rule of thumb is that anyone who has been coupled up with their partner for so long that it would be awkward not to invite them should get a plus-one.
• For everyone else, make a blanket rule, such as “only immediate family members can bring a date” and stick to it.

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15 cocktail party invitation wording examples for your next soirée

May 16, 2024

A cocktail party is one of the most versatile types of celebrations around. You can dress it up for a formal business event or keep it casual with Margarita Mondays. And because a cocktail party is so wonderfully customizable, your invitation wording is especially important so guests know what to expect when they arrive.

The right message will let guests know whether it’s time to break out the LBDs (Little Black Dresses) for martinis, or if they can CAYA (Come As You Are) for cocktails and craft beer. Find the best cocktail party invite wording—and cocktail party invitations to match—to set the tone for your party before you set up the bar.

Table of Contents

What goes on a cocktail party invitation?

No matter the tone or formality of your event, your cocktail party invitation wording should give guests the information they need. When writing your invitations, consider adding details like:

• Date and time: “When” and “What time” are the most important parts of an invitation. Add the day of the week, the date itself, and the time your party starts.
• Location: “Where” is another necessary detail on your invitation—otherwise, no one will show up! Include the venue’s name, the street address, and any other information, such as a specific patio or ballroom.
• Occasion: Are you celebrating something, or is your cocktail party an opportunity to mingle and catch up? Let guests know why the party’s happening—especially if it’s a special occasion.
• Food and drink: Drinks are a given for a cocktail party, but food is typically optional. Tell guests whether they should expect light apps, a full dinner, or dessert.
• Attire: When guests see “cocktail party” on the invitation, they may plan on cocktail attire—which is fine if your party is formal or semi-formal. If you’d like guests to dress more casually, indicate that in your invitation message.
• Extra guests: Can guests bring a plus-one? Specify who is invited—especially if your venue has limited space. Once guests arrive, check them in using the Paperless Post app so you know who’s arrived and who hasn’t.
• RSVP-by date: For more formal cocktail parties or events that require headcounts in advance, set an RSVP deadline a few weeks before the event. Use Paperless Post’s RSVP tracking to shore up your guest list and follow up with anyone who hasn’t responded.

Formal and business cocktail party invitation wording ideas

With semi-formal attire and sparkling Champagne, business cocktail parties have a touch of elegance that complements any occasion. Peruse these business cocktail party invitation wording suggestions to find the phrasing that best fits the tone of your sophisticated party.

1. Professional cocktails

Office cocktail parties are excellent opportunities to welcome new clients, socialize with other employees, and get off-the-clock face time with the boss. Use a classic cocktail party invitation like “ Cocktails Maisner ” by Bernard Maisner and formal wording like:

You’re invited to a cocktail party

to celebrate the opening of our Wilson Street location.

Saturday, January 10th

5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Jupiter Hotel, Ballroom 1A

5837 Hibbert Road

Los Angeles, California

Drinks and refreshments provided

by Gordon-Pruitt Inc.

Semi-formal or cocktail attire requested

RSVP by December 28th—plus-ones are welcome

Find sophisticated, business-minded designs that streamline planning and impress guests.

2. Drinks and conversation

Gather everyone together in a quieter setting with a sophisticated cocktail party focused on networking or conversation. The “ With a Twist ” invitation lets everyone know what kind of party they’re invited to—especially when you add wording like:

Join us for cocktails and conversation 

as we celebrate the end of the quarter

and the hard work done by the whole Levinson & Sons team.

Friday, February 21st

Owl Ridge Country Club, Patio C

937 Coyote Court

Phoenix, Arizona

Cocktail attire requested

RSVP by February 5th with your favorite drink order

3. Sparkling cheers

Whether you’re celebrating an important accomplishment or welcoming a distinguished guest, Champagne is the way to go. Send the “ Gold and Glass ” Flyer with wording like:

Please join us in honoring 

our dear friend and best-selling author 

Daphne St. James 

with cocktails at our home.

Saturday, March 2nd

The Henderson home—823 Wilcox Boulevard

Baltimore, Maryland

Parking is available on our street or Arcay Street.

RSVP by March 1st

4. Join us for a reception

Welcome clients, customers, and other stakeholders to a professional cocktail reception. The understated “ Pick Me ” invitation by Paperless Post sends the message loud and clear with wording like:

You’re invited to a cocktail reception 

hosted by Cloud Nine Cosmetics

to learn more about our new DIVA & DOLLS collection

Friday, April 25th, 4–6 p.m.

Our corporate headquarters: 

788 Michelin Road

Enjoy cocktails, live entertainment, and VIP access to our new collection.

RSVP to enter a raffle and win a sample eyeshadow palette!

5. Appetizers for all

Cocktail parties are always pleasant experiences, but adding passed hors d’oeuvres puts your event on a new level. Let guests know that appetizers are on the menu with “ Another Canapé, Please ” by Happy Menocal Studio and this wording:

Enjoy cocktails and appetizers

at our annual Member Appreciation party,

featuring a stargazing exhibit 

and a fossil presentation by Dr. Edward Simone.

Thursday, May 12th, 7–10 p.m.

Tuscaloosa Natural History Museum

123 Alabama Court

Families and children welcome

RSVP by May 2nd for a chance to win a museum membership

Casual cocktail party invitation wording ideas

Not every cocktail party is a lavish, formal affair. If your group is more likely to order vodka sodas than Aviations, add some casual and funny cocktail party invitation wording. We’ve also included a variety of invitation designs to match each message.

6. Pass the chardonnay

If your friends are more likely to come to a wine tasting than a party only serving hard liquor, send “ Wine Salut ” by The Indigo Bunting and let guests know they don’t have to miss out on the fun since their favorite drink will be on the table. Use fun and playful wording, such as:

School’s out—and the bar’s open!

Enjoy a glass of wine (or two) with the Lincoln High band parents

at our annual Denim & Diamonds fundraiser

to raise money for a new sousaphone.

Saturday, June 1st

Lincoln High Multipurpose Room

Drinks and appetizers will be provided

RSVP by May 20th

Click the Sousaphone Fundraiser link below to donate before you arrive!

7. Open bar

Tell guests that their money’s no good at your open-bar cocktail party with the self-explanatory “ Free Drinks ” invitation by Derek Blasberg and wording like:

Anyone want a free cocktail?

Now that we have your attention, please join Tomlin Medical Group 

for a Client & Customer cocktail party.

Enjoy the comedy stylings of Harv Bennett 

and the company of our amazing employees and board members.

Thursday, July 16th

Rosewood Ballroom & Dining Hall

900 Whittier Ave.

St. Petersburg, Florida

8. Cocktails and craft beers

Some groups cringe at the thought of dressing up for formal cocktail parties that serve drinks they don’t like. Instead, give the people what they want with a cocktail and craft beer party, starting with the “ Almaviva ” invitation by Paperless Post and wording like:

Celebrate the end of an incredible World Series

(or drown your sorrows)

with Dave, Mike, and the rest of the Fantasy Ballers gang.

We’ll be tasting beer flights 

while discussing strategy for next year.

Penny Sports Bar and Grill

Sunday, October 30th

Game starts at 4—don’t be late, or Dave will drink your beer.

9. Cocktail exchange

Inspire amateur—or expert, if you’re lucky—mixologists with a cocktail exchange party. Guests bring their own recipes and ingredients to share so everyone can flex their bartending skills. Send a fun cocktail party invitation like “ Coquetel ,” and use Guest Questions or Surveys to ask everyone what their favorite drink or liquor is before the party begins.

Add some fun—and explanatory—wording to your invitation like:

Teach me how to make 

your favorite vodka cocktail 

for my 24th birthday!

You bring the mix-ins, 

I’ll supply the vodka 

My place: 562 Indiana Road

Saturday, September 12th

5 p.m. to ???

Wear something purple (my favorite color) if you have it!

10. Margarita Mondays

Margaritas are good on any day, but there’s something special about starting the week with a Margarita Monday. Put these tasty iced drinks on display with the “ Margarita Mixer ” invitation by Jonathan Adler and wording like:

Mondays are always better when margaritas are involved!

Bring your favorite marg mix to the Masterson’s place 

(274 College Avenue)

to celebrate the first day of summer break.

June 24th, 6 p.m.

We’ll have drinks, chips and dip, and dessert!

Special occasion cocktail party wording ideas

Christmas, birthdays, retirement, Arbor Day—the reasons to have a cocktail party are endless. Find the right wording with our suggestions for special occasions for any time of the year.

11. Winter holiday fête

Host a warm and cozy Christmas cocktail party —or a cocktail party for any winter holiday. Send the animated “ Merry and Bright ” Flyer and holiday cocktail party invitation wording like:

Baby, it’s cold outside—

so get warm at June and John’s holiday cocktail party!

Enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres around the fire

on Sunday, December 15th at 6 p.m.

The Newsome Home—472 Orchid Row

Louisville, Kentucky

RSVP by December 1st

12. Cocktail celebration

Celebrate a birthday with an upscale cocktail party. The “ Scribble Script ” invitation by Paperless Post sets a festive tone for a party to remember. Add birthday cocktail party invitation wording like:

It’s not a party unless cocktails are involved!

That’s why we’re celebrating

Sam’s birthday 

at the bar.

Toast the birthday boy from 6–9 p.m.

on Wednesday, February 22nd

at Heart and Dagger in Oakland.

Drinks and desserts will be provided.

RSVP by February 2nd

13. Gather for a toast

Celebrate a momentous occasion like a graduation, engagement, or retirement with a cocktail and some toasts. Invite guests with the “ Make a Toast ” invitation by Paperless Post and wording like:

Let’s surprise Annie with a retirement party

and a few of her favorite things: 

cocktails, dinner, and YOU!

Friday, June 17th, 8 p.m.

Green Iguana Bar

18 Point Avenue

RSVP by June 1st 

And please fill out the survey with your RSVP if you plan on giving a toast.

Remember—don’t tell Annie!

14. Happy anniversary

Celebrating a marriage or work anniversary? That calls for a cocktail bash! Commemorate a milestone with the “ Sparkling and Swinging ” invitation by Paperless Post and wording like:

You’re invited to Barry and Tom’s 20th anniversary party

full of cocktails, light appetizers, live music,

and the lasting love of two very special people.

Saturday, June 10th at 7 p.m.

Mariposa Country Club

Butterfly Ballroom

183 Connecticut Boulevard

Des Moine, Iowa

RSVP by May 25th

15. The guest of honor

Graduations, promotions, and baptisms (yes, baptism cocktail parties are a thing) all deserve special attention—and a raised glass. Put the focus on a person worthy of praise with the “ Pop Fizz Clink! ” photo invitation by kate spade new york and cocktail party wording like:

Paging Dr. Perez!

Celebrate Charlotte’s graduation from med school 

at a cocktail party hosted by her proud parents

on Saturday, August 13th

at the Perez home—6127 Hansbury Road

Come by anytime between 5–9 p.m. 

to wish Charlotte luck in her new career!

Invite Paperless Post to your next cocktail party

From elegant, formal affairs to casual gatherings around a high top, it’s easy to customize cocktail parties to your flavor of festivity—just like Paperless Post’s party invitations and features. Once you’ve customized your invitation to your liking, sharpen your planning and hosting skills with our tips on how to throw a cocktail party for any professional occasion.

Hero image: “ Apertivo ” by Paperless Post.

Keep On Reading

• Business 10 meet-and-greet invitation wording ideas to make a great first impression
• Get-Togethers 10 happy hour invitation wording ideas for your next office gathering
• Business 15 corporate event and office party invitation wording ideas

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Writing your impact case – workshop invitation Constructing a proud narrative

We are delighted, as more than 50 possible impact case ideas were shared for the BMS midterm research evaluation! This prompted us to think bigger than just the BMS midterm research evaluation, sprouting the concept of a BMS Impact Showcase (on the website or a yearly portfolio). Other ways to share cases are via the Service Portal, BMS newsletter or the screens in the buildings.

An impact case is a short narrative (sometimes called "impact stories" too, where you elaborate on the effects of your work after it has finished. Which communities or stakeholders were influenced by your work, has it been applied or scaled up, or maybe you had a profound academic impact... There are many ways in which your work can have an impact, writing your impact case helps make this explicit.

To help you get from an idea to a written impact case, we offer a workshop where we 1)  explain what impact and an impact case entails , 2) offer examples , and 3) offer a template to construct your own impact case . A connection will also be made with the recently published BMS Position Paper on Impact . The workshop's outcome (your impact case) can be used for the channels above, for instance, and to proudly share with colleagues or to craft a clear storyline in your next grant application.

The workshop takes 2,5 hours . This might seem like a lot, but we already tried to shorten it, as our first workshop was 4 hours (given by Louise Knight, Letizia Alvino and myself).

We currently have three time slots open.   If you wish to join, you can mail Tom Boogerd (BMS Research Support Office) which timeslot you prefer and if you wish to bring a colleague.  The workshop will take place on campus.

• Thursday, 13th of June, from 9:30-12:00
• Wednesday, 26th of June, from 14:00-16:30
• Thursday, 27th of June, from 14:00-16:30

Again, thank you for sending in your ideas; they are very much appreciated, and it makes us proud to see such great BMS work. If you cannot join any workshops but still want to write the case, let Tom Boogerd know, and we will see how else we can support you. 

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Accepting the invitation

A course that asked students to write about 10 viewings of the same painting seemed absurd — until it became a life-changing spiritual experience.

• By Will Pawlowski | Class of 2024
• May 16, 2024
• 3 min. read

During week one of the fall 2023 semester, I received the most absurd assignment I have ever encountered. It was simple. Go to the Haggerty Museum of Art, stand before a painting for 15 minutes, and then write a 1,000-word essay on the experience. I don’t think my stomach has ever dropped as much as it did when I first saw this assignment described — and realized this process would be repeated 10 times, with the same painting each time. Writing and art aren’t my forte, so I knew staying in this class would lead to some stressful weeks.

My regret peaked during my fifth session viewing the painting I chose,  Eye and Dove  by Michael Rothenstein. I was experiencing one of those perfect storms where school projects collided with real-life demands. I feared this assignment could be the final blow to knock over the wobbling card tower that was my sanity. I stood and stood, seeing nothing. I desperately tried to grasp onto small details — from random blotches of paint to Rothenstein’s signature — to find something to write about, yet nothing came to me. After a tauntingly long 25 minutes, the futility of my efforts slammed into me. Goodbye card tower. Overwhelmed, I desperately wondered what I was missing. What was the point of this? 

I feared this assignment could be the final blow to knock over the wobbling card tower that was my sanity.

The irritating part of my confusion was that this had been the class I was most excited about heading into the fall. Over the summer, during the dry and tedious work of an internship, restlessness had begun to stir within me. I feared that life after graduation would have more of these dry spells, and that could be it for me, nothing more to my life. Before the semester, encouraged by friends, I went on a walk with Rev. Ryan Duns, S.J., the mastermind behind this assignment, to express my restlessness. During the walk, he mentioned how this class has helped others struggling with similar unease. I thought it would help me, yet here I was. As I left the Haggerty, all I felt was stress. Not knowing how to turn in a quality paper challenged my pride as a student, and I hardly had the will to put my thoughts to paper.

When I vented about my dejection to a friend in the course, he told me he had a similar experience and suggested I write about my agitation. So, that is what I prepared to do, and it became a pivotal moment. I began thinking about hints Father Duns had been giving about his goals for this assignment; one that stuck with me was to try and dialogue with the art. I slowly realized I had been monologuing with the art, trying to control my time with the painting because I was focused on completing an assignment. Yet, as Father Duns had made clear, the point of the assignment was not to earn a grade but to encounter something  other  that moves with us throughout the semester. I knew then that if I wanted to dialogue, I had to let go and humbly accept the invitation of that other.

The other that awaited me at the end of that invitation was God, who had been calling to me through my restlessness. His invitation moved me to be comfortable giving up my worries and letting Him move me through the experience. The time in the gallery had a new flow to it and was oddly peaceful. I would sit in prayer before the painting until I felt moved to journal, and then I would return to silence, waiting for a new invitation. Dialogue. 

Throughout the following weeks of dialogue, the painting became a mirror that revealed parts of myself I couldn’t acknowledge alone. I reflected on why Rothenstein chose this piece as valuable enough to release, causing me to contemplate on the legacy I want to leave behind. Another week, a small blotch of paint moved me to reflect on times I’ve felt lonely and like a small detail in the story of life. The thread that linked each week together was my desire for genuine connections; that was the final discovery that helped me understand why I was here.

Throughout the following weeks of dialogue, the painting became a mirror that revealed parts of myself I couldn’t acknowledge alone.

My experience culminated in the last week when I saw how God had been beside me throughout the entire assignment. God wanted to reveal how He longs for a relationship with me, but could only do so when I stopped trying to control the experience. The connection I desired was staring me in the eye, an image occupying half the painting. The final week, however, was not an end, but the start of a new frame of mind, attentive to how God walks alongside me. Thanks to the efforts of Father Duns, drawing on the Ignatian practice of encountering the movements of the Spirit, when I finally accepted my futility, I learned how to encounter God uniquely and intimately wherever I go.  

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